Wings of Love (21 page)

“I don’t know.”  Adam thought about
all the people who depended on her.  “You really do love
her, don’t you?”

“Of course I love Amy.  How could
anyone not love Amy?”  Bob stood up proudly not ashamed
to admit the truth.  “We have been through thick and thin
together.”

Adam looked at him remembering the night when
Bob had been drunk and admitted to him his feelings for
Amy.  “I honestly never knew you felt that way about
her.”

“It’s not like that.”  Bob shook
his head.  “She deserves a better man than me that is for
sure.  And you are that man.”  He slapped Adam
on the back.  “All I want is for her to be happy and I
know she is with you.”

“If I lost Amy I don’t know what I’d
do.”  Adam touched her cheek with his
hand.  “She is my life.”

“Just keep making her happy,” Bob joked with
Adam.  “Don’t ever break her heart or you’ll have to
answer to me.” 

“You won’t have to worry about
that.”  Adam noticed Amy waking up.  “I
promise.”

“You promise what?” said Amy her voice
groggy.

“I promised big Bob here he won’t ever have
to kick my ass,” Adam leaned over and kissed
her.  “Welcome back.”

“Huh?”  Amy looked up realizing she
was in the hospital and Bob was standing on the other side of the
bed.

“You gave us all a helluva scare girlie,” Bob
wiggled her foot which was under the covers.  “I’m glad
you’re doing better today.”

“Bob stayed with you the whole time until I
could get here.”  Adam explained to her.  “Joey
had a hard time getting a hold of me because we were on the road
for an away game.”

“Thank you,” said Amy as she reached for
their hands and squeezed them both. 

“No problem,” Bob shrugged.  “I’ll
stop by and see you tomorrow.  Take care of her
man.”  Bob winked at Adam knowing he meant it in more
than one way.  “Or the gloves are off.”

Adam watched as he left the room realizing
that yesterday Bob had been the better man.  He had been
here for Amy when he wasn’t.  Adam was never going to let
that happen again.  Amy deserved for him to be here when
she needed him most, as she always had been for him.

***

“I’ve made a decision Amy,” Adam said as he
entered her bedroom with a bowl of her favorite chocolate chip mint
ice cream.  “I’m not signing the contract.”

“Excuse me?”  She asked not
believing the words that just came out of his
mouth.  “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I never want to leave you
again.”  Adam sat down next to her handing her the ice
cream.  “I almost lost you and I wasn’t even here for
you.”

“Adam, that was beyond your
control.  You came as soon as Joey got a hold of you,”
Amy reassured him.  “Don’t you want to discuss
this?  Or at least think about it first?”

“I’ve been thinking about it for these last
two weeks.”  Adam stayed here the whole time making sure
Amy was well taken care of, so she could recuperate from her
surgery.  “Nothing matters more to me than you, not even
hockey.”

“Wow, Adam.”  Amy thought about
that while she took a few bites of her ice cream.  “I am
shocked at your decision.  Flattered, but shocked.”

“You’re not mad are you?  Adam
crawled in bed laying his head next to her on the
pillow.  “Or disappointed in me?”

“Mad at you, no not at all.  I
could never be disappointed in you.”  Amy turned and
tried to read in his eyes his true feelings.  “I just
want you to be certain that this is what you really want to
do.  Once it is done, it’s done.  I don’t want
you to look back with any regrets.”

“As long as you’re with me I could never have
any regrets.”  He kissed her on the
cheek.  “This opened my eyes to what is really important
to me.  I can survive without hockey, but I could never
live without you.”

“Well, it has been wonderful having you home
again. I can’t deny that.”  Amy ran her fingers through
his soft curly hair.  “This is a huge sacrifice on your
part though, personally as well as financially.” 

“Can you live without the money?  I
mean this will be a big drop in our income.”  Adam took
the spoon out of her hand and took a bite of ice
cream.  “It might mean no more splurges of ice cream in
bed?”

“As long as you’re still here in bed with me,
I can live without the ice cream.”  She dipped her finger
in the ice cream and placed it in his mouth.  “All the
money in the world doesn’t fill these empty arms.”

