Then on Friday when Amy and I had gotten together to come home, she was very quiet. She had something on her mind.

She was quiet all the way home, and when we got there, she took my hand, and said, “Tommy. Let's go sit on the porch.”

She led me out onto to porch and to the glider. We sat and cuddled for a little while, then Amy said, “Tommy. Honey. You’re going to hate me.”

“Never.”, I said.

“Yes, you will.”

“Why?”

“I … I don’t want to do my clinicals or masters in New Mexico.”

I looked at her, and said, “What! Why!?”

She looked at me with tears in her eyes, and said, “I … I did some research on the master's program out there. It’s new, very new, and I think that I'd get more out of the program here.”

Wiping the tears out of her eyes, I asked, “What about the clinicals?”

“I just don’t feel like going out there to do them now. I’ll just do them here.”

“Honey, it’s your decision. We’ll do what you want to do.”

“Tommy, it’s our decision. I know you were looking forward to going out there for six weeks. And if you still want to go out and do those summer classes, we will.”

“No. We were doing this for you. Mine was just to fill time. I can do summer classes here just as well. And if you want to stay here, we’ll stay here.”

I just held her for a while. Then she whispered, “Tommy, I love you.”

“Amylin, no more than I love you.”

“You don’t hate me. Do you?”

I said, “Honey, I could never hate you. I will always love you.”

The hug I got then was like the one I received that day at the lake when Amy came back from Minnesota.

Then I asked, “You’re really sure about this?”

“Yes. … I’m sure.”

“I’ll give Aunt Ruth a call later tonight.”

“Can we still give Maria and Mark the gift of staying at the resort?”

“Of course we can. It’s our wedding gift to them.”

“You’re so special.”

“No. It was your idea, not mine. You’re special.”

That evening at dinner, Amy didn’t eat much but played with her food. My mother picked up on it and asked, “Amy, is something wrong?”

“Kind of.”, Amy said looking at me.

“You kids aren’t having any problems. Are you?”

“No mom. It’s … It’s that I’ve decided not to do either my clinicals or masters in New Mexico.”

“Oh, honey. Why?”

“I … I looked deeper into their master’s program out there, and it’s very new. And I just feel that I’d get more out of the program here.”

“But why the clinicals.”

“I just felt that since I decided to do my masters here that it would be better to do my clinicals here too.”

“Honey, that’s your choice.”, I said. “And you need to do what feels best for you. And I think that we need to go out there and relax after you finish your clinicals.”

“What!?”, Amy said.

“You heard me.”

“But we can’t impose on your aunt and uncle again.”

“I know. I was thinking of maybe seeing them and grandma and then seeing part of the area we haven’t seen. Like the Four Corners, the Grand Canyon, and perhaps even Bryce, and Zion. And other things.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Kids.”, my mother said. “Let me tell you a little secret. You don’t impose on your Aunt Ruth and Uncle Paul. They don’t have any children, so they have started looking at you as their kids. They love having you. And would do anything for you.”

Later that evening I called my Aunt Ruth and told her about the complete change of plans for this summer. She understood, and when I told her about coming out for two weeks in August, she got excited. And she talked about us staying with them again. I explained what we were talking about doing, and she said that we could use their house as a base and go anywhere we wanted from there. I told her we’d talk about it.

I also told her that if we did this, that I’d still like to pick up a car out there to use and then drive it home. And she told me that it would be no problem.

I told everyone what I’d talked to Aunt Ruth about. And Amy was excited about spending two weeks exploring the area. Then I said, “It’ll be more like three weeks.”

“Three weeks!?”, Amy asked.

“Sure. If we buy a car out there, we’ll have to drive back. And if you think, since we’ll have time, that I’m going to drive straight back here, you’re crazy.”

Sunday Amy and I had dinner with her parents, and we told them about not going to New Mexico for her clinicals or her masters. I saw a little smile on her dad’s face, and I knew he was happy. Her mother was a bit concerned about the reasons for her decision, but when Amy finished explaining, she understood.

