In Limbo

Chapter 24

It was almost midnight as Amanda, unable to sleep, went downstairs to the family room couch, thinking about her spoiled evening with Lee.

Dotty, hearing footsteps, came out of her bedroom, and checking on the boys, found both asleep in their rooms, so then checking on Amanda, found her room empty, and then seeing a light shadow on the staircase wall leading downstairs, decided to head down herself to check on her.

What Dotty saw as she came to the family room was Amanda, curled up on the couch, blowing her nose, her face showing sadness, and sighing, Dotty came over to the couch, and sitting down, gently wrapped her arms around her daughter, querying, "What is it, Precious? What happened tonight? You were so happy earlier-"

Amanda, leaning against her mother, gulped, stating as she wiped her eyes, "I-I dunno, Mother...Why is it with men that the saying, "My way or the highway" applies?"

Dotty asked confusedly, "L-Lee said that? Oh, I can't believe that-"

Amanda shrugged answering, " No, he didn't, but he may as well have, Mother! Anyway, with my track record it fits perfectly..."

Dotty queried gently, "What are you talking about, Darling?"

Amanda sighed, stating in a ramble, "Look, first it was Joe, wanting us to move to Africa for the damn EAO, then it was Dean, who kept pushing marriage on me when I'd only been divorced a year at that point, and now it's Lee...We had started forming a good relationship over the years, to where we discussed possibly dating, but then the stupid Government got involved and moved everyone around...Now, two months later, we miraculously find one another again, and..."

Dotty looked down at Amanda, querying, "What, Dear?"

Amanda commented, "He-He asked me to join him in Chicago-"

Dotty surprised, asked, "What's wrong with that?"

Amanda sighed, and sitting up, queried, "Mother! After everything the boys have been through since their dad and I divorced, and then trying to adjust to another new change in their lives here? I-I just can't do that to them...My first priority has to be to them!"

Dotty, putting a hand up, asked, "Alright...Did Lee at any time this evening make it clear to you that you would lose him if you didn't go with him?"

When Amanda shook her head, Dotty said, "You see? He cares enough about you that he's willing to wait...What specifically did he say?"

Amanda answered quietly, "He wants me to think about it, that he'll be here a couple more days, and that I should call him when I've made up my mind...It just sounds like an ultimatum, though-"

Dotty, shaking her head, commented with gestures, "No, it sounds like someone that's reaching out to you, to let you know that he still wants to be in your life...Somehow, some way, you two will work this out...Now, I assume you have his hotel room number?"

When Amanda nodded, Dotty, with an insistent tone, answered, "Then, go call him, and meet him for breakfast...And don't worry about the boys! We will talk to them...You'll see that everything will be fine...They love you and just want you to be happy, alright? Now go on and talk to the man you're missing so much..."

Amanda, feeling hopeful, hugged and kissed her mother, then headed for the stairs to go up to her room, stating, "You're right, Mother! I will! Good night..."

Dotty smiled, answering, "Good night, Sweetheart..."

-SMK-

Meanwhile, Lee's hotel room phone was ringing, jarring him awake!

Picking up the receiver, he mumbled, "Hel-Hello?"

The voice said, "It's about time I found you! How have you been?"

Recognizing the voice, Lee, clearing his throat, asked as he sat up in bed, "How-How did you find me?"

The voice stated cryptically, "We have our ways, you know that..."

Lee shook his head at the line he himself used on Amanda years ago, and replied, "R-Right...Well, what's going on?"

The voice answered, "Well, why don't you come on home and find out?"

Lee was about to respond with a question, when he then heard a click!

Checking the phone, he realized that the caller had hung up!

Lee grumbled, hanging up the phone, asking aloud, "What the hell did they mean by that?"

While he was wondering about his phone call, Amanda had hung up from her phone, as she kept getting busy signals from Lee's hotel room number!

Sighing, she remarked, looking at her nightstand clock radio, "He's probably talking to his Chicago boss...I'll try again in a few hours...After I get some sleep..."

TBC