Adam lay in bed that evening as Amy snuggled
against him in a deep sleep her leg draped over him.  He
figured he could get a full time job at the plastics factory in
town.  Mr. Harper had assured him when he left that he
was always welcome back.  Maybe he could work at the gas
station part-time.  With Amy’s income from her job at the
grocery store they should be able to rent a house and in time save
for one of their own.  The road may be a little longer
than they anticipated but they would still reach their destination
in due time.  Amy was right, as usual; all the money in
the world could not buy the happiness they found in each other’s
arms.

***

“This is it.”  Bob shook Adam’s
hand then slapped him on the back.  “I wish you both the
best.”

“Thanks.”  Adam opened the side
door to the church.  Father Francis nodded as they took
their places at the altar.  Adam exhaled rocking back and
forth anxiously awaiting his first glimpse of Amy in her wedding
dress.

The 
Bridal Chorus
 by Wagner
began on the church organ announcing the ceremony was about to
start.  All eyes turned to the back of the church
observing the bridal party.

First, Janet walked down the aisle looking
radiant in her red bridesmaid dress.  She was followed by
Angie carrying the same red, pink and white bouquet which
complimented her pink gown.  Laurel and Michelle
proceeded next, pretty in pink and were escorted by Amy’s two
cousins.  Last but not least, Amy appeared in the
entranceway with one hand resting on Joey’s forearm and the other
holding her bouquet of white roses.

Adam focused all his attention on Amy
proceeding down the aisle, the lights behind made her appear to
glow and look as if she was floating towards him.  Her
long hair was soft and romantic as the ringlet curls cascaded over
her shoulders and down her back beneath her veil.  Her
dress glimmered with each step she took showing off all the
beautiful pearls and lace.  Adam felt a lump in his
throat unable to believe that this angelic woman wanted him for her
husband.  Their eyes locked across the room as she
continued down the aisle until she stood beside
him.  Joey lifted her veil over her head to reveal her
smiling face, giving her a kiss on the cheek.  Joey
placed Amy’s hand into Adam’s, a single tear of joy rolled down his
face as he walked over to stand next to Bob. 

Father Francis asked, “Amy and Adam, have you
come here freely and without reservation to give yourself to each
other?”

“Yes,” they both answered.

“Well you honor each other as man and wife
for the rest of your lifes?”

“Yes.”

“Will you accept children lovingly from God
and bring them up accordingly to the laws of Christ and his
church?”

“Yes.”

“Since it is your intention to enter into
marriage, join your right hands and declare your consent before God
and his church.”

Adam could see the love in Amy’s eyes as she
held his hands and spoke these words to him.

“I, Amy Marie Makowski, take you, Adam
Matthew LaPointe, to be my friend, my lover, the father of my
children and my husband.  I will be yours in times of
plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of
health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure
and in times of triumph.  I promise to cherish and
respect you, to care and protect you, to comfort and encourage you,
and stay with you for all eternity.”

Adam devoted his attention upon Amy as he
declared his love for her, his voice shaken with emotion.

“I, Adam Matthew LaPointe, take you, Amy
Marie Makowski, to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true
love.  I will cherish our union and love you more each
day than I did the day before.  I will trust you and
respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully
through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face
together.  I give you my hand, my heart and my love, from
this day forward for as long as we both shall live.”

Bob stepped forward removing the rings that
been hidden in his pocket and handed them to Adam.  He
winked at both of them before stepping back in his position.

Adam and Amy slipped their rings on each
others’ fingers as they made their vows of the ring exchange.

“This ring is a token of my
love.  I marry you with this ring, with all I have and
all I am,” Amy smiled up at Adam.

“I will forever wear this ring as a sign of
my commitment and desire of my heart,” Adam promised.

Father Francis spoke up loudly, “Do you who
are assembled here support this union and affirm that these two
should be married today?”

Adam and Amy both looked out into the crowd
of smiling faces as they all cheered, “We do.”

“You may now kiss the bride,” Father Francis
smiled at the two of them.

Adam and Amy embraced each other as they
enjoyed their first kiss of marriage. 