We were home early, and I sat in the den talking with my parents, and Amy went to make a phone call. When she came back, she was smiling. I looked at her, and she said, “I just talked to Patty, and she was happy that I’m going to be here for my clinicals. And Maria was beside herself. She was thrilled that I was going to be here for the time leading up to her wedding. I guess I’m her whole support team.”

“She’s not sure about marrying Mark?”, I asked.

“Oh no. Maria is very sure about that. She’s just very nervous about this wedding coming off. In fact, she just told me that she all most had a nervous breakdown after we told her that we were going to be gone. I guess me just being nearby makes her feel better.”

On Friday of the following week, an envelope arrived from my aunt. I opened it, and it was the resort’s certificate for Maria and Mark.

Amy said, “Think we should call them and have them come over?”

“I think that would be a good idea.”, I replied.

Shortly after dinner Maria and Mark were sitting in the den. Amy and I remained standing. And Maria asked, “So what’s up you two?”

“Well.”, Amy said. “To start with the two of you have been great friends. And we love both of you. We also know that going on a honeymoon when you’re a college student is very hard.”

“What are you two up to?”, Maria asked.

“Maria. Mark.”, I said as I handed them the certificate. “Amy and I decided that you needed to get away, even if it’s only for a short time. So we’ve set something up for you.”

Mark and Maria looked at the certificate. Maria started crying. And Mark said, “You can’t do this. It’s too much.”

Maria looked at Amy, and said, “Honey, no. We can’t accept this.”

“Yes, you can.”, Amy said. “We want to help make your wedding special. And this is a special place for us. And it might be special for you too.”

“All we ask.”, I said. “Is that sometime in the future you do something special for someone that needs it.”

“You two are something else.”, Maria said.

“We know that Mark’s parents offered you airline tickets to anywhere you want to go. So, we thought that New Mexico was that place. If you don’t really want to go there, we’ll figure something else out for you.”

“You’ve got this all figured out. Don’t you?”

“I hope.”, Amy replied. “We just want you two to enjoy yourselves.”

“Guys.”, Mark said. “Thank you. I don’t know if we can ever repay you.”

“Mark, this is our wedding gift to you. So don’t you ever think of repaying us. Just enjoy this to it’s fullest.”

Maria jumped up, ran over to Amy, and gave her a big hug. Then she hugged me. Mark hugged Amy and then shook my hand.

Then Amy said, “One last thing.”

With a smile, Maria said, “Here comes the but.”

“No silly. There are no strings attached. But, … “

“See I told you there was a but.”

“Maria, be quiet. We ask that you keep this quiet. Like, don’t tell anyone where it came from.”

“Won’t our friends figure it out.”

“Just tell them you saved up for it. And decided to go to New Mexico after listening to everything that we had to say about it.”

“You do have this all figured out.”

“Yep.”

We just spent the rest of the evening talking. We told Maria and Mark about all the things that the resort offered.

Now, Tammy. I’ll bet that you’re asking yourself where’s Tammy been hiding? She’s been trying to stay out of the way of the craziness of planning Maria’s wedding. She was able to do that until Amy decided that she needed some new clothes.

So one day the girls, Amy, Maria, Tammy, and even Kelly went shopping. We were in and out of shoe stores, lingerie stores, dress stores. Everyone was trying on various things. Amy found a couple of outfits. So did Kelly. Maria was more worried about the wedding then buying clothes. And even I purchased more panties and a new bra. We then we found a nice place for lunch.

We talked about various things while we ate. Kelly even asked, “Amy, are you still thinking of going out west for your masters.”

“No.”, Amy replied. “I’m not going out there to do my clinicals, so I figured that I’d do my masters here too.”

A short time later, Maria and Kelly had gone to the ladies room, and Amy and I were sitting at our table waiting for them to come back so we could do some more shopping. Amy was sitting across from me, she got a strange look on her face, and whispered, “There’s been this guy that has really been paying more than casual attention to us. And now I think he’s on his way over here.”

I didn’t look, but said, “Thanks for the heads up.”

This guy, not a bad looking college-aged guy, if you like guys, walked up to our table, and said, “Hi ladies. What are two good looking ladies like you doing here by yourselves?”

I looked at him, and said, “We’re not by ourselves. We’re waiting for our friends. How can I help you?”

