The Awakening (Montgomery/Taggert 11)

“Yeah, well I didn’t mean for you to get drunk.”

Sam started forward, but Amanda put her hand up. “You just wanted me to do what you wanted, didn’t you?” Quickly, she spun about on her heel and planted her lips on Sam’s. She didn’t feel anything except anger, and when Sam’s hands grabbed her waist she pushed him away and looked back at Hank.

“There! That’s something I wanted to do. Now Sam and I are going to get something to eat.”

Reva clutched Hank’s arm. “That’s just great, because we’re going dancing.” Reva pulled, but Hank didn’t move as he watched Sam and Amanda start walking down the street, the streetlamps making them look isolated and intimate.

“I think I’m hungry,” Hank said and started after Amanda and Sam.

Gritting her teeth, Reva followed him. “I thought you said Amanda was nothing to you.”

“Merely a responsibility,” Hank said, then turned into a diner behind Amanda and Sam. “Mind if we join you?” he asked as he took the opposite side of the booth, across from Amanda, Reva beside him.

“Could someone tell me what’s goin’ on?” Sam asked. “Who is this guy?”

“I would love to know the answer to that,” Amanda said. “Just who are you, Dr. Montgomery? And why have you taken me to raise?”

“Good question,” Reva said.

Hank picked up a menu and buried his face in it. “What’s good to eat here? Not that it will matter to Amanda; she’ll eat a wagonload of anything.”

Everyone was quiet for a moment, three of them staring at Hank, but he didn’t look up until the waitress came. He didn’t know what made him angrier, prim little Amanda running off with this bonehead or the fact that she kept smiling so invitingly at him. She seemed to go from one extreme to another: Taylor, who was all learning and nothing physical, to this galoot, who probably had muscle for brains.

“Sam and I are going for a walk,” Amanda said.

“Over my dead body,” Hank said pleasantly.

“Maybe that can be arranged, Doc, although I hate to take advantage of an older man.”

Hank nearly came out of his seat at that, but Reva put her hand on his arm. She was liking Hank more by the minute. If she could just get him away from Amanda.

“I think a walk’s a grand idea,” Reva said. “We’ll all go. We’ll walk out toward the museum.” That was a long, dark road and there were hop fields on one side and maybe she could persuade Hank to walk under the dark rows with her.

“Maybe Amanda can get the museum opened for us,” Hank said. “Then she could give us a tour.”

Amanda gave him a cool look and moved closer in the seat to Sam. “Tonight I prefer to have fun. That’s the objective, isn’t it?”

Hank looked at the way Sam was gazing down at Amanda and the fork in his hand bent.

“You better be careful you don’t hurt yourself, Doc,” Sam said. “It takes longer to heal at your age. Come on, Amanda, you ready to leave this place?”

“Yes,” she said, smiling maliciously at Hank.

Hank had to pay the check, and then Reva wanted to go to the restroom and she made him feel so rotten that he waited for her and he nearly lost Amanda and that schoolboy.

“Come on,” Hank said impatiently to Reva.

“This is turning into the worst date I have ever been on,” Reva muttered as they started walking. She did her best to coax Hank into the dark hop fields, but he didn’t even seem to be aware of what she was doing.

Finally, she planted herself in front of him. “Look, I want to know what’s going on. You invite me out to dance but you arrive with another woman who you say is nothing to you, then I get one dance and we’re off chasing Amanda as if she were the love of your life. I just want to know where I stand. If you want Amanda, then don’t invite me out.” She knew she was risking losing him, but at this point her feet, in shoes made for dancing, hurt too much to care.

“Amanda’s lived in a glass case all her life. She has no idea what men are capable of, and she’s been throwing herself at that football player all night.”

“Sam’s a good guy. Amanda will be all right with him.”

“Hah!” Hank said and started walking again. “She’s my responsibility. I made her come out tonight and I’d never be able to live with myself if anything happened to her.”

“You sure that’s all it is? You’re not interested in her yourself?”