Chance

Author's note: This is the second of three "what if" stories. Hope you like it. Thanks to the beta crew for being available and so patient with me. My muse working in overdrive.

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Amanda had been away for several days. She'd taken some much needed time off. Both boys were away at college, and her mother and Curt had a life of their own. It had taken them some time, but finally, once Jamie left for college, Dotty decided she couldn't put Curt off any longer. Now they were constantly flying off somewhere. It was now Fall and classes were in full swing, and with it came a kind of sadness that seemed to happen that time of year, especially the last few years.

Things weren't the same. Life hadn't been the same for a while now if she were, to be honest with herself but the trip to visit one of her college friends was just the thing she needed. She still had some vacation time left but she was ready to come home. As she looked around the airport, she wondered why she'd felt the need to rush back so soon. There wasn't anyone there to greet her at the airport and there wasn't anyone at home. Maybe she would order herself a pizza and watch an old movie. That might cheer her up.

It wasn't that she was lonely or bored. The work at the agency certainly kept her busy enough, still. She was a full agent now and she was one of the best agents they had and even though she was getting older, she was constantly paired with new agents. She preferred not to have a partner since Lee left the agency. She had never quite understood why he'd quit, that was the part that bothered her so much even now. Neither Mr. Melrose nor Francine seemed to know the reason, even though she was always certain Mr. Melrose knew a little more than he let on.

The house would seem so empty when she got home. Too bad she didn't have someone to go out with. It had been a while since she'd been on a date and the few she'd had hadn't gone anywhere. The truth was, there had only been one man she'd loved, besides Joe that is; but it ended rather abruptly. Sometimes in life things just don't go the way you want them to.

Oh, well, that's enough of that she thought as she stood staring at the conveyor belt and watched the luggage go around as she waited for hers. She watched as one then another suitcase came around. A few times she stepped up thinking it was her brown well-worn luggage coming around but she was wrong. Finally, she saw one of her bags; she knew it was hers this time because it still had the distinctive slit on the handle from last year when she was in London on a case. As she grabbed it, she saw a man at the next conveyor belt who looked a lot like…Lee. She must be imagining things; it couldn't be him but even it was, what could she possibly say to him? She thought as she turned and walked away.

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Lee stood back and waited as one piece of luggage after another came around. He stood tapping his foot as he impatiently waited for his suitcase to come around the conveyor belt. He glanced down at his watch again. He was already cutting things close, his flight had been delayed an hour due to the weather; too windy and rainy to pull off.

Why in the world he let himself be talked into coming back here, he'd never know. Well, it was a quick business trip but it couldn't be helped. He only had one client in Washington and he insisted on having Lee there to help him with a situation, though any one of his employees could handle things. He couldn't complain too much, he got to travel all across the world and was able to go out with all kinds of pretty women, all the good that did him. Only God knew when his last date was. Not that he was a hermit or anything but he wasn't the playboy he used to be.

Finally, his bag, Lee thought, grabbing it quickly and turned to leave and as he did so, he saw a familiar figure or at least he thought it was her. What were the chances that it was Amanda? He stepped forward then thought better of it. What could he possibly say? That he'd been a chicken all those years ago? That when he left, as abruptly as he did, it was because he was afraid of really letting her in? He watched as she grabbed her bag and walked away.

Darn it! Amanda thought as she realized that she'd set down her tote bag when she grabbed her luggage. Turning around quickly to go back and retrieve it, she ran smack dab into someone, her softness hitting hard against a man's solid chest. "Oh my gosh, I'm so—" Amanda began then stopped once she realized who she ran into. "Lee?"

"Amanda!" Wow, he couldn't believe it. She looked good, beautiful as ever. The years had been kind to her. She was wearing a pink top with tight-fitting jeans that hugged every curve. "Are you okay? I'm sorry, it was my fault."

"I'm okay just a little surprised to find you here. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."

That was good old Amanda always ready to take the blame, though in this case, it was both their fault. "I was in a hurry—" Lee started.

"What are you doing here, back in Washington?" Amanda asked. He was as handsome as ever and that smile. She had to avert her eyes a little to keep from staring and he was wearing a blue suit. Oh my gosh, did he look good!

"I'm here on business, but—" Lee stopped and looked around. "Look, we better step to the side before we get crushed."

"Good idea." They moved to the side. "So, are you back in town to stay?" Now why in the world did she ask that?

"Oh, I well-I'm here on business, " he stuttered before saying. " I own and operate a PI firm. Most things I can have one of my staff members handle but this client asked for me."

"Oh, I see."

"What about you Amanda?"

"Oh, I had some vacation time."