“But your friends are girls. You need some male companions.”

“This is a girls day out for us. And we don’t want any guys around.”

“Honey, I have three friends, and we could have some fun together.”

“I’m not your honey! And, no thanks. You’re not my type.”

“Come on honey. You’re too pretty not to be hanging on the arm of a good looking guy like me.”

“No! I’m not interested.”

Just then Maria and Kelly walked up. And the guy said, “See, there’s now four of you and four of us.”

Amy and I stood, and I asked Maria and Kelly, “You ready to go?”

“Sure.”, Kelly replied.

As we started to walk away, the guy grabbed my hand and started to say, “Babe. Don’t … “

I took the guys hand in a different way then he wanted me to, and used a karate move to put the guy on his knees, I heard Amy say to the guy, “That was a big mistake.”

I caught a grin on Amy’s face. And a look of shock on Maria and Kelly’s faces, which quickly changed to a smile.

I looked down at the guy, and said, “Look buddy. When I say that I’m not interested, I mean I’m not interested. Make yourself scarce.”

The guy, looking up at me with a look of panic, said, “What did you do to me?”

“No. It’s what you did to me! You touched me. I may be a lady, but when some jerk, like you, touches me and I don’t want to be touched, I react. Just be happy that I didn’t hurt you any worse than I did. And the next time I will break your wrist.”

I let go of the guy, turned and walked toward the cashier of the place where we’d eaten. As we walked through the restaurant, I saw a look of panic on the three guys who were with the jerk that I’d just put on the floor. And some smiles from other people, mostly the women.

As we paid our bills, the cashier said to me, “Miss, I loved what you did to that guy. I wish I could do things like that.”

I smiled at her, and said, “Take a karate course.”

As the four of us started walking down the street, Kelly asked, “What was that all about?”

“He came on to me, really us, and wouldn’t take no for an answer.”, I said. “Then he grabbed me, and I reacted.”

“Did you learn that in your karate class?”

“Yeah.”

“Note to self.”, Kelly said. “Look into taking a karate class. And don’t get Tammy made at you.”

I looked at her and smiled.

One evening we were on the way home from an evening out with our friends, I had the top down on the car, and Amy said, “That sure looks like a full Moon.”

As I looked, I said, “I think it is.”

“You don’t feel anything here with the full Moon like you do out west. Do you?”

“I never have. But tonight there’s something.”

“What?”

“I’m not sure.”

As we pulled into the garage something drew me to the backyard. I took Amy’s hand and led her to where we had buried that small branch from the tree that was on the cliff. We stopped short as we both noticed a tiny sprout growing out of the ground. We looked at each other, and Amy said, “Can’t be. It was dead.”

“Was it?”, I asked.

“I sure thought so.”

I sensed someone walk up to us, and it was my mother and father. My Dad asked, “Kids, we saw you walk back here and noticed that you were looking at something. What is it?”

I told them about burying the small branch from the tree that was on the cliff during a full Moon. And then something drawing us to the same place tonight.

No one said anything for some time, then my mother said, “The spirits move in strange ways.”

“Mom, you think that’s what it is?”, Amy asked.

“What else could it be.”, I said.

“How could a branch from a dead tree that was hit and destroyed by lightning sprout like that?”, my father asked.

My mother looked at him and said, “Honey, like I said, ‘The spirits move in strange ways.’”

My mother and father went back into the house.

Amy and I stood there a little longer then went into the house. We joined my parents in the den and talked for a while. But nothing was said about what had happened in the backyard.

Nothing much happened the rest of spring quarter, and the week after it ended Amy started her clinicals. And it looked like Patty pulled some strings because Amy was working the same shifts that Patty was for the next six weeks. So it was going to be boring evenings for six weeks, but we’d have the days together, not to mention the nights.

We found out shortly after the end of the quarter that our grades were excellent. We both made the Dean’s List. And little missy smarty pants made the President’s Honor List again.

I ended up working for my uncle again this summer, with the understanding that I’d be gone after Amy finished her clinicals for the rest of the summer.

