Chapter Text
The problem with patience is that not everyone has it in equal measure.
Amanda had the lion's share. She was patient with Lee for more than two years. He needed to work through his own loner tendencies after losing his last partner. He also needed time to see Amanda clearly - sometimes, he put her on a pedestal. He wanted her away from anything to do with him and the Agency, out of danger on both accounts. Other times, he couldn't see past her naivete and inexperience to value her instincts, insight, and unique skills. Eventually, all that was left was his own misguided fear of losing her. He had to realize he could lose her any time, on any mission. And he would lose her if he never made his move - to another man, or her own sense of self-worth if he made her wait too long.
Lee needed less patience with Amanda - not that he would have agreed at first, when he thought he was being patient with her in the field. But he truly was patient with Amanda for a few weeks while she hesitated about moving forward. And maybe he had to be patient with himself though it all, too.
Dotty, however, ran out of patience before Lee and Amanda ever met. Her daughter had plenty of eligible men interested in her, and she barely ever gave them the time of day. Well, Dean got more than the time of day, but he also got the boot for no good reason that Dotty could tell.
"I don't get it, Lillian," she chattered over the phone to her sister one dismally gray day. "Alan seemed so promising. He took her out for dinner one evening and breakfast the next morning."
"Maybe he was too eager," Lillian suggested. "Did that put her off?"
"Well, you know, I really don't think it did." She paused to collect her thoughts on the matter. "You see, Amanda never thinks I can tell when she's serious about someone. She always downplays every single date. I think she doesn't want to get my hopes up. But she was definitely interested in him. I could see it in her eyes."
"But didn't you say he lives in Italy?" Lillian argued.
"Well, I suppose so," Dotty conceded. But she was never one to admit defeat. "But it's not just Alan, you see."
"Right, of course, you've told me about a few other dates," her sister replied. "But nobody steady since Dean. But that's okay, isn't it? I mean, I never thought Dean was quite right for Amanda."
"No, nobody steady since Dean." That was all Dotty could agree with, though. Really, who knew Amanda better, her aunt, or her mother? "But he was just lovely. He would've been the perfect stepfather for the boys. He adored them, and Amanda. They could all be one, big happy family now, and I don't know why she let him get away."
"Didn't Amanda get that new job at IFF right before things fizzled out with Dean?" asked Lillian.
"Well yes, but what does that have to do with anything?"
"Is she too busy for more than a little romance? Or do you think maybe she's turning into one of those career girls? You know, I've always admired how independent my niece is, and young women these days have so many more options than we did."
Really, Lillian didn't know what she was talking about at all.
"But Amanda deserves someone wonderful, like her father," Dotty objected. "And she hardly ever gives anyone a chance. But then I suppose she never has time. They keep her so busy at IFF. You may be on to something," she relented.
"You know, they hired her part time," Dotty continued. "And they certainly pay her part time. But it's work, work, work all the time with that girl. So many evenings and weekends. Do you remember, they even sent her to London last year? London! My Amanda!" She was incensed on her behalf, but really very proud, too.
As Dotty paused, Lillian broke in, "She does travel an awful lot, doesn't she?" There was something in Lillian's tone that Dotty didn't like. She sounded far too smug.
"I suppose," Dotty ventured cautiously.
"Well when she travels…" Lillian trailed off, enjoying herself far too much for Dotty's liking.
"When she travels, what? Out with it, Lillian!"
"Who does she travel with? Anyone…special?" Lillian crowed.
"What do you mean, that there's someone at work and she hasn't told me?" Dotty scoffed.
"Aren't you always telling me Amanda acts too vague and mysterious about her job? What if she's having an affair with a coworker?"
"Well, really!' What a preposterous suggestion - as if Amanda would have an affair. And if there was someone at work, why wouldn't Amanda tell her about it?
The conversation deteriorated from there. Lillian was just too much sometimes.