Chapter 38
Amanda sat on the couch in Billy's office, staring at the paperwork Francine had given her. "Francine, we can't let you do this," she insisted.
Francine shook her head and smiled as she hugged DJ, who was sitting in her lap. "It's not your decision. It's mine. Besides, this is what Jonathan would want."
"Jonathan would want?" Lee questioned as he read the copy she had handed him minutes before. "I don't think Jonathan would've wanted to set up savings accounts for the girls."
"Not savings accounts. Education accounts. They cannot touch the money until they are eighteen and it can only be used to help pay for their continuing education. Same with Jamie and Philip, although they're a lot closer to that point," Francine corrected. She paused for a moment and added, "Your family is like my family now. The family I never knew I actually wanted… needed. You've done a lot for me, Lee, and now it's time for me to pay it back."
Amanda reached over and took Francine's hand in hers. "There's nothing to pay back, Francine. Family doesn't pay back anything."
Francine squeezed her hand. "Then let's say paying it forward. I know it seems like a lot–"
"A lot? Francine, this is too much!" Lee interjected.
"Lee, education was important to Jonathan, and I know it's important to Amanda too. That's why DJ, Lily, Jamie, and Philip won't have to worry about paying for college. I'm also setting up a scholarship fund at the college Jonathan attended in his name. He said I would know what to do with his estate, so that's what I'm doing. I'm giving all these kids a chance for their future," Francine stated firmly. "And I won't take no for an answer. It's not something up for debate. It's finalized."
Lee stood and crossed the room to his friend. He leaned down and brushed his lips against her forehead before cradling DJ's cheek in his hand. "Thank you will never be enough, so you know this means you have to stick around to see them graduate college too."
Francine smiled up at him. "I plan on it."
"So what are you going to do with the townhouse?" Amanda asked, her mind still reeling.
"After a long talk with my new financial advisor and Leatherneck, I'm going to sell both Jonathan's place and my condo." Francine peered down at the baby in her lap who started rubbing her eyes. "All this talk about money and finances is pretty boring, DJ, isn't it?"
Amanda reached over and took her daughter. She snuggled the baby against her shoulder. "It's getting pretty close to their nap time. If we get going pretty soon, we might get lucky and they'll sleep in the car."
"If you sell your condo, where are you looking to go?" Lee pressed.
"Actually, I was thinking about buying something a little closer to the city. Another condo, so I don't have to worry about maintenance or anything like that. Something a little bigger than what I have now maybe," Francine explained.
Lee grinned. "Bigger hmmmm… are you planning on needing the extra room for anyone in particular?"
Francine narrowed her eyes in his direction. "As much as I enjoy spending time with your children, I don't plan on having any of my own, thank you very much. I was thinking more along the lines of when DJ and Lily come to visit… maybe a sleepover after they're potty trained."
"Ah," Lee acknowledged. Across the room, he noticed Lily's head beginning to droop in Billy's lap, bobbing up quickly as she fought sleep. "I think Amanda's right. They're both getting pretty tired. If we head to the dealership now, we may be able to do some car shopping while they nap."
Billy met him halfway and transferred Lily's relaxed body into Lee's arms. "I'll see you both first thing Monday morning. Don't forget, I need an update from Gourad about what's been happening in Djibouti."
"Will do." Lee held the office door open for Amanda. "Oh, Francine, one more thing. Because of everything… why don't you come by tonight and have dinner with us? You can tell the boys yourself."
"Tonight, I have plans, but tomorrow night, it's a date." Francine stood and moved closer to the door. "And since somebody needs to do some work around here, I should get back to my desk."
Billy cleared his throat loudly, drawing everyone's attention to him. "Actually, Francine. I'm the only one who needs to get some work done. I'm giving you the rest of the day off as well because of your involvement in capturing Espiritu and foiling Brody's plans. Enjoy."
Francine grinned ear-to-ear. "Thanks, Billy." She followed Lee and Amanda into the bullpen. She veered left toward her desk as Amanda and Lee headed right toward the hallway.
Less than an hour later, Lee and Amanda were beginning to walk around the car dealership, each one carrying one of the girls. "I hope that little power nap they just took doesn't mean they're going to be cranky later," Amanda groaned. She shifted Lily higher on her hip and laughed at the smiling baby in her arms. "At least they both seem to be in a good mood right now."
"How about we split up? I'll take DJ this way to see if I can find anything we might like and you head that way." Lee looked left to right, emphasizing his suggestion.
"That sounds like a good plan, Sweetheart. I'll give you a holler if I find anything." Amanda walked to her right, bouncing Lily and chatting softly about each car they walked past. "This is a blue car and that's a black one… oh look, there's a brown wagon like Momma used to have when she first met your daddy."
After wandering through several rows of cars for a few minutes, Amanda heard a familiar voice calling her name. "Amanda? Is that you?"
She continued past a large van until she emerged to find Dean standing in the lot.
"I thought that was you!" he exclaimed. Without hesitation, he leaned close and kissed her cheek. "How've you been?"
Amanda took a step back to create space between them. "Good. I'm good."
"How are the boys? They must be getting so big now," Dean continued. Without waiting for a reply he asked, "Are you babysitting now? Or did you find another job? Let me guess, IFF let you go, didn't they?" He reached out and tried to take Lily's hand in his but the baby eyed him wearily before pulling her hand back and turning away.
Amanda held her daughter a little closer. "No, I still work for IFF. I've been there all along. And this is my daughter."
"Daughter? I didn't know you were seeing anyone," Dean replied.
Amanda opened her mouth to reply when she spotted Lee and DJ nearing them. With a sly smile she stated, "Actually, there's my husband now."
Dean followed Amanda's line of sight and audibly gasped. "Husband? There's two of them?"
"Lee, you remember Dean, don't you?" Amanda asked sweetly when Lee was within earshot.
Lee scanned Dean from head to toe before adjusting DJ higher in his arms. He thrust his hand out and said, "I don't believe we've actually met face to face. Lee Stetson."
Dean tentatively shook Lee's hand. "I… didn't… know…" Dean shook his head, completely confused as he looked from one twin to the other, then back to Lee, his gaze ending on Amanda's smiling face.
"I met Lee not long after you and I sort of drifted apart, I guess. These are our girls, DJ and Lily." Amanda bounced Lily to try to get her to turn around but to no avail. "I guess Lily is being shy right now."
"They're adorable," Dean stammered. "It was nice catching up. Tell Dotty I said hello. I've missed our conversations. I'll see you around." Dean quickly disappeared between several trucks parked in the lot.
Lee craned his neck to see where Dean went but he lost sight of him. "Dean… that's the guy with the fish, right?"
Amanda shifted slightly and tipped her head at him. "Dean… the weatherman."
"The one you were seeing before you and I started working together," Lee confirmed. "I thought his name was Dan?" He pursed his lips tightly, fighting a grin.
"You know exactly what his name is," Amanda hissed.
Lee chuckled, brought his free arm around his wife, and hugged her. "I do. And I still don't get what you saw in him."
Amanda playfully slapped her husband's midsection. "Clearly it wasn't what I saw in you because I couldn't even consider marrying him."
Lee grinned toothily at her, his dimples deep. "Or have a baby or two with him."
"Or have a baby or two with," Amanda replied before leaning in and kissing her husband.
To be continued…Summer 2025