In Limbo

Chapter 47

Lee, seated on the couch, answered his phone later that afternoon, just as Joe was coming out of the bedroom from his nap.

Lee said, "Hello?"

Amanda stated, "Hi, it's me. I just wanted to let you know that I talked to the boys and they're upstairs right now doing their homework."

Lee asked, "Okay...So, how did it go?"

Amanda swallowed replying, "Well, if Joe is waiting for an immediate answer, I have one Nay, and one Maybe...They're still trying to process this, so tell him I'm sorry, but maybe tomorrow, they'll have a definite answer, alright?"

Lee commented, "Alright...I'm sorry you had to go through all this, but-"

He felt a tap on his right shoulder then, and looked up to see Joe near the couch, and queried, "Just a second, Honey...Joe just got up...Do you want to talk to him?"

Amanda sighed, remarking, "Yeah, I think it's time we had it out... Your liquor's put away though, right?"

Lee answered, chuckling, "Yes, but I really think he's learned his lesson from the other night."

Amanda responded, "I should hope so...Okay, put him on, but stay close, huh?"

Lee stated, "You got it...Just a second."

Covering both ends of the phone receiver, Lee looked at Joe and said in a serious tone, "Alright, Amanda wants to talk to you, but be careful. You say or do anything to hurt her or the kids from this moment on, and I'll make damn sure your butt stays in Africa, you got that?"

Joe slowly nodded commenting sarcastically, "Message received..."

Lee hesitantly gave him the receiver, replying, " Good...I'll be in the kitchen looking at a Chinese takeout menu...When you're finished, let me know if you want anything, okay?"

Joe remarked coolly, "Sure...And thanks for putting up with me for the night. I know it couldn't have been easy-"

But Lee, putting up a hand, stated tiredly, "Forget it...I only did it for Amanda..."

-SMK-

He then turned to head for the kitchen, and Joe, swallowing hard, sat down on the couch and got on the phone with Amanda, answering, "Hello, Amanda."

Amanda remarked stiffly, "Hi, Joe...How are you feeling?"

Joe replied, "A hell of a lot better than this morning...I take it you talked to the kids already?"

Amanda stated, "Yes, and as I just told Lee, they haven't decided yet what they want to do, so you'll have to wait until tomorrow at least for a definite answer, alright?"

Joe scoffed, answering, "I can only imagine what your talk with them entailed-"

Amanda cutting him off, commented tensely, "Joseph King! You said the most egregious thing I've ever heard you say in all the years I've known you! For you to assume that I'm able to sway their decision proves that you don't know me at all any more...When the boys do make a decision about this, where do I reach you?"

Joe then saw Lee coming out of the kitchen, and he remarked flatly, "Well, assuming Stetson returns my wallet and keys to me tonight, I'll be at a hotel in Chevy Chase."

Amanda sighed replying, "Fine...I'll let you know when they've decided...Bye, Joe."

And before Joe could say anything else, Amanda had hung up!

Joe shaking his head, hung up the phone, and seeing the look on his face, Lee asked, "What happened?"

Joe shrugged nonchalantly, "Nothing. She just said that the kids haven't made up their mind, but knowing her, I'm sure she tried to-"

Lee then angrily sat Joe down on the couch once more, answering, "No, Joe! She didn't say anything to change their thinking about you one way or the other! What those kids decide finally will be their own choice!"

With a heavy sigh, Lee, fed up at this point, stated, "Wait here..."

-SMK-

Going into the bedroom, Lee went into his closet, and pulling out a box, opened it, and pulled out Joe's wallet and keys, and putting the box away, closed the closet door, and coming out of the bedroom, came over to where Joe sat on the couch, and tossed the wallet and keys into Joe's lap, answering tersely, "I'm done! You're free to go...Hasta La Vista, and Sayonara, Pal!"

Joe was surprised and asked, "So, all of a sudden, you're tossing me to the curb?"

Lee, shrugging, replied, "Yeah, because all I've heard today is how everything that happened was someone else's fault, and not yours."

Joe queried in a tense manner, "Hold on! What do you mean by that?!"

Lee stated flatly with a gesture, "Meaning it was you who chose to leave Amanda and those boys the first time years ago and break their hearts...And all the while blaming Amanda for not wanting to move to Africa with the kids... And you uttered those words that wrecked the boys' psyche the other night, which is why they're confused right now...And finally, you consumed all that alcohol, and wrecked Dooley's, and gave yourself the hangover! No one but you, Joe King! You wanna go save the world? Go ahead! But it's Amanda who keeps those boys safe and happy! And she's going to continue to do that, despite your misguided attempts to muck everything up..."

Lee then walking to the door, opened it, and stated firmly, "I'll call you a cab, but you'll have to wait for it downstairs...So long, Joe."

Joe got up slowly from the couch, and putting his wallet and keys in his pants pocket, walked toward the door, answering quietly to Lee, "For what it's worth, Stetson, I appreciate the help last night, and looking after Amanda and the kids...So long..."

Lee then watched as Joe pressed the elevator button to go down, and stepped inside.

As the elevator doors closed, Lee shut his apartment door, and getting on the phone, dialed the taxi company and gave his Georgetown address, telling them a ride is needed to Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Thanking them, Lee hung up, and sat down on the couch, growling, "Unbelievable jerk!"

Calming himself down finally a few moments later, he then got on the phone once more to call Amanda.

When Dotty answered, Lee replied, "Hi, it's Lee...Is Amanda there?"

Amanda got on a few seconds later, asking, "Hi...Is everything alright now?"

Lee sighed, querying carefully, "It will be, if I can join you all for dinner?"

Amanda answered warmly, "See you in a few minutes."

They hung up, and Lee, grinning, went to go get ready...

TBC