Chapter 2

Amanda checked the time on the oven display and then the clock on the wall.

"I hope he gets here soon. Dinner is almost ready", she said to herself.

Just then, Phillip came tearing in through the kitchen door dribbling his soccer ball.

"Hey Mom, when's dinner going to be ready? I'm starving?"

Amanda leaned over and grabbed the soccer ball before it crashed into one of the dishes for tonight's supper.

"Phillip, no soccer in the house! It's going to be a little while. Why don't you go and change. Maybe take a quick shower. You're all sweaty and dirty!"

"Yeah, I know! Soccer practice was awesome! I made a goal and kept about 3 others from being made! I slid right in front of the guy and took him out!"

"Well, I'm glad you are enjoying the high school soccer preseason practices. I just can't believe that you are old enough to be in high school", Amanda said as she angled her head upwards to look into the eyes of her ever-growing oldest boy. "Scoot. Go take a shower. And send your brother down."

"OK, Mom. Is Lee coming over tonight?"

Amanda's stomach tightened for a moment. Lee and the boys were still finding their way together. It seemed that they were getting along much better these days, but Amanda still didn't know what to expect each time they were together.

"Um, yeah, he is. Is that alright with you?"

"Yeah! Definitely! I want to tell him about the save I made! Maybe I should wait to shower until after he gets here so I can show him this cool grass stain on my uniform from where I slid", Phillip said excitedly.

"No, that's ok. Go shower now. You can tell Lee all about it with clean clothes on. Go on!"

Phillip smiled at Amanda and grabbed a roll out of the basket on the counter as he ran up the stairs.

"Well, that's one out of two that will be happy to see Lee tonight", she thought to herself.

"Hey birdbrain, Mom needs your help downstairs", Amanda heard Phillip yell to Jamie.

Amanda inhaled to yell to Phillip to not call his brother birdbrain but knew it would be a lost effort.

"Hey, Mom. Phillip said you needed my help. Glad he's in the shower. He stinks!" Jamie asked.

Amanda reached over and smoothed Jamie's hair as she looked lovingly into her son's eyes.

"Yes, Sweetheart. Could you please set the table? There will be five of us tonight."

Amanda's stomach tightened again as she waited for Jamie to surmise who the 5th person would be.

"Is Lee coming over tonight?"

"Yup. Yes, he is. Is that ok with you", she asked afraid to hear the answer. Phillip had taken to Lee rather quickly. Jamie has not been a quick to allow Lee into his life.

"Yeah! That's great! I want to show him some of the pictures I took for art class! The stuff he showed me about the camera helped me to take the best pictures in the class. My teacher said I have a real knack for photography!"

Amanda breathed a sigh of relief as she looked at Jamie's excited expression.

"Oh, Jamie! That's wonderful! He'll be so happy to hear that!"

"Good news?" a baritone voice said from the kitchen door.

Amanda and Jamie both turned to see Lee standing there smiling at them both.

"Lee!" Jamie yelled enthusiastically. "Yeah! Great news! My art teacher said that I have a real knack for photography, and I took the best pictures in the class! All the stuff you showed me on the camera has helped so much!

Lee smiled at Jamie and tussled his hair.

"That's fantastic, sport! Maybe after dinner you can show me your pictures."

"OK! I will!"

Amanda's stomach relaxed. She was quite sure that Lee and the boys had turned a corner in their relationship. Her heart felt so full as she watched Lee and Jamie interact.

"Jamie, why don't you finish setting the table and let your grandmother we are going to be sitting down in about ten minutes."

"Ok, Mom", Jamie said as he carried the stack of plates and silverware into the dining room.

Lee walked over to Amanda and placed his arms around her waist, pulling her close to him. Amanda returned the gesture in kind and moved into kiss him hello.

"Why hello, Mrs. Stetson. I missed you today", he said sotto voce into her neck as he left a trail of kisses down to her collar bone.

Amanda squeezed Lee's shoulders as the kisses began to engage the butterflies in her stomach. She pulled back slightly and looked him in the eyes.

"Missed me? You saw me this morning. It's only been a few hours."

"Well, can't a husband miss his wife?" he said as he leaned in to kiss her again.

Amanda kissed him quickly.

"Sshh….no husband wife talk with the boys around. And I missed you, too."

Lee smiled that killer smile that made her go weak in the knees.

"Good!" he said as he took off his jacket and hung it over the back of the kitchen chair. "What's for dinner?"

"Meatloaf and baked potatoes", Amanda said as she turned off the buzzing oven timer and took the food from the oven.

"Smells delicious!"

"Amanda, do you need any help?" Dotty yelled as she descended the stairs into the kitchen.

