Wings of Love (16 page)

Amy went inside and visited with his mother
as he helped his father who had been out in the field with the
combine harvesting the soybeans.  It was either feast or
famine for a farmer luckily this year was a feast.

Adam shared his goodbyes with his family and
thanked them for everything.  Not only did he and Amy
leave with a pumpkin but his mother sent with them freshly made
cinnamon donuts and a gallon of apple cider.

When they arrived back at Amy’s house she
quickly spread newspapers on the floor for Adam to set the pumpkin
on.  He took the top off and helped her clean the pumpkin
out as they munched on donuts and cider.

“I love the scary mouth you
carved!”  Amy laughed at the crooked smile he had
insisted on giving their pumpkin.  “Let’s give him a
carrot for a nose.”

“A carrot?  That’s for a
snowman!  Next thing you know you’ll want to give him a
top hat and scarf.”  Adam picked the seeds out of the
inside, placing them on some newspaper to dry.  “Can I
take some pumpkin seeds with me?”

“First you laugh at my idea,” Amy teased him
as she carved a triangular nose.  “Then you want to take
all my pumpkin seeds.”

“You know why I love you so
much?”  Adam hugged her as he sat down behind her, the
remnants of pumpkin still on his hands and
arms.  “Because no matter what we do together it is
always fun.”

“I love you too,” Amy looked up at him
reaching to remove a piece of pumpkin from his
face.  “What time is Bob sending the limo to pick us
up?”

“Bob and Janet are supposed to be her at
five,” Adam looked at his watched.  “We better hurry
up.”

Adam and Amy waited on the porch, their
pumpkin proudly displayed in the front window.  The
limousine promptly arrived at five.  As they entered the
limo the smell of White Castles permeated the inside of the
vehicle.  Bob and Janet were already enjoying the classic
hamburgers.

“Help yourselves,” Bob handed Adam a greasy
white bag.  “They’re exceptional good today.”

“You are the man,” Adam said as he popped an
onion chip in his mouth.  “Here you go babe.”

“Thanks.”  Amy took the cardboard
boxed hamburger he handed her.  “Hi Janet.”

“Hi.  I meant to call you earlier
but by the time I rehearsed my script and called Luke and Peter, it
was time for the limo to show up.”  Janet said then took
a swig of her pop.

“How are Luke and Peter?”  Amy
asked awkwardly.

“They are both doing fine.” Janet said then
looking towards Bob.  “They both sent their
condolences.”

“Thank you,” Bob said looking out the
window.

“Bob, if you need anything just give me a
call.”  Adam took a pen out of his bag and ripped a piece
of paper out of his notebook.  “Here’s my number and if
you can’t get a hold of me then call Amy and let her know.”

“Thanks Adam,” he took the paper folded it up
and put it in his pocket and deliberately changed the
subject.  “When does that soap opera air that you star
in?”

“It airs on November 10th, on Channel 7
at one in the afternoon.”  Janet said.  “I hope
you all remember to watch it.”

“We wouldn’t miss it,” Amy
promised.  “I will have an official premiere at my
house.”

The rest of the ride to the airport was
filled with many conversations as they all tried to get caught up
on all of their now separate lives.  Even though they
didn’t see each other all the time, it seemed like they always
continued their friendships exactly where they had left off.

“American Airline Flight 146 boarding at Gate
17,” announced the intercom stating it was time to part again.

“By Janet,” Amy hugged her.  “I’ll
call you after we watch the show.”

Bob hugged Janet and shook Adam’s hand as he
slapped him on the back.  “Have a safe trip.”

“Thanks.”  Adam turned his
attention to Amy pulling her close.  “Bye
Amy.  I’ll call you tonight.” He breathed in the smell of
her hair as he gave her a kiss.  “I love you.”

“I love you too.”  Amy smiled up at
him and whispered.  “I had a great time.  See
you soon.”

Amy waved good bye at him and Janet as they
walked out of sight.  When she pulled herself together
she noticed Bob sitting in a chair with his head in his
hands.  Amy sat down in the chair next to him placing her
arm around his shoulder.

“You okay, Bobby?”  She rubbed his
back softly trying to comfort him.

“I’m good.”  Bob looked up at
her.  “As long as I have a friend like you I’ll be
alright.”

“I wanted to wait until the right time to
give this to you.”  Amy unzipped her purse and handed Bob
a picture.  “I thought you’d like to have it.”

