Wings of Love (14 page)

“I want to marry you Amy,” Adam squeezed her
hand watching the clouds dance away as the wind blew
past.  “I can’t wait until we can spend every moment
together.”

“We will, as soon as you
graduate.”  Amy rolled over on her elbows looking at his
suntanned face.  She tickled it with the blade of wheat
grass she had been chewing on.

“Do you want a family?”  Adam
turned on his side facing Amy running his hand up and down her
arm.

“Of course I do,” Amy answered realizing they
had never had this discussion before.  “What about
you?”

“Yeah, I could see us with about twelve
kids,” he teased her reaching over and tickling her under the
arms. 

“Stop it,” she laughed hysterically as she
tried to wiggle away from his hands.

Adam stood up extending his hands as he
pulled her up towards him in a warm embrace.  As he
kissed her on the forehead he noticed the pine tree with their
initials carved in it.

“I love you more than
anything.”  Amy held him close clinging on to this
moment.

“I love you too, Amy.”  He took her
by the hand as he silently said goodbye to his secret spot not
knowing when he might be back.

Adam walked with her by his side as they
followed the trails that wove around his families’
property.  He was going to miss the fields filled with
all the wildflowers and trees that were home to all the surrounding
wildlife. 

“Look,” Adam whispered softly into Amy’s ear
as he pointed straight ahead of them.

A large ten point buck and a couple does with
their young ones stood still, their ears perked up in the air
listening.  As Adam took a step forward a twig snapped
under his foot sending them to take cover in the
woods.  He looked at Amy both sharing the moment without
saying a word.  As they headed back towards the farmhouse
a pheasant flew up in front of them taking off for cover in some
nearby pines.

He watched as she ran ahead of him towards
the tire swing hanging in the old oak tree.  He stopped
along the way to sit upon a wooden fence admiring
her.  She pumped her legs forward holding onto the rope
as she leaned her head back, her hair flowing behind in the
breeze.  Adam took snapshots in his mind to take along
with him.  He felt a lump in his throat then took a deep
breath pushing aside his sadness as he jumped off the
fence.  He ran behind her and gave Amy a sturdy
push.  The sound of her laughter as she swung back and
forth filled his heart with the joy he would also take with
him.

***

“This was a good idea to go to Doogles
tonight,” Adam opened the door for Amy as they entered the favorite
hangout.

“SURPRISE!”  The room was full of
familiar faces smiling ear to ear at Adam as he stood in
shock.  He broke out in a smile realizing they had pulled
one over on him.

“Gotcha.”  Amy smiled up at Adam as
he still looked at everyone in amazement.  “You didn’t
think I’d let you slip out of town unnoticed?”

Gathered throughout the bar were all the
important people in his life.  Mr. and Mrs. LaPointe
stood over playing darts in the corner of the bar with his
sisters.  His current hockey team and significant others
visited at a long table that Amy decorated with streamers and
balloons.  Mr. Harper and his wife sat beneath the banner
which read, “Congratulations”.  Mrs. Makowski and Mrs.
Prusinski were behind the tables waiting to serve the pizzas,
submarines, salads, chips and a decorated cake to the crowd of
friends and family.  And of course there was Joey, Angie
and Bob who already sat at the bar celebrating.

“Wow.” Adam scanned the room touched by all
the people who were there for him.  “We’re going to party
tonight!”

“You know it!”  Bob came over and
slapped his buddy on the back, handing him a shot.  They
raised their glasses and downed it.  “I’ll get some jams
on the jukebox going.”

“I’m going to help serve the food,” Amy said
as she heard 
You’re In My Heart
 by Rod Stewart
playing on the juke box.  “You just mingle and have a
good time.”  She kissed him then proceeded over to the
food.

“Do you want to dance, mom?”  Bob
came up to Mrs. Prusinski who was helping Amy serve the
food. 

“Go ahead.”  Amy smiled as Bob took
his mother by the hand and led her onto the dance
floor.  They boogied as 
Two Tickets to
Paradise
 by Eddie Money played on the juke
box.  She saw Joey join in with their mom who was having
the time of her life dancing.  

