In Limbo

Chapter 75

Dotty shook her head as the boys headed upstairs quickly, with Lee calling after them, "Hey, Guys! You don't have to leave! What's the problem?"

Amanda sighed, and greeting Lee with a kiss, commented, "I-I'm sorry, Sweetheart...We were trying to stop the boys argument, and-"

Dotty, going to the kitchen to check on the roast, answered simply, "You can't help, Lee , because as far as I'm concerned, you've done enough already-"

Amanda, shocked, replied, "Mother!"

Dotty, putting the oven on Warm, closed the oven door once more, stating, "I'm sorry, Darling, but it now explains why you had to miss school plays, Parent Teacher conferences at times. You were out saving the world with him instead of having a normal life-"

Lee queried testily, "Oh? You mean she should have married Dean "What's His Name?"

Dotty commented, "McGuire, and yes! All he did was report the weather! No dangerous career there-"

Lee growled as he paced in the family room, "Oh, give me a break, huh?! Do you know how many people die each day just by doing ordinary things? You-You could go for a walk and get hit by a car...You could have a heart attack while jogging...Or take my parents for instance..."

Amanda swallowed as Lee responded with a catch in his throat, "They-They went for a simple drive one day, and some bastard hit them head-on!"

Stopping to face a stunned Dotty, he shook his head answering as Amanda rubbed his back, "They lost not only the rest of their lives together, but my childhood from age four and onward through adulthood as well! Look, I know how worried you are about Amanda and your grandsons, but we promise to do everything we possibly can to help all of us stay safe through our future together...If that's still on the table, that is..."

Then turning to Amanda, he squeezed her hands and stated simply, "I-I'm gonna head home now...Kinda lost my appetite...See you at the office tomorrow."

Giving her a peck on the cheek, he turned and headed out the front door...

-SMK-

As Amanda watched Lee leave, she swallowed hard, and replied to Dotty in a hurt tone, "Well, are you happy now? You've managed to hurt the most wonderful man in the world to me."

Then, going to the stairs, she called up, "Phillip Thomas and James Carlton West! You get yourselves down here this minute, because we're having a meeting! Move it!"

When the boys came down, Amanda said, "Please sit down at the table. You too, Mother..."

Dotty quickly put up a hand responding, "I-I'm so sorry, Darling! It's just that I'm afraid-"

Amanda waved it away as Dotty sat near the boys, and sighing, commented, "I'm afraid too, Mother! I'm afraid I may have lost Lee Stetson for good!"

Then looking at her sons and her mother, Amanda answered softly, " Look...That man has been nothing but kind to you all since he got to know you. Now, the circumstances of how he got involved with us in the first place were a bit strange, but his intentions have been honorable...Boys, I know deep down you still miss and love your dad, and that's okay...But I'm asking you to please give Lee one more chance because I love him more than I ever thought possible...I also know he cares for you both and your grandmother despite your misgivings..."

Swallowing hard, Amanda stated, "Now, you all discuss it over dinner...I'll be at Lee's until late..."

Going to the counter, Amanda took her purse and keys and went out the front door without another word...

-SMK-

Coming to Lee's a half hour later, he was surprised to see Amanda when he answered the door, and she asked as she entered, giving him a kiss, "Have you ordered dinner yet? I'm pretty hungry..."

An ominous feeling crept over Lee as he queried, " Uh, okay, I'll call out for Chinese...And what happened? Should I be worried?"

Amanda shrugged, commenting, "Not at all...They're discussing things over dinner, and I told them I'd be home late."

Lee groaned inwardly, thinking, Yeah, discussing the best way to tell me to take a hike, I'll bet...

Amanda, seeing the defeat in Lee's eyes, sighed and going to him, put her arms around him, answering, " C'mon, Honey...What's that face for?"

Lee shrugged replying quietly, "I'm just reminded of that old saying, "The truth will set you free." Well, right now, I'm thinking we made a bad decision-"

Amanda remarked, "Oh, c'mon! We agreed this was the right choice! We couldn't hide our feelings forever...Look at Billy and Jeannie...They have a wonderful marriage and two great kids. That's what I want for us...Don't you?"

Lee half smiled, and commented, "Sure, only the Agency and your family are mixed up in this firestorm, with little to no end in sight."

Amanda reproached Lee, stating gently as she caressed his cheek, "Hey, who's the pessimist now?... Look, once they calm down and really start to think about the future with us, it won't be so scary, you know? They'll start believing in us again, that we know how to handle our future, alright? Now, let's call for Chinese food already, huh? I'm starving."

As Lee went to the phone to order the food, he hoped the fortune cookies included would bring them luck...

TBC