He held the picture in his hand as he noted
every detail.  Bob and his mom smiled for the camera
while they were dancing that night at Adam’s party.  It
captured the last moment he had spent with her and it was the
perfect memory to cherish forever.

“Thank you Amy.”  Bob hugged her
and held her in his arms for a moment.  “You have always
been the best friend to me.”

“Friends forever,” Amy smiled at
him.  “Pinkie swear.”

“Pinkie swear,” Bob smiled up at her offering
his pinkie.  “You also always know the right thing to
say.”

***

Adam heard his alarm clock go
off.  It was four in the morning.  He dragged
himself out of bed throwing on his sweats as he
yawned.  He zipped up his sweatshirt leaving for his
morning run.  The last month’s schedule had been quite a
heavy load for him.  He had two practices everyday and
been studying during all his free time for his exams that were
scheduled for this week.  In addition he had hockey games
every Friday and Saturday.  Although he still missed Amy
just as much as ever the weeks seemed to be zooming by
quickly.  Tonight he was going to call her and he
couldn’t wait to hear her voice.

Adam waited as the phone rang about a dozen
times.  He almost hung up when he heard someone pick up
the phone.

“Hello?”  Amy answered.

“Hi babe.”  Adam could hear she was
out of breath.  “Did you just rush in or are you happy to
hear from me?”

“Both.”  She teased him
back.  “I had to work a little later.  Sandy’s
kid came home sick from school.”

“Guess what?”  Adam said anxious to
share his news with her.

“What?” 

“I made first line!”  Adam finally
blurted it out.  “I’ve been waiting all day to tell
you.”

“That’s great Adam.”  Amy
said.  “Everything is working out just like you
wanted.”

“Well, almost everything.”  Adam
thought it would be perfect if she was here with him.

“How’s school going?”  Amy
asked.

“It’s hard.  Exams are this
week.”  Adam leaned against the wall with his leg up
behind him.  “Well, I got to go babe.  I love
you.” 

“Love you too.”  Amy said, “Sweet
dreams.”

***

“I’m coming,” Amy yelled as she ran down the
stairs from her room.  She peeked out the door to see who
could possibly be here this late at night.  She turned on
the porch light to see Bob standing outside.

“Bob, what is the matter?”  When
Amy opened the door she could smell that he had been out drinking
tonight.  “Come on in.  It’s cold out.”

“Sorry to bother you Amy.”  Bob
stood there his shoulders slouched over.  “I just needed
someone to talk to.”

“Come on in.”  Amy took his coat
and hung it on the doorknob.  “Would you like some
coffee?”

“Sure.”  Bob waited for her on the
couch while Amy went to make a pot of coffee.

“It should be done in a
minute.”  Amy plopped herself down on the couch next to
Bob.

“I just wanted to thank you Amy for all you
ever done for me.”  Bob’s speech was
slurred.  “You have always been my friend even when
everyone else thought I was a total ass.”

“Well, you have always done the same for
me.”  Amy stood up for him.  “You know
that.”

“If it wasn’t for you I don’t know how I
would have gotten through all of it.”  Bob said
sincerely.

“I’m glad I could be there for
you.”  Amy placed her hand on his arm.  “You
know I always will.”

“Good.  I’m glad.  Now
that my mom is gone I have nobody left to love me.”  Bob
confided in her.  “You know I love you
Amy.  And I always will.  Nobody understands
why except you.”

“I know Bob.”  Amy understood what
he meant.

“I just wished you loved me
back.”  Bob looked at her sadly, “The way I adore
you.”

“I love you as a friend Bob.”  Amy
was honest with him.  “Someday you will find someone who
will love you the way you deserve to be loved.  I know
there is a good man in there.  One day you’ll find that
special someone who will see it to.”

“I hope you are right.”  Bob looked
at Amy as she rose from the couch.

“I’m always right,” she
teased.  “And when you do find her you won’t even
remember my name.”

Amy sat with Bob talking for several hours
and two pots of coffee.  She wanted to make sure he
sobered up before she even thought of letting him drive home.

“Good night Amy.”  Bob gave her a
hug, removing his jacket from the doorknob and put it
on.  “Thanks for being here for me and
listening.  I feel better.”

“Anytime,” Amy said as she closed the
door.  “Good night Bob.”

***

It was a Friday night and Amy had no plans
for the evening, so she decided to pamper herself.  She
already given herself a manicure and pedicure and just finished
putting on a facial mask when she heard the doorbell ring.

