In Limbo
Chapter 27
Billy and Lee looked strangely at one another, and then at Amanda, after her lengthy ramble, wondering what was wrong, and also if they could help her.
Putting a hand up to Billy, while still looking at Amanda, Lee gently asked, "What-What do you mean, "For now?"
Amanda sighed, and taking another sip of water, swallowed and shrugged, answering, "I mean, nothing is ever normal in this part of the world, whereas, in my part of the world, better known as suburbia, we actually coexist peacefully, except when neighbors sometimes don't mind their business...I mean, it's about boundaries, Lee...I want a safer world for my kids, and we do have neighborhood watches, but I don't want guns in my house. Are you getting this now?"
As a stunned Lee was left momentarily speechless by her comments, Billy queried with a gesture towards them, "Just a minute, you two...Has there been a shift in your relationship that I should know about? Because I wondered how you both came from New Jersey today, when everyone here was relocated to supposed parts unknown? Just how did you find one another again?"
Lee, finding his voice again, chuckled loudly, and pointing to her and then himself as he answered, "While she, as Beth Blake, was in Trenton, NJ, I, as Chuck Castle, was in Chicago, working at the Tribune as an advice columnist, instead of the sports writer job I was supposed to get-"
Billy, sighing, rolled his eyes slightly, replying, "Oh, boy..."
Lee put up a hand, commenting, "Ohh, it gets better, my friend-"
When Amanda started to speak, Lee shook his head at her responding quickly, "Uh-uh! My turn! You've had the floor, Honey", then turning his attention to Billy stated, "Well, about a month ago, as I was learning my new column job from a colleague, a letter arrived from New Jersey. The letter was marked "Troubled In Trenton". I took a look at it, because I was getting the column ready for the next day's printing. The woman wrote how she and the family were new in town, and she was worried about her daughter not being social enough or something like that. So, I gave a pat answer of "Leave her be, she'll find her own way soon". I left it to be proofread before the next day's issue, but my colleague added a bit of spice to my answer, and the whole thing snowballed, to the point where I was sent to New Jersey to talk to the letter writer to avoid a lawsuit...The woman, Audrey Thompson, was none other than-"
Billy, astonished, asked, "Dotty West?"
Lee commented, "You got it! Anyway, while she and I are talking in the local diner, who comes in but Amanda, and...It went from there."
-SMK-
Billy , after a moment, went to sit at his desk, and queried to Lee, "Alright, so Mrs. West knows you now?"
Amanda, shaking her head, answered, "Only as a friend from IFF who I was considering dating before all this started..."
Lee added, "Yeah, but then, I was contacted late last night by Leatherneck, and I asked what was going on, and he told me to come home and find out...Stupidly, I thought my boss in Chicago was alerted about me, but I was wrong...So, I hightailed it to Amanda's place, and here we are."
Once more looking at Amanda, Lee asked, "After all that's happened, and after everything I thought was settled, you do this 180 on me...Please tell me what's going on?"
Amanda remarked carefully to Lee as she rose from the couch, "Well, you and I want to be together, so, I would just like you to consider the possibility of us leaving this world behind...Can you promise me you'll just think about it? I-I know it's an awful lot to ask, but I need to know before making any other life changing decisions that also include my family as well here..."
Looking at her watch, she then swallowed hard, stating to Lee, " I'm exhausted...I'm going to the Days Inn near my old neighborhood to get some sleep...Please call me later, and we'll have lunch to continue this discussion..."
Looking at Billy, she answered going to the door with her bags, "It was wonderful to see you again, Sir..."
With that, Amanda was gone, and Lee, watching the door shut, looked back at Billy, asking, "What the hell just happened, and what do I do now?"
TBC