In Limbo

Chapter 64

While Dotty and Amanda were still discussing the boys' attitude of the evening, Amanda said, "Well, I think we should ask Lee...After all, he's about to be part of the family, and-"

But looking around, Amanda, realizing Lee was gone from the kitchen, asked Dotty, "Wh-Where did he go?"

Dotty then stepping out to the foyer, and looking up the stairs, heard voices, and replied, "I believe he took the bull by the horns and decided to handle it himself, Darling."

Amanda worriedly stated, "Oh, boy...Hope he'll be alright...By the way, did you find the marshmallows?"

Dotty, shaking her head, commented as she narrowed her eyes at her daughter and pointed her index finger, "No, we didn't, you little minx! You have to stop that nonsense, Amanda! It's not funny at all!"

Amanda giggling, remarked with a shrug, "It is to me!"

-SMK-

Meanwhile, upstairs, as Phillip stepped aside at the bedroom door to let Lee in, he gestured, saying, "Cop a squat..."

Lee with a light chuckle at the expression, shrugged as he came in, heading for the desk chair, and answering as he sat down, "Don't mind if I do. Thanks."

Closing the door, Phillip motioned to Jamie to move over on his bed and he sat next to him, and looking at Lee, asked, "Okay... Mom told us you lost your folks when you were a kid, and we're sorry about that, but how do you know what we're going through?"

Lee cleared his throat, and replied, "Thanks...Well, try having relatives fight over where you're going to live. See, you had your grandmother and I know it was tough when your folks split, but at least you could grow up in the same house for most of your life. When my folks died, my grandmother took care of me for a while, but she wasn't in the best of health, so she and my aunt were trying to figure out the best place for me, and then my uncle showed up, saying he would take me...He's an Air Force Colonel, and we wound up travelling all over the world, so there wasn't time to make a lot of friends, and that stunk. But, if you really think about it, you would have had about the same situation then with your dad, because he traveled a lot, too."

But putting his hand up quickly as Phillip started to speak, Lee stated, "Now, the relocating thing had to confuse you, and I'm sorry about that, but the Government told IFF employees what we had to do, and we just had to make the best of it, okay? But thank goodness I found out where your mom was and we were able to reconnect...And, as far as the three of us go, I didn't intend for your dad to sign his rights to me. I was just as surprised as your mom was when that happened... And yes, your mom and I are getting married, but that doesn't have to make things awkward for us, alright? We'll just play everything by ear here. We're still getting to know each other...If you wanna talk about anything, I'm here. And even if you don't, that's alright, too..."

As the boys sat there, Lee, with a sigh, shrugged finally, commenting, "That's all I got..."

-SMK-

After a moment of silence, Jamie asked, "Lee? How old were you when that happened?"

Lee swallowed answering, "I was four, Jamie. And I was plenty scared, too, but I didn't show it too often, especially after I moved in with the Colonel three years later."

Phillip shrugged, replying lightly, "Yeah, but you're his nephew. He probably cut you some slack, right?"

Lee chuckled out loud, answering as he looked around the bedroom, "Oh, no, Sir! He did not! Believe me, if he saw this room the way it is right now, he would've had you get it in ship shape for room inspections-"

Phillip and Jamie worriedly answered together, "No way!"

Lee nodded responding, "Oh, yeah, he would! Twice a week, he would check top to bottom every inch, including the bathroom, and if it wasn't up to code, there I was, redoing it until he was satisfied- went to school late a few times the first week I was there- the man showed no mercy."

Phillip swallowed querying, "Y-You won't be doing that to us, will ya?"

Lee, shaking his head, stated lightly, "Nah...I want you guys to enjoy the rest of your childhood here, but whenever you want lessons in how to spit shine shoes or make a bed so good that a quarter bounces off of it, I'm your guy-"

Just then, Amanda tapped on the door jamb and answered firmly, "And I'm your mom, and I say it's time to hit the old sack...What do you say?"

Jamie got up from the bed, commenting, "Sure, Mom, only I think we can tuck ourselves in...I mean, we'll hug you here, but-"

Amanda, perplexed, and giving a mocked hurt expression, looked at Lee, asking, "What did you say to them? This isn't the base-"

Lee waved it away, remarking, "It's okay, Honey..."

Then with a firmer voice, stated to the boys, "Alright, Men! About face! Forward! Hugs!"

The boys did the military moves and as they hugged Amanda, she answered, "Thank you and I love you...Good night."

As Lee said his good nights to them and he and Amanda went downstairs, Amanda queried, "That isn't gonna be a ritual, is it?"

Lee shook his head as they came into the kitchen, and he replied, "No...Only if the Colonel decides to visit...Then all normal activity will cease to exist-"

Dotty coming out from the den, and overhearing, stated, "Your uncle wants to visit? Oh, I think it will be nice when the boys and I get to meet him."

Amanda and Lee shared a worried look and then Amanda, clearing her throat, responded, "I'm going to walk Lee out..."

Lee smiled commenting, "Good night, Dotty. Thank you for dinner."

Dotty nodded with a smile, replying, "Of course, Dear. Thank you for the wine and the flowers...Good night."

And as Lee and Amanda walked out to Lee's car, Amanda shook her head, stating, 'Whew! That was quite an evening...So, are you and the boys okay now?"

Lee nodded as he opened the driver's side, answering, "Yeah, for the most part...It's just gonna take time to adjust to each other, that's all."

Amanda nodded, asking, "How about me?"

Lee, puzzled, queried, "What about you?"

Amanda sighed, asking, "Have you, Lee Stetson, adjusted to me yet?"

Lee stated carefully as he brought her to his arms and planted a tender kiss on her mouth, "You, Amanda King, are a complete entity to which I may never fully adjust to...But I'm sure gonna have fun trying."

Amanda, rolling her eyes, gave him a playful shove, stating, "Oh, go home already!"

Lee chuckled, answering, "See you tomorrow..."

As he pulled out of her driveway, Amanda thought as she headed back into the house, Who's he kidding? I'm the one who's still adjusting to his way of life! Sheesh!

TBC