In Limbo

Chapter 46

The boys were home close to three thirty, and as Amanda and Dotty greeted them, Amanda said, "Fellas, I want to talk to you about something important. Why don't you go up and change, and don't worry about your homework until later, huh?"

Jamie asked, "Mom? Is anybody sick?"

Amanda shook her head, stating, "No, Sweetheart...Go on up, please."

Phillip and Jamie then shrugged, and as they headed up, Dotty asked Amanda worriedly, "You're going to tell them, aren't you?"

Amanda sighed, replying, "About what happened last night? No, Mother. I already told you I wouldn't. I will, however, present the idea to them that Joe would like to see them one last time before he goes back, and that I'm leaving the decision up to them, period."

-SMK-

Just then, the boys came down, and Phillip asked, "Is it okay if we get something to eat first, Mom?"

Amanda distractedly answered with a gesture, "Sure, Honey...I'm sorry..."

Phillip and Jamie, grabbing the granola bars out of the cabinet, got some milk, and coming over to the couch, seated themselves and put their glasses on the coffee table, and Phillip queried, "So, what's up, Mom?"

Amanda sat down in the chair near the couch, and began, "Well, I talked to your dad the other night, and he's going back to Africa soon, but before he leaves, he'd like to see you both...He's upset by what happened here the other night, and he'd like to apologize-"

Phillip stood up quickly, and angrily commented, "He said he didn't want us, Mom! You can't take something like that back!"

Amanda got up from the chair immediately, and grabbing Phillip's hand, pulled him down to sit once more as she answered calmly, "Listen to me, Sweetheart...No matter what was said or done in the past, or recently, that man is still your dad, and he will always love you..."

Amanda then went to sit between them, and wrapping her arms around their shoulders, gulped as she continued, " Boys, I remember times with your Grandpa West, when we had some pretty big blowups...Which weren't all that big, actually. It was just me being a teenager...But then I finished high school, and went to college, and the times with him grew shorter, with him saying on the phone, "Don't worry, Panda...We'll set a weekend up, and you and I will go fishing up at the cabin real soon.".

Amanda, remembering that time, wiped stray tears from her eyes with her index finger then, commenting quietly, "But, before I knew it...He got sick suddenly, and we never got that last fishing trip, because he died shortly after...Your grandmother and I were closer than ever from then on after Grandpa died...She was at my graduation, my wedding, and at the hospital when you two came into the world, and I will always be grateful for that..."

Dotty, who had been sitting at the kitchen table during the talk, came up behind Amanda, and kissed the top of her head, stating tearfully, "Thank you, Love...I wouldn't have missed any of that for the world."

Phillip swallowed and shook his head then, responding, "I-I'm sorry about Grandpa, Mom, losing that time with him, but we just can't forgive and forget what D-Dad said! It-It hurts too much-"

Amanda nodded, replying gently, "Alright, Honey...Then think of it this way...He's a human being who made a mistake... But the problems between us that cropped up after you were born had nothing whatsoever to do with you boys. He realizes that his choices were his own to make, and he's had to learn to live with them...And now, with both your name changes, it's really hitting home to him what all this means...So, you both think about whether you want to see him one last time or not, because once the papers are filed, things will be very different... I also want you to remember that this mistake doesn't erase any of the love and the good times that you three did share, huh?"

Kissing both their cheeks, Amanda stated softly, "Okay...Why don't you take your snacks upstairs and start your homework, and we'll call you when dinner's ready..."

-SMK-

Phillip and Jamie both got up from the couch with Phillip taking his glass and granola bar and heading for the stairs.

But Jamie, suddenly overcome with emotion, sat back down slowly, as he began to cry!

Phillip turned back, and seeing him, shook his head, murmuring, "Still such a baby..."

Dotty gestured answering, "Hush, Young Man! We will deal with this! Go on up now..."

Phillip gulped and nodding to his grandmother, headed upstairs, as Amanda held Jamie, stating soothingly, "It's alright, Honey...Shh...Everything's gonna be alright..."

After a while, Jamie calmed down a bit, as Amanda, taking a tissue, wiped his face and he queried, "So, Mom, what if we decided not to see him this time? Would that really be it?"

Amanda shrugged saying gently, "Well, he'd still be back once in a while to see your grandparents in Chevy Chase...Look, I didn't tell you guys all this to sway your decision one way or another, huh? We would work something out if you guys wanted to, okay?"

Amanda answered, giving him the tissue, "Here...Blow your nose..."

Jamie did, and Amanda kissing his temple, asked, "Feeling better now?"

Jamie nodded and sniffing, remarked, "A little...Thanks, Mom."

Amanda gave him a hug and replied, "It's okay...Go on up now...I love you."

Jamie answered, "I love you, too."

He got up, taking his snack and milk with him upstairs, as Dotty answered softly to Amanda, "You handled that talk beautifully, Darling."

Amanda scoffed lightly, saying, "Oh, I just did a little Dr. Spock, along with my own instincts..."

Dotty smiled, commenting, "In other words, you "winged it"?"

Amanda chuckled lightly, remarking, "Pretty much..."

Looking at her watch, she stated, "Well, I'd better call Lee."

Dotty commented, "But you don't have an answer yet, Dear."

Amanda sighed replying, "Yes, but this way, Lee can tell Joe that the boys and I have talked at least, and that they're processing it now..."

Reaching for the phone, Amanda dialed Lee's number...

TBC