"That's nice." It was so good seeing her. He would love to stay and chat some more but, he glanced down at his watch, he had that meeting. He was already cutting it close due to the flight.

"Lee, well, it was good seeing you," Amanda said, noticing how he kept looking down at his watch. She would love to chat longer but she wasn't particularly in a rush to get back home.

"Yes, same here, " Lee said as they both began moving away from the luggage area then suddenly stopped. "Amanda?"

"Yes, Lee?"

"Would you like to go and get some coffee, if memory serves me right there is a place right over—" He looked around.

"There." Amanda finished for him pointing to the spot. "I would like that. But what about your meeting?"

"I'll give my client a call and tell him I'll be a little late." He'd tell him that he was running behind because the flight was delayed but not give all the details.

Amanda smiled.

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Amanda waited for Lee while he phoned his client and afterward, they found a table in the café.

"Where were you traveling from?" Lee asked.

"I was in New York visiting an old college friend."

He tried not to hunch up his back at the thought of the college friend being an old boyfriend. Some things never changed. He could never help but be jealous when it came to men and Amanda.

"Yeah, she lives there with her husband and children. She still has a set of teenage twins."

It was uncanny. It was almost as if Amanda heard what he was thinking. But she could always read him, like a book which was one of the reasons he—

His thoughts were interrupted as he heard Amanda asking him questions.

"How long will you be here in Washington?"

"I 'm scheduled to leave the day after tomorrow but I can extend my stay if I need to." He shrugged his shoulders. "It just depends on how it goes."

They sipped their coffee and ate their pastries in silence for a moment as each of them tried to think of a way to ask about the other person's personal life. Finally, Lee asked, "Are you still at the agency?"

"Yes, I am still there."

She went on to tell him about her full agent status and some of the other agents. She also explained how Billy would be retiring soon and Francine would take on his responsibilities even though she was married now; to Leatherneck for two years now.

"Wow, I never would have imagined those two."

"I know."

Lee went on to ask Amanda about the boys and her mother. He looked surprised when she told him that it was just her at home.

"Wow, you never remarried?" Lee asked incredulously.

"No. What about you?"

"No. No one serious?"

"No, and what about you, anyone special in your life?"

He opened his mouth to say no then suddenly his eyes caught hold of the clock on the wall. "Amanda, I…damn it, I'm sorry, is that clock right?" He glanced down at his watch and confirmed the time. "I lost track of time. I should probably get going."

"Well, it was good seeing you," Amanda said trying not to look disappointed.

"Amanda, I'm very sorry."

"It's okay." Though she was disappointed, she reached out and touched his hand but pulled back at the spark she felt. "Lee, I understand, really I do."

Amanda's understanding pulled at his heart. That was almost like old times too. By this time they had left the café and were outside at the cab stand.

They stood on the curb for a moment.

Amanda looked around and then said, "Lee, can I ask you something?"

"Yes, of course."

"Why did you leave the agency and leave Washington?" Before he could respond, Amanda went on, "I mean, was it something I said or did? I thought that we were becoming closer there—"

"Amanda, it wasn't you. It was me. I was frightened of the feelings I was beginning to develop for you. I have regretted running out on you and the

agency—"

"I was frightened too. If you had told me, we could have worked on them together."

"Yeah, I suppose we could have."

She looked at him then, her eyes bright, and then did what he least expected, hugged him as she whispered in his ear, "If you ever get tired of running, give me a call." And then she pulled away and stepped into the first cab that pulled up leaving Lee as he oftentimes was in the past with Amanda, stunned and amazed.

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An hour or so later, Amanda was unpacked, showered, and changed. she'd felt drained beyond anything she'd felt in a long time but now she was ready to sit back and watch a movie. Yet, her mind was busy thinking about Lee. Oh well time to figure out the best movies, some take out. She had on her comfy clothes. She was reaching for the take-out menus when she heard the doorbell ring.

"Now who in the world could that be?" She asked out loud as she went to the door.

She peeked through the keyhole and paused a moment, looked out again, and then opened the door.

"Lee, what in the world are you doing here? I-I thought you had a big meeting, a new client—" Amanda began in disbelief as her heart nearly stopped.

"Well, you did say that if I got tired of running away to give you a call." He smiled brightly as he held up a bottle of wine in one hand and a bouquet of roses in the other. "I figured showing up was better than calling."

When Amanda remained still Lee began to panic. "Oh no, Amanda am I too late? Is it too late to apologize and start again?"

"No, you are right on time," She said finally holding up the take-out menus so he could see them.

Lee's smile returned as he walked inside the house.

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The end

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Thank you for reading.

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