“You got to be kidding me,” Amy said as she
stared at her reflection in the mirror.  “Of all the
times for someone to come to the door it had to be now.”

Amy ran down the stairs and shyly peeked out
the window.  A delivery man hid behind a large box from a
florist shop.  
How embarrassing
. 

She barely opened the door trying to hide her
face when the delivery man said in a deep voice.  “I have
a delivery for Amy Makowski.”

Amy peeked behind the florist box, “Oh. My.
God. Adam!”

He walked in and sat the flowers down on the
coffee table.  “Special Delivery,” Adam laughed as he
held out his arms to her.

“Oh baby, let me hold you,” she rushed into
his arms as he picked her up and hugged her.  “It really
is you!”  She felt her body melt in his arms.

“Yes, it’s me beautiful,” he laughed at her
tear stained facial mask.  “I wanted to surprise
you!”

“Oh you did!”  Amy laughed still in
his arms.  “I don’t want to let you go but I better wash
my face!”

“I have a game tomorrow night at Ferris
State.”  Adam followed Amy to the bathroom and stood in
the doorway watching her.

“There,” said Amy as she dried her face with
a towel.  “Come here baby.”  She held him
close, smelling him, touching him, and tasting him as she kissed
him.  She was so happy to be in his arms.  “You
really are here!”

“Well, I’m glad to see you’re so happy,” he
smiled still holding her close as he ran his hand through her
hair. 

“Can you stay until tomorrow?”  She
asked hopeful that he didn’t have to leave tonight.

“I’m all yours babe,” Adam eyes playfully
shined down on her.

“Yes!”  Amy tugged at the waistband
of his jeans finding a belt loop to hold onto as she dragged him
into her bedroom shutting the door with her foot behind them.

Adam came downstairs after taking a shower to
the smell of bacon and eggs coming from the kitchen.  He
entered the kitchen as his eyes fell upon this woman who never
ceased to amaze him.  She stood in front of the stove
with his flannel shirt on and pink fluffy slippers.  He
walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

“Morning,” he nuzzled her hair.  “I
wondered where my shirt went.”

“Do you want it?”  Amy turned
around giving him a daring look.

“Amy Marie,” Adam gazed into her eyes which
were dancing with love.  “If I wasn’t starving I’d call
your bluff.”

The kitchen table displayed the lovely vase
of flowers Adam brought her the night before.  The smell
of them mixed with the aroma of breakfast made her senses
alive.  Amy set a platter of bacon and eggs with toast
down on the table in front of them.  She walked over to
the refrigerator and brought the orange juice out.  She
poured them each a cup of coffee then sat down to join Adam who was
already eating his breakfast.

“So do I get to go watch your game
tonight?”  Amy dipped her toast into the creamy yolk of
her egg.

“I was hoping you would,” said
Adam.  “Besides I need a ride.”  He glanced up
from his plate with a smirk on his face.

“Oh, I see how you are,” she teased him
back.  “You’re just after me for my car.”

“Damn, you found me out.”  He loved
when they baited each other.  “I’ve been eyeing that car
since you brought it to the station.”

Amy sat in the bleachers with the other
girlfriends and family of the New York Men’s Hockey Team at the
Ferris State Arena.  She sipped a cup of hot chocolate as
she waited for the game to start. 

“Is this the first time you watched him
play,” asked a young girl sitting in front of Amy.

“No, I’ve been to more games than I can
count.”  She smiled at the girl glad to have someone to
talk to.  “My name is Amy.  I’m Adam’s
girlfriend.”

“Hi, I’m Brenda.  My boyfriend is a
friend of Adam.”  She pointed over to
him.  “He’s number twenty two.  His name is
Brett.”

“Oh, you’re Brett’s
girlfriend.”  Amy remembered Adam mentioning Brett to her
before.  “Do you go to all his games?”

“Yeah, I’m attending New York State
also.”  Brenda explained.  “That’s how we
met.  We have the same calculus class.”

Before Amy could say another word the hockey
game started with the first face off of the
evening.   Amy saw Adam as he entered play, jumping
over the boards onto the ice.  The Bulldogs ended the
period leading 2-1.  She noticed Brett was the right
winger in the first line playing with Adam.  They worked
well together.  Adam scored the first goal of the second
period with Brett on the assist to tie the game up.