In Limbo

Chapter 57

Lee arrived at Spencer's and asked the hostess, Rina, for the West party, to which she smiled, and said, "They're in the back corner booth, if you'll follow me, please..."

When they arrived and Lee sat down next to Amanda, Rina, handing him a menu, stated, "Enjoy," and promptly left, Lee remarked, "I meant to order my-"

But Amanda, tapping Lee's arm, pointed to the glass of scotch in front of him, replying, "I was prepared."

Lee answered in surprise, kissing her cheek, "Ah, thank you, Honey."

Then greeting Dotty, Lee queried, "How are you, Mrs. West?"

Dotty smiled, responding, "I'm fine, and you're not in trouble with me any more, so you can call me Dotty, alright?"

Lee, raising his glass then, commented, "Thank you, Dotty...And now a toast to the wonderful ladies present, and a farewell to Joe..."So long."

Amanda and Dotty raised theirs as well, and clinking with Lee's, chiming their own farewells and each taking a sip of their drinks, put them down, as Lee asked, " So...How was it?"

Amanda replied, deciding to look at her menu, "The boys were a bit upset of course, but all in all, it was very nice...People representing Estoccia came to pay respects, and Joe's college friends and other relatives were there-"

Dotty clearing her throat, remarked, "And?"

Amanda, seeing her mother's expression as to try to goad her, she shrugged nonchalantly responding, "It was...nothing...There was an anecdote done by Joe's college roommate about the time Joe and I met for the first time-"

Lee's interest was piqued by then, and narrowing his eyes at Amanda, he asked insistently, "Oh? Care to enlighten me?"

Amanda, trying to wean off the subject answered, looking at her menu, "I'll bet the scallops are really good-"

But Lee, not to be deterred, took the menu from Amanda's hands, stating, "Give! What's so scandalous you can't mention?"

Dotty chuckled, answering, "To be fair, I only learned about it at the funeral myself."

Lee queried, "Really? Well, then it must be really good."

Dotty replied, "Let's just say that her boys will be scarred for life."

Lee guffawed then, and gulping, answered, "Oh! Okay! Well, now you have to tell me!"

Amanda quickly sighed, commenting with a glare, "Oh, all right! Joe and I were at a frat party when we met, and after some drinks, he dared me to go skinny dipping in the Potomac, and we nearly got arrested! Satisfied?!"

Lee laughing, queried, "How did that not get into our files at the Agency?!"

Then, Amanda, noting Dotty's puzzled look, elbowed Lee, and while Lee squirmed a bit, Amanda covered quickly, answering, "Um, IFF is sometimes referred to as a Film Agency, and since it's run by the Government, they sometimes do background checks on employees, and since Joe and I weren't arrested, it wasn't recorded."

Lee, then taking a sip of his drink, cleared his throat after, replying, " Oh, that's right...Guess I forgot that."

Bewildered, Dotty shrugged, answering, "I've often thought that film company you work for was rather strange, and now I know why...Oh, well. Shall we order?"

-SMK-

As the meal progressed, Dotty asked Lee, "There was some mention of your parents the other night at dinner, but you didn't elaborate. Do you not like mentioning them, or-"

Amanda stopped her, stating noting Lee's uncomfortable reaction, "Mother, I told the boys already that Lee's parents died when he was four, and he then lived with his uncle when he was seven-"

Lee, putting up a hand to Amanda, replied with a sigh, "It's-It's okay, Honey...Um, Dotty, I don't remember too much about them...It was not discussed a lot because my uncle didn't care to dwell on the past...See, my dad was his half brother, and they hardly saw one another, since my uncle, an Air Force colonel, was stationed all over the world. He in fact, at the time of my parents' accident, was stationed in Honolulu, and didn't get back to D.C. until the day of the funeral...At the time, I had been living with my grandmother, and after the funeral, she and my Aunt Sally-my mother's sister, were discussing where I should go, since my grandmother's health was not good any more..."

-SMK-

Lee, as he recounted that day to Dotty, remembered the discussion in 1954 at the funeral parlor...Being sent to another room as the adults had to talk, found a way to go back to the room, and listen from outside the door, that was slightly ajar...

His grandmother, Elizabeth Stetson, stated to his Aunt Sally Hamilton,"Look, we must make provisions for Lee! I can no longer keep up with him, much as I love the lad! He needs a stable home, and structure! He hasn't been sleeping well, naturally, and continues to ask where his parents are...I-I tried to explain, but-"

His aunt, floored, queried,"You-You told him about the car accident?! But he's too young to possibly understand it! What did you tell him?"

