In Limbo

Chapter 23

As Lee and Amanda entered the River View restaurant that evening, they noticed how busy it was, and Amanda shook her head answering to Lee, "I forgot to tell you earlier, but I heard they usually take reservations, so I don't think-"

The woman at the hostess station, named Emma, looked at the two of them asking, "Will there be two for this evening?"

Lee commented, "Yes...I'm-I'm sorry we don't have a reservation, but we just got back to town, and-"

But Emma scanned her list, and with a surprised look, answered, "Ordinarily we do require them, but a party of three just canceled...I have a booth in the back, but otherwise, we're booked this evening-"

Amanda said quickly, "We'll take it, thank you..."

Emma nodded, and grabbing two menus, replied with a gesture, "Follow me, please..."

Lee allowed Amanda ahead of him, with his hand guiding the small of her back as they walked to the far end of the restaurant.

And as they sat down, Emma stated, "Morey will be your server this evening...Can I get you a wine list?"

Lee and Amanda smiled at one another, and Lee responded, "Just bring us a bottle of your best Chardonnay, please."

Emma returning the smile, remarked, "Of course...Enjoy your evening..."

-SMK-

When she left, Lee let out a sigh of relief, answering as he took Amanda's hand from across the table, "Whew... I-I still can't believe we found each other after all this time...What's it been? Almost six months, right?"

Amanda shook her head with a faint smile and giggled, "Try two, but I know exactly what you mean-"

Just then, a man with smokey black hair and a slim build came up to them, bringing the Chardonnay and two wine glasses, and placing it all on the table commented as he opened the wine, and filled their glasses,"Good evening, I'm Morey, and I'll be your server... Have you had a chance to look through the menu yet?"

Amanda queried, "Well, Morey, I understand from a friend at work that your Shrimp and Crab Linguine is the best, am I right?"

Morey nodded answering, "It's the house favorite...So, two then? And a salad or soup this evening? We have Lobster Bisque or our Caesar Salad."

Amanda looked at Lee, and he said carefully, "We'll each have the salad, but split the entree?"

Morey nodded, and writing down the order quickly, smiled as he gathered the menus, answering, "Of course, Sir...I'll put your order in, and bring bread out to you momentarily..."

-SMK-

They thanked him as he left the table, and Amanda looking around, answered with a smile, "Boy, it's a terrific place, isn't it?"

Lee looked around and nodded, adding with a smile as he took his glass and raised it up, "Yeah, but not as terrific as the woman I'm looking at right now..."

Amanda turning her head back to look at Lee, and blushing slightly, noticed his glass raised, and she raised her glass as well, and both clinked together, stating, "Cheers..."

After they each took a sip and swallowing, put their glasses down, Lee, taking Amanda's hand once more, answered, "So..."

Amanda sighed, clasping his hand with her own, querying, "So, Lee, what's on your mind? You asked about my schedule...I assume you want to check out the area a bit while you're here before you have to go back to Chicago-"

Lee commented as Amanda took a sip of her water, "Actually, I was thinking that I'd like you to go back with me-"

Amanda, stunned, swallowed quickly as she stared at him, and asked, "What do you mean, go back with you?! I can't do that! I just moved here with the boys and Mother...We're still trying to adjust, and-"

Lee responded softly, "So you'll adjust again...It's no big deal...Besides, the boys will love it, and your mom, too-"

Amanda, releasing Lee's hand, stated slowly with a sigh, "L-Look, Lee...As much as I know we want to be together, I have to think about my family...My first marriage ended because Joe wanted to move us to Africa for his EAO job...The boys were much too little to be flying all over the world the way he does, and after missing their birthdays an anniversary, and Christmas one year, I'd had enough...Those boys, through no fault of their own, recently had to leave the only home they ever knew, only to move here because of the Government, and also had to endure changing their names? I'm sorry... I know you grew up not staying in one place very long because of your uncle's career, and you got used to that way of life, but it would just confuse them even more than they are already...I'm sorry, but-"

Morey then arrived with the salads, and bread, asking, "Do you need anything else right now?"

They shook their heads, and Lee replied somberly, "No, we're fine, thanks..."

As Morey again left the table, Lee sighed, answering with a plea, "C'mon, D-Don't say no right away...Just-Just think about it...Please?"

As Amanda nodded silently, Morey, on his way back to the hostess station, asided to Emma, "Well, someone got the air taken out of their tires..."

Emma confused, queried, "What? What are you talking about?"

Morey gestured towards the back booth, answering, "That couple that you seated a little while ago...I don't know what happened, but they're not the happy twosome they were ten minutes ago..."

Emma winced, responding quietly, "Oh, no...It can't be the restaurant...People love it here."

Morey nodded commenting, "I know, right? Maybe it's about an old girlfriend..."

Emma sighed, remarking, "Or an old boyfriend...Either way, let's treat them right with the bill, okay?"

Morey queried, "You mean, comp their meal? Hey, our boss, Taylor, wouldn't go for that! That would be the third time this month! Besides, they didn't mention any birthday or anniversary celebration! They only asked for the best Chardonnay we had-"

Emma shot back quickly, "Hey! We want them to come back, don't we? It's called incentive! I'll put it in the book, and tell him about it later...Besides, those two look right together..."

Morey, with a heavy sigh, replied to Emma, as more customers came in to wait, "You and your sappy ways..."

TBC