"No, Mother. We are almost ready to sit down."

"Oh! Lee, Darling! I didn't know you were here yet!" Dotty walked over to Lee and gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek. "How is my favorite son-in-law?"

Lee smiled again and began to answer Dotty. "Well, I'm.."

"MOTHER! Don't call Lee your son-in-law while the boys are home!"

"Oh, Amanda! They are upstairs listening to music. They can't hear me. Besides, I am just so happy that you and Lee are married."

Lee and Amanda looked at each other and smiled.

"Thank you, Mother. We weren't too sure how you were going to take it a few weeks ago when we told you", Amanda said.

"Well, a few weeks ago, I thought you were dating a married man, Amanda. Not that you were MARRIED TO this man."

Lee nervously ran his hand through his hair as he remembered that evening and the conversation that lead to them revealing their marriage.

"I know, Mother."

"But when I found out, oh, you know that I was just SO HAPPY!", Dotty gushed. "When do you think you will tell the boys?"

Lee and Amanda looked at each other again, this time with a much more puzzled look on their faces.

"Well, I'm not sure, but maybe soon", Amanda answered.

"Yeah? Soon?" Lee asked.

"Well, the boys are so excited you are here for dinner tonight. And I think they are getting more used to you being a permanent part of the family. So, yeah…..maybe soon."

Lee leaned over and kissed Amanda on the forehead as Dotty broke into a record-setting smile.

"What do you say we eat before dinner gets cold?" Amanda said trying to change the subject as well as feed her family.

Lee walked over to the foot of the stairs and called up to Phillip and Jamie.

"Boys? Dinner is ready. Come on down!"

Stomping feet could be heard almost instantaneously as the mention of food was declared. Within seconds, Jamie and Phillip had descended the stairs and taken their places at the dining room table.

Amanda picked up the hot dishes and began to walk into the dining room. Just then the phone began to ring. She turned around and looked for a place to put the dishes.

"I'll get it. Just bring that stuff into the dining room", Lee said.

"Thank you, Sweetheart."

Lee grabbed the phone before it could ring a third time.

"Hello?"

"Lee?" a bass voice said on the line.

"Hi Billy, what's up?"

Amanda came back into the kitchen and stood next to Lee, her ears perking up at the mention of Billy's name.

"I was hoping to find you there with Amanda."

"Yeah, she's here. Is there anything wrong?"

"No, but I do need to see you both first thing tomorrow. I have a very important assignment for you both."

"Ok. Can you tell me anything else?"

"Not tonight. I will have more information tomorrow morning. Be here no later than 7:00am."

"Ok, will do."

Lee hung up the phone.

"Well?" Amanda asked.

"We are being called in early tomorrow, 7:00am. We have an assignment. I don't know anything more about it."

Amanda bit her bottom lip as she thought about the boys and who could watch them if this assignment took more than a day.

"Who was that?" Dotty asked.

"I.F.F.", Lee answered quickly. "Amanda and I are going on location tomorrow. Hopefully it will be only a one-day thing, but we probably will be home late."

"Oh! Where are you going?" she asked.

"Well, it seems that the birds are starting their migrations now and one of the foremost experts on bird migration will be in Virginia Beach tomorrow and we need to interview him for the documentary we are making", Lee answered rather convincingly.

Amanda held her breath as she waited for Dotty to respond.

"That's kind of short notice, isn't it?" Dotty asked.

Lee inhaled as he thought of a way to answer her question and sound sincere.

"It turns out the team that was supposed to go got sick. They were exposed to some kind of strange flu. We're the back-up team and have to take over."

Dotty thought for a moment.

"Well, I hope they will be ok!", she said. "I read there is some kind of strange flu going around. They think it's from Taiwan. Do you think that could be it?"

Amanda began to nod vigorously. "Yeah, I bet that's it!"

Lee joined her in agreement.

"Mother, we might be gone more than one day. You never know how these things can be. Do you mind looking after the boys if that is the case?"

"No, not at all."

Lee and Amanda both let out the breath they had been holding.

"Thanks, Dotty. Hard to know if we are going to get the wildlife footage we need in the one day."

"Yeah, fingers crossed we will. Thank you, Mother."

"Of course, dear", Dotty replied. "Shall we eat?"

"Yes! I'm starving!" Lee said as he escorted his mother-in-law to the dining room.

"Oh boy", Amanda said to herself as she leaned on the counter. "I'm glad Lee answered her on that one. I don't think I could have thought that fast on my feet and make it sound believable."

"Are you coming, Mom? I'm hungry!" Phillip shouted from the next room.

"Yup, coming! Go ahead and dig in!'