The Ties That Bind: A Scarecrow and Mrs. King Continuing Story Book 1

Chapter 27

Day 18

Lee ushered Amanda into their apartment and helped her to the couch. "Can I get you something to drink, Sweetheart?" He headed toward the kitchen.

"Lee," Amanda sighed. "I'm pregnant; I'm not an invalid. I can get my own drink."

"Amanda," He mocked her tone of voice and rolled his eyes, "I was going in the kitchen anyway. Now, what would you like? Water? Juice? Milk?"

Amanda acquiesced and sat back into the sofa. "Milk would be great, thanks." She heard Lee open and close the refrigerator door. "You know, it feels like I've lived a whole lifetime since the last time I was here."

"What's that?" Lee called from the kitchen.

Amanda waited for him to come back into the room. "I said, it feels like forever since I've been here – almost like it was another lifetime ago."

"Yeah." He handed her the drink and shook his head. It would take a while for him to process what they had just been through. He sat on the couch next to her, put his arm around her shoulder, and pulled her closer to his side.

"Do we know who the fake paramedics were yet?"

"Yeah, Fred spilled the beans on that one." Lee ran his hand up and down her arm. "The dispatcher was actually a buddy of Fred and Davy's from the children's home."

"Noooo..."

"Yeah," Lee huffed. "As soon as the dispatcher got the call and knew we were involved, he sent out a couple of hand-picked paramedics who owed him a hefty amount of money."

"Oh my gosh."

He rubbed her arm again and looked down into her eyes. "I prayed for you, Amanda." He chuckled. "Do you know how long it's been since I prayed?" He shut his eyes at the memory. "I felt more helpless than I did when you were in the hospital in California. At least there I knew you had doctors looking out for you. This time, there were only crazy people around you, and there was absolutely nothing I could do to stop them."

"But you did, Sweetheart. I'm here, aren't I?"

"Amanda," Lee sighed. "I don't know if I can do this anymore."

"Do what?" She sat up as she felt him shift forward on the couch.

He stood and walked across the room to look out the window. After a moment, he turned to face her. "I don't know if I can watch you walk headlong into danger, Amanda. I simply don't think I can do it anymore."

"Lee..."

"No," he put his hand up in the traditional 'stop' gesture. "Hear me out."

"Okay," she conceded. "I'm listening."

Lee pulled the armchair closer to the couch so he could look her in the face.

"Amanda, I love you so much." He brushed her cheek with his hand. "I had no idea I could love someone like this." He dropped his hand and held onto hers. "The thought of losing you...of losing our child..." He shook his head. "Amanda, I just don't think I can put you in dangerous situations anymore. This was just one too many."

Amanda looked into the intense hazel eyes she loved. She could read the fear and worry in them. This latest...adventure...had certainly taken a lot out of them both.

"I prided myself on being so good at what I do that as long as you were with me, you'd be okay because I could take care of you. But Amanda, I was helpless. I sat here, and I watched them torture you, and there was not one damn thing I could do to stop them." He looked down and shook his head.