Wings of Love (22 page)

The photographer kept snapping pictures of
the happy couple as they continued their playful bantering back and
forth. 

Adam and Amy were called back onto the dance
floor.  Amy was placed in a chair as Adam playfully
removed her garter to 
Foxy Lady
 by Jimi
Hendrix.  All the single guys were asked to come forward
as Adam shot the garter into the crowd of
bachelors.  After a mad rush Joey appeared out of nowhere
holding the garter in the air.

Amy was handed a bouquet by Janet as the DJ
cued up 
Ladies Night
 by Kool & the
Gang.  All the single girls were called out to the floor
awaiting their opportunity.  Amy tossed it behind her and
clapped her hands in delight when Angie caught the arrangement.

Joey bent down on one knee as Angie sat
before him her legs crossed in the
chair.  
Another One Bites the Dust
 by
Queen played in the background as Joey flirtatiously slid the
garter up and down her leg.  Angie blushed as the
photographer took yet another memorable picture for the photo
album.

It was near the end of the evening as Adam
and Amy danced among the remaining guests.  She glanced
over Adam’s shoulder to see who was left on the dance
floor.  Joey and Angie were lost in each others’ eyes,
his parents were dancing cheek to cheek, and her mom was dancing
with Adam’s Uncle George.  She turned her head the other
way and saw Janet and Luke off in another world and his sisters
dancing awkwardly with her two cousins.  The nicest
surprise was to see Bob dancing with Crystal, looking like they
were having a good time.

“Look Adam,” Amy scanned the
crowd.  “Everybody is happy and has someone to share it
with this Valentine’s Day.”

“I know I am,” Adam whispered in her
ear.  “I love you, babe.”

Amy admired Adam as she danced the rest of
the night away with him.  He looked so handsome tonight
in his black tuxedo and the stubble of a five ‘o clock shadow upon
his face.  She rested her cheek on his chest breathing in
the scent of him which was as familiar to her as the smell of rain
on a spring day.

Amy looked up at Adam and raised her eyebrows
in question.  “Are you ready to call it a night?”

“I’m ready when you are babe,” Adam voice was
husky with desire.

Amy giggled as she took his hand and placed a
finger to his lips.  They tiptoed quietly out of the hall
unnoticed. 

The limo drove away from the reception into
the night, Adam and Amy unaware of the rest of the
world.  The driver stopped in front of their new home,
which as of yet they had not stayed in.  When the car
door was opened Adam stepped out offering his hand to her as she
slid out toward him. 

They heard the door as it slammed shut behind
them and the sound of the limousine drive away, leaving them alone
for the first time today.

“Well Mrs. LaPointe,” Adam lifted her up into
his arms, he went up the stairs effortlessly, unlocking the door
and carrying her over the threshold.  “Welcome Home.”

Chapter 17

Amy sat at the kitchen table clipping coupons
while she waited for Adam to get home from work.  The
smell of the roast that simmered in the crock pot made her stomach
growl.  She checked the potatoes that were boiling on the
stove when Adam walked in the door.

“Hi babe.”  Adam took off his
Carhatt jacket and hung it on the hook by the back
door.  “Something sure smells good.”  He walked
up behind Amy and wrapped his arms around her giving her a kiss on
the neck.

“Is that a wrench in your pocket or are you
happy to see me?”  She turned back smiling at Adam as she
kissed him on the cheek. 

“Hmmm.  Happy to see
you.”  He whispered in her ear.  “I missed
you.”

“I missed you too.”  Amy added
butter to the potatoes and started mashing them.  “How
was your day?”

“I have some great news.”  Adam
lifted the top off the crock pot and peeked inside.  “I
finally got my ninety days in which means we now have
benefits.  I also got a dollar an hour raise.”

“Adam that is great
news.”  She hugged him seeing the pride in his
eyes.  “You’ve been working so hard.”

“How was your day?”  Adam washed
his hands then sat down at the table as Amy set the dinner before
him.  She poured them each a glass of milk and sat down
to join him.

“They’re talking about layoffs
again.”  Amy poured some gravy over her mashed potatoes
and roast.

“Really?”  Adam took another bite
of his roast.  “Don’t worry babe you have
seniority.  Man, this is good Amy.”

“Eat some green beans,” Amy spooned some on
his plate.

