In Limbo

Chapter 34

The next morning Amanda came down dressed for work, and found the boys had left for school already.

Amanda asked her mother, "What happened? I didn't hear a bus coming?"

Dotty answered as she poured coffee for herself and Amanda, "They got a ride with one of their classmates whose mother was driving her son in...Um, do you have to leave right away?"

Amanda shrugged replying as she then took the cup her mother offered, "Thank you...No, not immediately. Why?"

Dotty motioned towards the family room couch where the morning newspaper laid, stating, "I thought I'd look at the apartment ads today, and wanted your opinion-"

Amanda sighed, commenting softly, "Mother! I already told you, we don't want you to leave...We love you, and we'll figure something out, alright?"

Dotty went to sit on the couch answering, "Yes, but it's because I love all of you that I want to do this. Now, you take a look at the first page, while I look at the other, hmm?"

Amanda looking at her watch, stated, "Okay, for just a minute. But look, I already told you that we could redo the den, or the attic, or the garage-"

Dotty shook her head responded quickly, "But what about privacy? You and Lee certainly won't have enough if you have work men in and out of here all hours of the day-"

Amanda surprised, put a hand up, querying, "What do you mean, "Lee and I?" What are you talking about?"

Dotty gestured her to the couch saying, "Please sit down, Darling."

Amanda sat down putting her coffee down on the end table, and asked, "Mother, what's going on in that head of yours?"

Dotty remarked, "Well when you and Dean were dating, I thought, Oh, this will work out, because we all get along, well, except for Phillip-but anyway-"

Amanda shaking her head and getting up from the couch, answered quickly, "Mother, please! I don't have time to go down memory lane with you! I-"

Just then, the phone rang, and Amanda commented, "I've got it."

Picking up the receiver, she answered, "Hello?"

It was Lee. "Morning...I thought you'd be here already. Everything alright?"

Amanda quipped in a short tone, "Not by half...I'm leaving right now...Bye."

Hanging up, Amanda going to grab her purse and keys, looked back at her mother and stated tiredly,"I don't know what's going on, but we will discuss this when I get home. Goodbye, Mother."

When Amanda went out the front door quickly, Dotty sighed muttering, "Sometimes she acts like she's my parent instead of the other way around...Hmph."

-SMK-

When Amanda arrived at the Agency, she found her old spot next to Lee's and parked the car.

Getting out, she locked her door, and went into the building, and greeting Mrs. Marston she stated, "Flip Flop."

Mrs. Marston handed Amanda her old I.D. commenting, "Mr. Stetson was looking for you earlier."

Nodding, Amanda answered as she headed for the elevator "Yes, I know. He called my home wondering why I wasn't in yet...Thank you, Mrs. Marston."

As the elevator stopped at the Bullpen floor a few moments later, Amanda got off and Lee was concerned seeing her expression and said, "Billy's at a meeting, and Francine's out checking on something, so we have time to get back to our discussion of last night."

Amanda shrugged replying, "Well, it isn't the most ideal place to talk. I mean, no real privacy to speak of, and we are here to work, after all-"

Lee then took her arm, leading her into the conference room nearby, and when she walked in, he closed and locked the door behind them, and closed the blinds.

Watching him, Amanda sighed stating, "I'm really not in the mood for whatever it is you have in mind-"

Lee put up a hand answering, "Stop! It's nothing like that! Now, what's going on with you? You seemed upset on the phone earlier...Did your mother say something-"

Amanda scoffed, commenting with a gesture towards him, "You could say that...She has this crazy idea that if she moved out, that we would have more privacy."

Lee shrugged responding, "Well, she's sort of right, but what brought that on?"

Amanda shook her head saying, "Oh, you remember? The boys wanting their own rooms, you coming up with those add on ideas? Just this morning, she had the newspaper out to check out apartments! Now, look, why don't you come for dinner tonight, and we can assure her that she doesn't have to move out, no matter what happens with our relationship, okay? Please?"

Lee groaned and nodding, answered, "Okay, but I think you're worrying over nothing-"

Just then, there was a knock at the door, with Billy querying from outside, "Scarecrow? What's going on? Everything all right?"

Lee went to unlock the door, and said reassuringly as Billy eyed the two, "Yes, everything's fine...We'll get back to work now."

As the two headed for the elevator, Billy thought, I have to stop listening to rumors about the copy room...

-SMK-

When Lee came over for dinner that evening, Jamie greeting him at the door, stated, "Hi. Come on in...Now that you're here, maybe you can cool off Mom and Grandma, who've been arguing since we got home from school-"

Just then, Phillip, seeing Lee, greeted him as well, and retorted to Jamie, "They're only arguing because we said we wanted our own rooms, but if you think about it, it's really Lee's fault to begin with-"

Lee watching the boys with their verbal back and forth was then surprised at the direction their talk had taken, said quickly, "Hey! What do you mean my fault? I hardly know you guys!"

Phillip glaring at Lee suddenly, shot back, "Right! So, why did you butt in?"

Just then, Amanda came out to the foyer, hearing the commotion, and answered firmly, "Phillip Thomas! You will apologize to Lee this minute, and both of you boys can help bring dinner into the dining room...Move it!"

With apologies from both for their behavior, they went back to help Dotty, and Lee, throwing up his hands in defense, asked Amanda, "What happened with you and Dotty?"

Amanda sighed commenting with a gesture, "I told you earlier she had been looking at the newspaper this morning? Well, when I got home, she circled some places...Anyway, let's just go on in...Want a drink?"

Lee joked as he followed her, "Isn't that something you ask before putting someone in front of a firing squad?"

TBC