Stepparenting 101

Chapter 10

As Chet sat down at the food court table across from Marty he shrugged. "What's wrong, Pop? I'm okay. So's Phil. But his mom's having a cow for some reason-"

Marty put up a hand and sighed."Cool it, will ya? You know. Now that I think about it, I should be having one too."

Chet surprised answered, ""You? No way. You're the greatest pop in the world. You get me. Mrs. King's nice and all, but she's stiff in some ways-"

Marty pointed a finger at his son cutting him off."Enough! Now, you and me are pals and we're always gonna be. But it's time I was a real dad to you and lay it all out on the line. So, here it is. I've been doing things backwards where you're concerned. I haven't been making the smartest choices here. So when we get home I'm gonna fix it, okay? Let's go..."

He got up and Chet shook his head as he got up and followed his father out of the mall.

He thought on his way to Marty's car, What did Mr. Stetson say to Pop? I hope Pop's not wigging out...

Meanwhile Lee, Amanda, and Phillip were almost to the house when Phillip grumbled to Amanda, "I didn't do anything wrong. I was just chilling with Chet. I'll bet Dad wouldn't raise a stink like you're doing. He wouldn't care."

At this point, Amanda had enough! "Lee, would you mind pulling into the park area? I need to talk to Phillip alone, please."

Lee nodded and finding a spot parked and got out. "I'll be over by the swings."

As he left Amanda got out of the front passenger seat and got into the back seat closing the door.

She sighed deeply. "Phillip, your father would most certainly have cared about this! He loves you and your brother very much."

Swallowing she continued, "Do you remember the day we told you boys we were ending our marriage? It was the worst day in our lives because we felt like we had failed you both as your parents. We were hurting, but it was nothing compared to what we put you both through. We broke your hearts that day. And today I'm feeling like I failed you again somehow and it will be a long time before I can trust you again."

Phillip looked at her somberly and his eyes watered as he shrugged slowly. "What do you want me to do?"

Clearing her throat Amanda went to get a tissue out of her purse in the front seat and handing it to Phillip replied softly, "Well. When we get home, you call your dad and tell him what's been going on including today's escapade."

Then cupping his chin she turned it to face her. "I still love you, okay? Not thrilled with your sass, but I know you're just testing me like any other teenager today."

Amanda then hugged him and held him a moment longer as she heard him say, "I'm sorry, Mom. I love you, too."

When they parted Amanda tooted the horn to signal to Lee to come back.

As he got in Lee asked looking at both, "Everything okay here?"

The two nodded as Lee started the car and they went back to the house.

Coming in the front door Dotty greeted them. "Amanda, Mr. Melrose called. He sounded very upset."

Lee winced. "Oh, boy. We are kinda late getting back to work. Let me call from my car."

As he went back out Dotty asked Phillip concernedly, "Are you all right, Dear?"

Phillip nodded and hugged her. "I'm sorry if I worried you, Grandma."

Amanda got on the phone. "I'd better call school and let them know I found you and then you can call your dad."

Lee came back in as she was hanging up. "You all set here? Because we gotta get back to work."

Looking at her watch she winced. "Gosh. I didn't know it was this late. All right."

Looking at Dotty she answered, "Phillip is grounded for two weeks. I told Alma Dennis to have Jamie bring home any assignments Phillip has for today. He won't be seeing Chet for quite a while. I should be home around dinner. Bye."

Dotty nodded. "All right, Dear. Bye, bye."

When Lee and Amanda got back to the Agency they went to Billy's office.

As they sat down Billy told them, "Until further notice you both have desk duty. Don't worry. Francine and I have been reprimanded as well here."

Lee groaned, "You mean because of the Bradford stuff? We didn't hunt him down or his family-"

Billy put up a hand. "Stop! It didn't matter to Smyth. You didn't follow protocol with search warrants and the like. Neither did I. So, just go back to your office and work on filing. Dismissed..."

As Lee and Amanda reached the "Q" and went in Amanda sat down at her desk and shook her head.

Lee looked questioningly at her. "What is it, Honey?"

Amanda chuckled. "Heh. Well, looks like we've been grounded just like I had to ground Phillip earlier."

Lee shrugged. "Phillip's a kid-"

Amanda nodded gesturing to herself. "Yeah. And I'm the adult who's supposed to set an example for him, right? Sure glad I'm not telling him about this. I'd never hear the end of it..."

Lee smiled. "Ahh. You mean the saying," Turnabout is fair play?"

Amanda nodded. "Exactly. He'd think of a way to throw it back in my face somehow."