Amy snapped some pictures with her Polaroid
camera not wanting to forget this moment.  “This is
priceless.”  When the song ended she gathered everyone
together managing to squeeze them all into one picture. “Say
cheese,” Amy took the picture.  “Now everyone make a
funny face.”

She placed the camera in its bag and sat it
back on the bar observing everyone having a good time.

“Hey beautiful, you come here
often.”  Adam stood behind her wrapping his arms around
her.

“Only when my jealous boyfriend let’s me out
of the house.”  Amy glanced back at him her eyes
sparkling as she laughed.

“Want to dance?”  Adam kept his
arms around her walking behind her to the dance
floor.  He twirled her around and pulled her close to
him.  
(Slow Dancing)
Swaying To The
Music
 by Johnny Rivers filled the room. They danced
in-sync enjoying the night and all the happiness surrounding
them. 

***

Adam took an unoccupied seat in the large
waiting area by his designated gate.  He didn’t feel like
roaming around the terminal this morning due to the massive
hangover he had.  His mom and dad sat to the left of him
and Amy was to his right.

“That was fun last night at Doogles,” said
Adam as he gently squeezed her leg.  You really surprised
me.  I honestly had no idea.”  He felt Amy
placed her small hand on his lacing her fingers between
his. 

“I’m glad you had a good time,” she looked up
him and smiled.

“I think everyone had a great time,” said
Mrs. LaPointe.

“If you didn’t it was your own
fault.”  Mr. LaPointe joked.  “It was real
nice.”

“American Airlines Flight 249 to New York is
now boarding at Gate 8,” the intercom echoed throughout the
terminal.

They all stood up realizing that was Adam’s
flight and the good-byes could no longer be avoided.

Amy stood aside a moment so Adam could say
his farewells to his mom and dad.  She waited nervously
as she realized he would soon be gone.

“I’m very proud of you son,” Mr. Lapointe
hugged Adam then patted him on the back.  “You are the
first LaPointe to go to college.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you and
mom,” he told his father then extended his arms to his mom.

“I baked you some chocolate chip cookies,”
she handed him the tin that had traveled with her the whole
trip.

“Thank you mom,” Adam planted a kiss on her
cheek.  “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she pinched his
cheeks.  “Be safe.”

Amy saw Adam set the tin of cookies down
reaching his loving arms out towards her.  She rushed
into them immediately holding him tighter than she ever had
before.  She felt the tears she had held inside for so
long falling.

“Oh Adam,” she stared up at him noticing he
had a few tears of his own to shed.  She reached up
touching his face lightly.  “I am going to miss you so
much.”

“I’ll be back before you know
it.”  He tried to comfort her with his
words.  “I’ll call you and I’ll write every day.”

“You better,” Amy looked up at him and tried
to smile.

“Our love is strong enough to last,” Adam
took a tissue out of his pocket drying her
tears.  “Remember that when things seem tough.”

“Goodbye Adam,” She hugged him one last time
then handed him a card.  “I love you.”

“And I’m not lion.”  He smiled as
he placed the card in his coat pocket.  “I’ll call you
tonight.  I love you.”  He picked up his bag
and tin of cookies, rushing through the door of the attachable jet
way without looking back.

Amy stood there feeling lost as her best
friend disappeared from her sight.  She felt a hand touch
her shoulder turning to see Adam’s father holding a
hanky.  Amy gladly accepted it as well as the fatherly
hug he offered which was something she hadn’t felt in over a
decade.

“He’ll be home soon,” Mr. LaPointe reassured
her as he guided her over to where Mrs. LaPointe waited for
them.

Amy sat quietly in the car for the entire
ride home, feeling empty and alone wondering if she could survive
without Adam here by her side.

***

Amy rushed through the door and ran up the
stairs to her room thankful that Joey was not home
tonight.  She flung herself upon her bed hiding her face
in her pillow as the tears flowed out once again, sobbing so hard
she had to catch her breath. 

Amy was startled out of her sleep as she
heard the phone ringing on her nightstand.  She fumbled
in the darkness, her heart fluttered wildly with the hopes of it
being Adam on the other end. 

“Hello?” Amy answered eagerly.

“Hi Amy,” Adam said.  “I called you
as soon as I got a chance.”