Three important things did happen. Mary had her babies. Yes, I was right, she had twins. A boy and a girl. Guess who the godparents are? Yep, Amy and me. Then Amy had her twenty-first birthday. We had a nice party for her, and she received some beautiful things. I even took her out to dinner at an upscale restaurant. Then I had my twenty-first birthday, and I also had a great party and received some nice things. And Amy and I went out to my favorite place for dinner. My favorite drive-in.

I’m not going to bore you with the details of Amy’s clinicals. Except to tell you that every evening when we were back home, and we’d eat a late dinner, then cuddle in the den, and she’d tell me about her evening. Sometimes it wasn’t very much, and other times it was … I became an excellent listener and could understand what troubled her the most. Every time she finished telling me her daily story, she would tell me that it felt like a weight was taken off her shoulders. And I could sense that she was at ease with everything.

Maria and Mark were getting married on Saturday, July 9th. And the week before was crazy. Friday both Amy and I took the day off. Amy had to pick up her dress, and I had to pick up my tuxedo. Then we got together with the rest of the bridal party to go through a rehearsal. Then we decorated the church hall for the reception and went out for a rehearsal dinner.

Saturday was anticlimactic for me. I had to be me. I had to be Tom. I wanted to be Tammy and one of Maria’s bridesmaids. But I was Mark’s best man, and I can live with that. I like Mark. But I hate wearing a tuxedo.

The wedding was a Catholic wedding mass. And Maria looked beautiful in her wedding gown. And I think I was the only guy there that could say that I knew how she felt. The bridesmaids also looked terrific. Amy can make any dress look good. And she was beautiful.

The reception was a small one. There were maybe fifty or sixty people there. No dinner, but none the less it was a nice reception. A beautiful cake, good punch, and other munchies. Of course, I’d brought Mark and the other two other groomsmen to the wedding in the Chevy.

After the happy couple left on their honeymoon, gee I wonder where they’re going, we cleaned up the church hall. Then Amy and I took not only the wedding cake top but the two groomsmen back to Mark’s house where we dropped of the groomsmen. They’d left their cars there. We then dropped the cake top off at Maria’s house and headed home.

On the way home, Amy asked, “You were jealous of Maria. Weren’t you?”

“No.”, I replied. “Why would I be.”

“Maria made a pretty bride.”

“She did. And believe it or not, I wasn’t jealous. I was happy for her. She and Mark made a cute couple.”

“You're sweet.”

“But I was jealous of you. I wanted to be a bridesmaid.”

“I figured as much. Maybe Kelly will let you be one of hers.”

“And be Larry’s best man at the same time. I don’t think so.”

Amy and I were home on Wednesday evening when the phone rang. And Amy answered it with a, “Hello” … “Maria! You’re home.” … “Honey, it was our pleasure. And we hope that you enjoyed it?” … “I figured you would.” … “They did.” … “That’s great.” … “Sure. Saturday night.” … “Okay. Bye.”

I looked at Amy, and said, “I know who that was. How was the trip?”

“They loved I.”, Amy said. “Your aunt and uncle even treated them to dinner one night. And they had a bottle of chilled white grape juice in their room.”

“Grape juice?”

“Maria and Mark are underage.”

“That’s right. And I hear that we’re getting together on Saturday.”

“Yes. Just them and us. They want to thank us for the stay.”

Saturday Amy, Maria, Mark, and I went out to dinner at our favorite drive-in, and they filled us in on all the information on their trip. And they just couldn’t say enough about the resort, the staff, and what they did. Maria said the warm pools followed by a massage was the most relaxing thing that she had ever experienced. Mark even liked the pools and said that the mud pool was an exciting experience. They both said that my aunt and uncle were wonderful to them.

After we dropped Maria and Mark off at their apartment, we headed home. On the way, Amy asked, “So what do we do for Kelly and Larry?”

“Maybe the same thing.”, I said.

“We can talk to them closer to their wedding.”

“Okay.”

The rest of Amy’s clinicals went great, and on that final Friday, she walked out of the Emergency Room like she was on a cloud. But she didn’t tell me anything about this last day.

I had talked to my Aunt Ruth a few weeks ago and told her that our plans for coming out there in August were on. And she was excited. I reminded her about the car, and she said that Uncle Paul was already on a hunt.