Father Francis placed a hand on each of their
shoulders and announced to the crowd.  “It is my great
pleasure to introduce to you for the first time as husband and
wife, Mr. and Mrs. Adam LaPointe.”

Adam and Amy looked around the church at all
the family and friends standing before them to share this moment of
happiness with them today.  Of course as expected the
mothers each had tissues on hand, but the biggest surprise was Mr.
LaPointe was the one actually crying! 

The organist began
A Midsummer Night’s
Dream-Wedding March
which was their cue for the recession out
of the church.

Janet handed Amy her bouquet and fixed her
train for the walk out of the church.  Adam took Amy’s
hand and walked beside her down the aisle to begin their life
together as man and wife.

As they exited the church all the well
wishers began throwing rice at them as they laughed and ran over to
the limousine which was decorated with paper carnations of red,
pink and white.  Adam’s sister had made a large heart
shaped sign that read, Just Married Adam &
Amy.  Attached to the bumper where strings of beer cans
which obviously the guys had snuck on when nobody was
looking.  Adam waited watchfully with loving eyes as Amy
caught her first glance of Mr. Lion who he tied onto the
bumper.

“Now it’s official.”  Amy’s eyes
danced with joy and love for this man who make her life so
complete.

“Then what are we waiting for?” he chuckled
as he helped his lovely bride into the limo.  “Come on
everybody we have a party to go to!”

***

Amy shook her head as Joey laughed at them
tapping his spoon on his plate again.  She leaned over
and gave Adam another kiss.

“It looks like we are not going to get to eat
our dinner tonight.”  Amy teased her eyes reflecting the
candlelight of the table centerpiece.  “He is just having
too much fun tonight, isn’t he?

“He, who laughs last, laughs best,” Adam
joked as Angie tapped on her plate now.  “If they get
married they are in trouble.”

“This calls for a toast,” Adam’s father
jumped to his feet and waited for everyone to raise their
glasses.  “Adam and Amy, you’re life together is just
starting and it will take many turns along the
way.  You’ll have your glory days and you’ll have your
sad days.  However, if you have each other, you will have
all you need.  Cling to each other, communicate with each
other, and make each other number one in your
lives.  With these tools you will have a successful
marriage.”

Glasses clanged and cheers of well wishes
could be heard throughout the hall for the newlyweds.

Bob stood up next, introducing himself as
Adam’s best man, for his toast to the bride and
groom.  “I’ve known Adam and Amy pretty much my whole
life so they both know I’m not a man of many wise
words.  I’ll keep these short and
humorous.  May all your ups and downs be between the
sheets.”  Bob waited for the laughter to die down before
he continued with his speech.  “On a serious note join me
in wishing them a long, happy life together. Please raise your
glasses to my very best friends.  To Adam and Amy!”

Amy and Adam both stood up as everyone at the
reception applauded their marriage.  They mingled amongst
the wedding guests until the DJ announced their first dance.

“Ladies and gentlemen I’d like to introduce
to you Mr. and Mrs. Adam LaPointe.”

Adam led Amy directly to the dance floor
swaying to the tempo of 
I Love You
 by Climax Blues
Band.  Amy melted in Adam’s arms as he softly sang the
words into her ear romantically, oblivious to all the watchful eyes
upon them. 

“I’d like to now introduce you to the wedding
party,” the DJ spoke into the microphone then cued
up 
You’re My Best Friend
 By
Queen.  “Bobby Prusinski is the best man, and Janet Oakes
is the matron of honor.” They came out onto the dance floor as
did the rest of the wedding party when they were announced.

Adam and Amy danced to several more songs
until the photographer ushered them over to the wedding cake for
pictures. 

“You’re so cute with frosting on your
nose.”  Adam told Amy after he fed her some cake for the
picture.

“I have frosting on my nose?”  Amy
asked Adam seriously.

He laughed as he glided his finger along the
cake and smudged some on the tip of her nose. “You do now!”

“So you want to play rough,” she razzed him
as she shoved a piece of cake into his mouth then kissed him
tasting the frosting upon his lips.