“Yes, mom.”  Adam smirked as he
speared some on his fork.  “I’m going to pay the bills
while you do the dishes.  If we have any money to spare,
do you want to see a movie tonight?”

“Sure that new movie Grease just
came out.”  Amy peeked up to see his response.

“Isn’t that a musical?”  Adam
grimaced when he heard her suggestion.  He put his hands
up in front of his face as she threw a napkin at
him.  “Just kidding.”

While Amy cleaned up after dinner, Adam sat
at the kitchen table.  He ran his hand through his hair
as he concentrated scribbling on the envelopes in front of
him.  He placed the money from their paychecks in an
envelope that was designated for each expense.  He tossed
the pencil on the table stretching his legs out in front of
him. 

Adam held up a twenty and snapped it
open.  “We have enough for a movie and
popcorn.  Would you like to go on a date with me, Mrs.
LaPointe?”  He pulled her into his lap as he tickled her
sides.

The phone rang and Adam jumped up to get it,
Amy still laughing with him as he tickled her again.

“Hello?”  Adam listened
intently.  “Hi Angie.  Okay.  Let me
get her.”  Adam handed Amy the phone as he tickled her
again.

“Hi Angie.”  She laughed into the
phone.  “What’s up?”

“I was wondering if I could borrow you
electric roaster oven?’  Angie asked.  “I need
it for a luncheon at work.”

“Sure.”  Amy noticed Adam as he
stood there leaning back against the sink looking so damn sexy in
his jeans and flannel shirt.  “We’ll drop it off before
we go to the movies.”

“I’ll be at Joey’s house
tonight.  Can you drop it off there?”

“No problem.  I have a card for him
anyway.  See you in a little bit.”  Amy hung up
the phone and dug the roaster out of the kitchen pantry making
quite a commotion. 

“When did you decide to clean the
pantry?”  Adam teased as he took the roaster out of her
arms.  “I thought we were going to the movies?”

“Aren’t we full of wit and humor
tonight?”  Amy made a silly face at him as she put her
jacket on.  “I’m ready when you are.”

Adam set the roaster in the back of the
pickup truck as Amy hopped into the passenger side.  She
was excited to be going out with Adam.  With him working
two jobs and helping his father out he barely had time to sleep,
let alone go out.  She herself had no extra time left at
the end of the day between her job at Farmer Jacks, volunteering at
the youth center and the daily household chores.

Adam had taken a sudden interest in every
song that had come on the radio since they pulled into Joey’s
driveway.  “Wait let’s hear this last song,” he said as
he turned up 
Take the Long Way Home
 by
Supertramp. 

Amy hummed along to the music until she was
startled by a tap on the glass.  She looked up to see Bob
and Joey making faces at her.  Joey had his hockey duffle
bag slung over his shoulder.

“Did you just get in town?”  Amy
asked them as she rolled down the window.

“Yeah, what the hell are you guys sitting out
in the driveway for?”  Joey started walking towards the
house.  “Come on in.”

Adam shut the truck off before the song had
ended and grabbed Amy’s hand in a hurry as he rushed her out of the
truck to catch up with Joey and Bob.

“Don’t forget the roaster,” Amy said as Adam
pushed her through the door.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

Joey and Amy stood next to each other with
looks of surprise on their faces. 

Amy looked around the room to see familiar
faces of friends and family.  Before the shock wore off
and either of them could say a word, Adam and Angie both came out
of the kitchen.  They each carried a cake with twenty
three lit candles upon them.  Everyone broke
into 
Happy Birthday
 as they stood waiting for them
to blow the candles out.

“Make a wish,” Adam told them both as he
smiled.

“Did you have any idea?”  Joey
asked Amy.  “Because I had no clue.”

“You never have a clue,” Angie laughed up at
Joey.

“I had no idea,” Amy
answered.  “Especially since our birthdays are
tomorrow.”

Angie cut the cake and Mrs. Makowski scooped
ice cream on each piece as she passed it around for all who wanted
some. 

Adam quickly set up card tables and chairs in
the living room.  “Who wants a cold one?”  He
ran into the kitchen a few times to grab a handful of beers,
passing them out among everybody.

“Who wants to play some Euchre
tonight?”  Bob asked as he shuffled the cards.

