In Limbo

Chapter 56

Joe's funeral was the following afternoon at 2 P.M. at Park Lawn Cemetery, and along with Amanda, Dotty, and the boys, were Joe's parents, and assorted other family and friends, along with some dignitaries from Estoccia, who spoke highly of Joe's efforts to help people from around the world to get supplies to those less fortunate.

Some anecdotes were also told about Joe's college days, from his roomate, Jerry Campbell, who explained when Joe first met Amanda at a frat party, and he dared her to go skinny dipping in the Potomac one late evening, and they nearly got arrested!

As Amanda rolled her eyes and other college friends amusedly shook their heads at the memory, Dotty whispered harshly to her daughter, "You and I will have a serious talk when we get home, Young Lady!"

Amanda scoffed, answering in a whisper, "Mother, please! It was the 70's! Let it go!"

Jamie bewildered, whispered to Phillip, "What's skinny dipping?"

Phillip whispered the meaning in his brother's ear, and Jamie, hearing the response, turned to his mother and stated aloud, "Aw, Mom! Naked?! Gross!"

Chuckles scattered through the crowd, as Amanda's face turned a crimson red, and she thought, looking at Joe's college roommate, Way to go, Jerry Campbell! Joe even promised me he would never to let that story come out, and you did it in one fell swoop!

The service was about another half hour, as final prayers were offered, and the service concluded, as people said their goodbyes, and Phillip and Jamie went up to the front and sat down to have a few more minutes with Joe.

Reverend Scott Lawrence and Jack and Teri King spoke briefly, and then seeing the boys, Reverend Lawrence came over to them and remarked stoically, seeing their sad looks, "You know, Boys, it's in these times where we can be comforted in the fact that your father is no longer in pain, and as time moves forward, you will be rejoicing the life he had, and remember only the good times-"

Phillip sighed, and gulping, answered tersely, "Excuse me, Reverend, but Jamie and I aren't in the mood to rejoice right now! We just lost our dad! You don't get it! Y-You don't even know him! You're just someone Grandma and Grandpa King hired to do this thing, so just back off!"

With that, the boys got up, and Phillip commented to Jack, "Grandpa, we're gonna get our stuff out of Mom's car...We'll see you in a minute."

Phillip, getting the keys from Amanda, then went to the car with Jamie, and Amanda came over to Jack and Teri, and asked worriedly, "What happened?"

Teri stated sadly, "The Reverend was trying to comfort them, but they're not in the best frame of mind to hear that yet."

Jack remarked, "I'll go help them load their stuff in our car, Dear."

Teri nodded, as she saw Dotty also go to the car, as she said to Amanda, "You know, maybe this wasn't the best idea-"

But Amanda shook her head, answering, "No, Teri. It is a good idea. You won't see them for a while because of your cruise coming up, but they need this time with you...They love you both...They'll be fine soon, I promise."

They shared a hug, then walked over to the Kings' car, where Jack was helping get the last of the boy's luggage into the trunk.

Shutting the trunk, Jack stated, "Well, we'd better go..."

Amanda and Dotty hugged Phillip and Jamie, with Amanda replying as she got the car keys back from Phillip, "Have a wonderful time, and please mind them, huh? We'll miss you..."

Jamie asked, "Are you gonna be okay, Mom?"

Amanda kissed him and Phillip both, commenting, "Yes! Now, go on. We love you, Boys."

Getting into the back of their grandparents' car, they chimed, "We love you too, Mom and Grandma! See you later!"

-SMK-

And with that, they were off, and Amanda and Dotty headed towards Amanda's car, when Amanda said quickly, "Oh, wait, Mother...I want to thank the Reverend for the service, but you go on ahead, alright?"

Handing Dotty the car keys, Amanda then walked over to the area where the funeral was and seeing Reverend Lawrence, she remarked, "Reverend, I just wanted to thank you for the service...It was just lovely."

Reverend Lawrence clasped Amanda's hands and smiled, stating, "Thank you, Mrs. King...You know, it's refreshing to see divorced couples with children get along as well as you and Joe did up until the end...I-I did try to offer solace to your sons, but I don't think I helped very much."

Amanda sighed and replied, "Well, I'm sure they'll realize later that you meant well, but it'll take time..."

The Reverend nodded and looking at his watch answered, " I understand. Well, I have a potluck supper across town to get to...But please, feel free to call or stop by on Sundays...We would be happy to have four new members to our All Saints community."

Amanda responded kindly, "Well, we're current members of Grace Community in Arlington, but thank you very much for the invitation...Bye bye now..."

Amanda reached her car a few moments later, and getting in, she chuckled, and Dotty, looking at her strangely, asked, "What is it, Dear?"

Amanda sighed and shaking her head, answered, "If I didn't know any better, I'd swear Reverend Lawrence was trying to drum up business for his church!"

Dotty nodded, querying quickly, "Oh, he talked to you as well about that? I guess it doesn't matter where you go. People always want you to join something, to be part of the community...Well, I like Grace Community just fine, and Reverend Mills is wonderful, isn't he, Darling?"

Amanda nodded as she put on her seat belt, and starting the car, responded as she was pulling out of the parking lot, "He certainly is, Mother...Well, it's just us ladies for dinner later...How about we go to Spencer's, hmm?"

Dotty answered, "That sounds nice, Dear, but are you really in the mood after Joe's funeral and all? And what about Lee?"

Amanda remarked quickly, "Mother, I'm better than I was last night...Honest. But I'm not leaving you by yourself, and I will ask Lee to join us of course...Besides, I didn't forget what today is...It's Daddy's birthday, right?"

Dotty gulped, answering, "Yes, Darling, it is, but do you remember how he always hated the fuss we made?"

Amanda shook her head as she made her way to I-495, and replied softly remembering her father, Carlton West, "Oh, I sure do! But that's because he felt he wasn't deserving of it...", and imitating her father, she remarked, " He'd say in a grumpy way, "What's the big fuss about, Dot? I'm just a year older, that's all! Tarnation! Lots of people were born today! You should celebrate them instead!"

Then, Dotty and Amanda shared a laugh at the memory, with Dotty answering, "I still remember when you got him that new fishing pole for his last trip to the cabin with Hunter Conrad...And what did he say to you?"

Amanda swallowing hard, stated continuing in her father's voice , "Land sakes, Amanda Jean! Why are you spendin' money you don't have?! You aren't using your head too well, Honey!"

As Amanda, feeling tears come to her eyes, cleared her throat, Dotty patted her arm, commenting gently, "He groused, but he always loved presents from his little girl..."

Amanda sighed adding, "Who wouldn't have been here without you or that wonderful man...I was blessed with the two most special parents in the world!"

Dotty nodded remarking, "Thank you, Darling, and we were equally blessed with you..."

Amanda sighed once more, answering, "Oh, Mother..."

-SMK-

When they arrived home a little while later, Amanda called Lee, and when he answered, she stated, "I'm home...Listen, Mother and I are going out to dinner at Spencer's, and we'd like to have you join us...What do you say?"

Lee answered carefully, "Well, today had to be rough on you all...I-I don't want to intrude-"

Amanda sighed, commenting, "Lee! You are not intruding! You're my fella and I want to share tonight with you and my mother ...See, it's my late father's birthday as well, and Mother and I always do something to honor it... Besides, the boys are with Joe's parents, so it will just be the three of us...What do you say?"

Lee, after a moment, replied, "Okay...See you soon..."

TBC