"Amanda!"

"What?" Amanda seemed intent on scrubbing a pot already full of suds.

"Would you look at what you just did?" Lee spread out his arms still holding a wet plate; his shirt soaked and sudsy.

"Hmmm, I didn't do that." Amanda turned back to the sink to hide her smile. Lee gaped at her. She glanced back. "You'll catch flies with your mouth opened up like that." She pushed his chin up with a soapy finger, leaving a small beard of bubbles.

Lee reached behind her, scooping up a handful of bubbles and smearing them on the back of her neck.

Amanda squealed and grabbed another handful of bubbles as she twisted away from Lee. "Truce! Truce!"

They stood facing one another. Amanda had her hand raised, ready for a quick smear if Lee should move towards her. Lee's arm snaked out and grabbed Amanda by the waist, spinning her against him as he blew the delicate bubbles out of her outstretched hand.

Lee's arms went around her waist, holding her with her back to him. "Ok, truce," he said, in response to her cries of protest, giving her a penitent kiss on the cheek. He let her go and she leaned against the counter, giggling.

She glanced at the kitchen clock and did some rapid calculations. "Okay, Lee, the movie is over in twenty minutes which means with our luck mother and the boys will be back in less than five."

"Are you throwing me out?" Lee asked in mock indignation.

"No, of course not," Amanda replied, wiping her hands on a dishtowel and taking Lee's hand. "Come outside with me."

She grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch and led him through the back door and out to the back yard. She gave Lee two corners of the blanket and they wordlessly spread it out on the grass.

Amanda sat down on the blanket and patted a space next to her for Lee to sit. Then she pushed him down on his back and lay down beside him.

Lee smiled into the night, asking, "What are we doing?"

"We are watching the stars." Amanda held one of Lee's hands on her stomach. "It's called relaxing- no strings attached."

Obediently, Lee stared up at the blinking lights. He could feel Amanda's stomach move up and down slowly as she breathed. He had an overwhelming sense of her and unconsciously matched his breathing to hers.

"I love you, Amanda," Lee said, almost under his breath, "More than anything, you know."

Amanda smiled over at him, stretching up to give him a kiss on the nose. "Me, too."

The sounds of the night chirped and whispered and rustled around them. "Amanda?"

"Yes?"

"Is this how you and" Lee seemed unable to finish his question. "I mean- is this what it was like with Joe- in the beginning?" The thought in his mind had spilled out suddenly as if the night had loosened his tongue. Surprised at himself, he turned his head to look at her. "I'm sorry, I-"

"No, that's okay" Amanda paused for a long time, not looking at Lee. "And no. I mean this is different," she stopped again, thinking, "This is somehow fuller. It feels like my eyes are open this time. I think that makes me a better partner."

Lee squeezed her hand and sighed, tension leaving his muscles. "You were always a wonderful partner."

Amanda laughed. "Not THAT kind of partner!" She leaned over him and kissed him softly. "THIS kind of partner."

The sound of a car pulling up the driveway cut through the stillness of the night. The voices of Dotty, Jaime, and Philip soon followed.

Amanda and Lee looked at each other affectionately, the sparkle of the stars still alight in their eyes.

"Goodnight, sweetheart," Amanda whispered.

"Goodnight."