Dotty's Five W's And An H

Chapter 1

It was a long week as Amanda and her family tried settling back into a normal routine after her fugitive time with Lee.

Late that Friday evening as Amanda went around checking all the doors and windows to lock up Dotty had come into the kitchen to get her glass of milk and splash of wine and leaning against the counter for a moment, observed her daughter wondering why she hadn't shown the least little bit of exhaustion the last few days after that Federal mess she and the boys had to endure!

Phillip and Jamie usually loved to stay up on Fridays knowing there was no school for the weekend. But they went to bed early that night, tired but satisfied that their mother was back home safe and sound and of her answer to their questions of what happened while she was running from the law.

She simply said that she was sworn to secrecy so she couldn't tell them much of anything that happened.

But Dotty only believed part of that rubbish!

When she had questions for Mr. Melrose about who Lee Stetson was or what was going on, all he told her was, "I'm not at liberty to say."

She bristled however as he would ask her questions over and over about Amanda's actions just before she had taken off that day with Lee.

Thank goodness Joe King had arrived to help calm the waters and look after the family until Amanda came home!

But looking back on the day he arrived she realized he couldn't say much either after he'd talked to Mr. Melrose.

But she wasn't angry at Joe.

Right now, it was Amanda she was upset with.

There was a special bond between them even through the loss of her late husband Carl, Amanda's father.

And later with Amanda's divorce from Joe when Amanda had Phillip and Jamie to raise alone, Dotty had offered to move in to help her daughter out which Amanda was truly grateful for.

But now, she wondered why she felt like she didn't know her daughter at all any more?

She then noticed Amanda coming back from checking the French doors and asked her, "Everything locked up?"

Amanda nodded and yawned slightly."Yes, Mother. Think I'll head up now. It's been a long day."

But as she kissed Dotty's cheek and headed for the stairs she heard, "We need to talk, Amanda. There are questions I need answers to here that do not require Federal agents. Please go sit down."

As Amanda headed slowly for the family room couch she nervously thought, Uh-oh...This doesn't sound good at all.

Sitting down Amanda waited with bated breath as Dotty remarked, "Changed my mind on my milk for tonight. I'll make us some tea, instead. It's going to be a while."

Amanda's mind raced. What is she about to ask me, and what can I tell her truthfully?

TBC