“I’m so glad to hear from
you.”  Amy was relieved to hear the sound of his voice on
the other end.  “How was your trip?”

“Not as much fun as my last trip to New
York,” Adam revealed.  “It’s awfully lonely here without
you.”

“Awww…..you’re so sweet.”  Amy felt
goose bumps as she slid her heart pendant along the chain back and
forth.  “I miss you too.”

“Thanks for the card and pictures,” Adam
whispered.  “I put them next to Mr. Lion.”

Amy smiled to hear he taken her silly little
stuffed animal along and displayed it in his room.  “Did
you like them?”  She sent him some pictures of last night
and had taken a picture with her Polaroid camera of the pine tree
he carved their initials in.  “I figured since you
couldn’t be here, you could take it with you.  Your
secret place is safe with me.”

“Like it?  I love
it.”  Adam stated.  “Only you would think of
something so special.  And it’s our spot now.”

“I bet you say that to all the girls,” she
teased him, touched by his comment.

“Yeah right,” Adam laughed. “Well, I’m sorry
but I have to let you go now.  Someone wants to use the
phone.  I love you Amy.  Sleep tight.”

“I’ll sleep better now.  I love you
too Adam.”  Amy placed the receiver back as she let out a
heavy sigh of relief.

After taking a relaxing bubble bath, Amy lay
in bed thinking about all the wonderful times Adam and her have
shared together.  She slept soundly that night, dreaming
of all the things yet to come for the two of them.

***

Adam awoke at the crack of dawn, threw on a
sweatshirt and pants with his college logo on it and left the
room.  He decided to take a morning run before heading
over to the rink for the team’s scheduled practice.  This
was day one of college life for him and he was already missing
home, especially Amy.  He knew if he was going to do his
best he’d have to keep himself as busy as possible.  He
promised himself he’d call her tonight to get his mind off missing
her this morning. 

Adam released his tension in practice working
as hard as possible to show he could keep up with some of his
teammates who were a few years his junior.  After
practice he sat on the bench in the locker room unlacing his Bauer
skates as a lanky dark haired young man collapsed beside him.

“That was brutal,” he pulled his jersey over
his head and removed his shoulder pads.  “I heard he was
a tough coach.”

“Get used to it kid,” Adam teased then added,
“You did great out there today.”

“Thanks,” he said as he offered Adam his
hand.  “My name is Brett.”

“Adam,” he shook his hand.  “Where
you from Brett?”

“I’m from Boston,” Brett answered as he took
his skates off.

“No kidding?”  Adam joked already
having guessed from the heavy accent.  “I’m from a little
town in Michigan.”

“Isn’t that the Motor City?”  Brett
asked.

“Yup, but where I’m from we mostly
farm.”  Adam had finished changing and was heading out of
the locker room.  “I’ll talk to you later Brett.”

Adam decided to get some lunch at the college
cafeteria then he ran over to student services to pick up his fall
schedule for his classes.  After that he walked over to
the school store and picked up all his books and supplies he needed
for this semester.

Adam walked briskly back to his dorm,
raindrops were coming down steady, not wanting his brand new books
to get wet.  He organized his things best as he could
than decided to write Amy a letter since he couldn’t call her until
she got home from work.  He sat down at the desk his legs
stretched out in front of him, tapping a pen on the pad of
paper.  He stared at the pictures Amy had given him then
started his letter about all the details of today.  When
he finished, he addressed an envelope, placed the letter inside,
sealed it and added a stamp.  He left the envelope on his
desk deciding to mail it when he went down to dinner.

Adam lay on his bed staring up at the ceiling
wondering what Amy was doing at this particular
moment.  He yawned and rolled over thinking about her as
he fell asleep.  He woke up glancing at his alarm clock
to see what time it was.  He jumped out of bed when he
saw it was well after five and headed out the door to the pay
phone.  After he waited in line for fifteen minutes he
finally dialed Amy’s number hoping that she would be home.

“Hello?”  Amy answered.

“Hi babe.”  Adam instantly felt the
miles melt away between them.  “It is good to hear your
voice.”

“I’ve been thinking about you all day,” she
said.  “How was your first day?”