“I’ll be your partner, if you need
one.”  Crystal stood by the chair in front of him as she
waited for him to answer.

“Sure,” Bob smiled as Crystal sat
down.  “Who like to take on me and Crystal?”

Amy saw Sandy, her friend from work, and her
husband take on the challenge as they sat down and joined
them.  She walked over to Adam putting her arm around his
waist.

“Happy Birthday babe.”  Adam gave
her a kiss.

“Does this mean we are not going to the
movies?”  Amy’s eyes sparkled as she looked up at
him.

“Yeah, and I was looking so forward to
it.”  Adam laughed as he rolled his eyes pulling out a
chair for her then sat down to play a game of euchre with Joey and
Angie.

***

Adam drove up and down every road he thought
Amy might have taken home from work.  It finally dawned
on him that she’d volunteered at the center this
Friday.  She still should have been home hours
ago.  He figured he drive by the house once more to see
if she was there yet.  When he seen her car was not in
the driveway he decided to take the route to the center.

“Damn.”  Adam swore as he drove
through the heavy downpour.  His wipers were on high and
visibility was at a minimum.  The lightning flashes
helped to see the road but the thunder cracking loudly made him
jump every time it struck.  A tornado warning had been
issued for Sanilac County.  Adam notice the sky looked
greenish black toward the northwest and the clouds were moving in a
rotating pattern.

“Dear Lord, help me find Amy.”  No
sooner had Adam spoke the words, lightning flashed and he seen a
figure walking on the side of the road. 

Adam beeped his horn and flashed his lights
pulling up besides Amy.  He jumped out of the truck and
removed her sopping wet coat throwing it into the bed of the
truck.  “Here take mine.”  He slipped his
Carhartt jacket on her and helped her into the truck as it started
pouring again.  “I was so worried about you
babe.  What happened?”

“The road was washed out.”  Amy
started crying.  “I got laid off today
Adam.  We received a call that Tonya’s mother
overdosed.  And then the car slid off the road into the
ditch.”

“Amy,” Adam placed his hand under her chin
staring into her eyes.  “I am truly sorry for all that
happened to you today.  Do you know how worried I was
when I heard there was a tornado spotted?”

“I was so scared Adam.  I was in
the car when it went over.”  Amy continued to
weep.  “I know I should have stayed in the car but the
ditch was filling up with water.  That’s why I started
walking home.  I didn’t know what else to do.”

“No wonder you are all shook
up.”  He took her in his arms and rocked her as he gently
massaged her back.  “Everything will be okay babe, I
promise.”

“I just want to go home Adam.”  Amy
caught her breathe as her shoulders shook.  “I thank God
that he led you to me.  And I thank you for believing you
could find me.”

“Let’s get you home babe.”  Adam
drove as fast as he could to get them home to safety. 

Adam kissed Amy on the forehead as he reached
over her to turn the lamp out on the nightstand.  She had
taken a warm bubble bath and fallen asleep while he was in the
shower.  Adam felt terrible for all she had endured
today.  He was relieved she was warm and safe next to him
in bed tonight.  He never seen Amy break down crying like
that before and it had broken his heart.  He would make
sure he would do his best to be the man she needed to put a smile
back on her beautiful face tomorrow. 

“Wake up babe.”  Adam walked into
the bedroom carrying a plate of scrambled eggs and
bacon.  “I let you sleep in.”

“Thank you,” she blinked as Adam opened the
blinds letting the sunlight into the room.  “What time is
it?”

“Almost noon sleeping beauty.”  He
sat down next to her on the bed handing her the
plate.  “I went over to my dad’s this morning to get the
old Oliver tractor and I pulled the car out of the
ditch.  “Luckily nothing was damaged and it started right
up.”

“You should have woken me up.”  Amy
looked embarrassed.  “I would have gone with
you.  I am so sorry for blubbering like a baby
yesterday.”

“After the day you had yesterday, no
apologies are needed.”  Adam touched her cheek softly
with his index finger.  “I’m just glad nothing worse
happened.  We can get through all the small stuff
together Amy.”

“Even with one less paycheck?”  She
quietly asked.

“Yeah, we’ll be okay,” he reassured her with
the confidence she needed to hear.  “I was thinking of
working up that last section of land that we have.  That
will help out.”