Elizabeth hesitated, and then said slowly, "That they were hurt in the accident, but that God was taking care of them, and they would be alright with him from now on."

Sally, shaking her head sadly, answered sarcastically, "Oh, that should definitely ease the poor boy's mind! How could you?!"

Elizabeth remarked defensively, "Look! You haven't been in my home each night as Lee wakes up screaming after a nightmare, asking for his mother and father to make everything alright again! Now, please...Couldn't you see your way to taking him?"

Sally responded sadly, "I-I only have a one bedroom flat in London, but I'm hardly home enough as it is, due to my architect career! I'm assigned abroad quite often...In fact, I'm headed to Norway once I'm through here-"

Suddenly, a male voice boomed, "Enough!"

The women stopped speaking as the man said, entering the room,"I'm Matthew's half brother, Colonel Robert Clayton, and I have a solution to everyone's problem here."

Elizabeth answered, "Oh, yes! Matthew had mentioned you at times, saying that you travel frequently as well...And while I appreciate your offer to help, I don't see how-"

Robert Clayton tiredly answered, "You want a stable environment and structure for the boy? Well, I have just the place...You see, Elizabeth, I live on an Air Force base, and while I in fact move frequently, due to assignments, I think the base has plenty of structure, and couldn't be more stable! He'll have three square meals a day, and ultimately learn about and appreciate the disciplined way of life. He's how old now?"

Elizabeth commented, "Four years of age, but-"

Robert nodded and responded firmly, "Fine! Here's what we'll do...Sally, you will be guardian to Lee for three more years, and then, I will take ownership-"

Elizabeth was taken aback, remarking, "Dear God! He's not a car, Robert! He's a young boy who, under the circumstances, needs a lot of love and understanding-"

Robert waved it away, answering, "Look, I wasn't coddled much growing up, and while I can certainly understand the boy's loss and feel his pain, he will be alright with me...Now, I'm in the middle of my tenure in Honolulu, and then I will be in San Francisco for the next two years, but then I will have to make arrangements to collect him in London so we can set up quarters at Joint Base Andrews afterwards..I'm sorry, but that's all I can do at the present time..."

Looking around, he asked, "Where is he?"

Sally replied woodenly," I'll bring him in..."

When Sally entered the room that Lee was in, she found him sitting in a chair, fiddling with his tie, and going to him, knelt down in front of him, stating with a wan smile, "Lee? There's someone here your grandmother and I want you to meet...Come along now..."

Getting up, she reached for his hand to help him out of the chair, and he slowly took it, and went with her to the other room, where he saw a man in a strange outfit standing near his grandmother, and feeling a bit scared, held onto Sally's hand a bit tighter, and she gently answered, bringing Lee to face the Colonel, "Lee? This is your Uncle Robert...Your father's brother, and he would like you to come live with him in a little while. But for now, you will stay with me in London until he can come get you...Say hello, Lee."

Gently extricating Lee's hand, she nodded to him, answering,"Go on now..."

Robert smiled at Lee, commenting softly to the women nearby as he touched Lee's shoulder, "Looks just like Matt..."

Then replying in a steady voice, Robert responded to Lee, putting his hand out to the boy,"How do you do, Son? You can call me Uncle Robert-"

But Lee then just shook his head and whimpered loudly ,"No! No! I want Daddy! I want Mommy! No-o-o...!"

Lee was then brought back to the present moment with Amanda touching his arm, querying softly, "Lee? Are you alright?"

Lee, looking around, then realized how that memory shook him up still, and he stated quickly with a swallow, "I'm-I'm sorry...Where were we?"

Dotty responded gently getting up from the booth, "A-Amanda got the check, and I'm taking her car home, so you two can talk...I-I'm so sorry I upset you, Dear-"

But Lee, getting up to allow Amanda to also get up, answered, "N-No, Dotty! I'm okay, really...Thank you for dinner. We'll have to do it again soon...Good night..."

Dotty hugged Lee gently, and left, as Lee shook his head, querying to Amanda, "What-What happened?"

Amanda, kissing his cheek, commented, "Let's go back to your place and talk, okay? I promise everything's gonna be fine, Sweetheart..."

And as they left the restaurant, Lee thought, I must have zoned out or something...Hope I'm not losing it here...Whew..."

TBC