Lee chuckled. "Oh c'mon, Sweetheart. He's not a spiteful kid."

Amanda shrugged lightly. "No. But there will be silence from him for awhile."

Lee half smiled. "Well, cheer up. You still have one son that likes you for the moment."

Amanda shaking her head answered finally, "Ha, ha. Let's just get on the files, okay?"

Later that evening after dinner the front doorbell rang at the King home.

Amanda went to answer it as both boys were helping Dotty with the dishes.

Opening the door she was surprised to see Marty and Chet Bradford standing there.

Greeting them she remarked, "Come in. What can I do for you?"

Marty and Chet entered as Marty said, "Well, Mandy-uh Amanda. We just stopped by to say goodbye. Is Lee here?"

Amanda shook her head. "No. He was supposed to join us for dinner but had a meeting. Would you like to sit down?"

They followed her to the family room and sitting down on the couch Marty looked at Amanda. "Well, I wanted to thank Lee for the talk we had at the mall. And also to apologize to you for trying to push a sale on you for your house. I had no right to do that."

Clearing his throat Chet spoke up. "Uh, Mrs. King? Is it all right if I talk to Phillip for a minute?"

Amanda smiled. "Of course."

Calling Phillip over she said, "Chet wants to talk to you outside, Honey."

Phillip nodded and Chet followed him out to the patio.

Sitting down at the picnic table, Chet shrugged. "Guess your mom finally chilled out, huh?"

Phillip sighed. "Aw, she's okay. I'm grounded for a while, though. So, what's up with you and your dad?"

Chet sighed. "Well, when Pop and I got home from the mall he did the weirdest thing and called Judith-uh, my mom."

Phillip was puzzled. "Why? I thought he didn't like her."

Chet shook his head. " I know, right? But get this. He said he thinks I should try to get to know her better. That it was his fault she didn't stick around, not mine at all. So, we're heading out to San Francisco tomorrow morning. I'm staying with Judith over the weekend and meeting her mom-my grandmother. This is so messed up. I mean, I don't even have any say in it at all. I like that it's just Pop and me. Why drag her into our life now?"

Phillip shrugged and sat down across from Chet. "Yeah, I sorta get it. I was nine and Jamie was seven when our folks split. They still loved us and all but it was weird having Dad so far away. At least we had Grandma move in with us. She and Mom made it okay. So, when are you coming back?"

Chet got up and swallowing shook his head. "I don't know that, either. I heard Pop on the phone earlier with Judith saying that he's thinking of moving us back to L. A. if the weekend works out. That he had some sense knocked into him from somewhere that things had to change. I didn't get why he said that."

Then Marty came out through the French doors. "Hey, Chet? You ready to go, Pal?"

Chet sighed nodding. "Sure, Pop."

Phillip got up from the table and shook Chet's hand. "Well, let me know your address if you move."

Chet then gave Phillip a short hug as Amanda came out. "Right. Bye, Phillip. Bye, Mrs. King. Thanks."

As Marty and Chet went out the back way Amanda asked Phillip, "You all right, Sweetheart?"

Phillip nodded. "Yeah. Well, I'm gonna go finish the homework I had left. Oh, Dad's coming this weekend and he and Jamie are going to the NASCAR races. He agreed about you grounding me. Guess he really does care."

As Phillip went back inside and went upstairs Dotty looked at Amanda who had a strange exprssion on her face. "Are you all right, Darling?"

Amanda shrugged as she went to the couch and sat down."I don't know. Was I hard to figure out at Phillip's age?"

Dotty chuckled as she kissed Amanda's forehead. "Of course you were, Dear. Then...And now."

Amanda playfully swatted her mother's arm as Dotty headed upstairs and the phone rang.

Picking it up she said, "Hello?"

It was Lee. "Hi. Did you see Marty?"

Amanda asked, "How did you know-"

Lee interjected. "Because I got a thank you message as I was leaving the office. What for? I have no idea."

Amanda replied, "Well, I guess whatever you talked to him about at the mall earlier today stuck with him. What exactly did you say?"

Lee shrugged. "Um, something along the lines of he has to want to be a parent and not just a pal to Chet. Why?"

Amanda sighed. "Because he and Chet are going to San Francisco for a while to see Judith. He even apologized to me for trying to force me to sell the house. You sure you didn't arrange something for him?"

Lee shook his head. "No, I didn't do anything but talk to him. But I realized at the mall that I'm one hundred percent invested in this new family of mine and I want it to last, so I just stepped up to the plate."

Amanda smiled. " And you got a home run, Stetson. Good move!"

The End