Best Laid Plans

Chapter 4: July, 1983

~Amanda POV~

Sophomore year of college was DONE. I blew the doors off both terms. I wanted to stay in Dearborn and cram a few more classes during the summer semester, but after a conversation with Mom, I discovered that my grandma was in poor health. It was decided that I would stay in her house with her during the summer break to make sure she was not alone at night. The arrangement would be long enough for the family to decide if she needed to move in with one of the other families, or perhaps a place that had care. We weren't allowed to call it what it was. Those places are awful according to grandma and so we don't talk about it.

I was able to procure my job once again in the bakery. I was able to work five days a week, the morning shift even, so I would be off by two in the afternoon. I picked up hours at the library, aiding the youth librarian in his summer program with the afternoon offerings four days a week. I was busy enough to keep money flowing into my bank account for the next year of school - especially since I had plans on sharing an apartment with two other classmates I had met in the dorms. Mom and Dad's funds, along with the few little scholarships I had were only taking me so far - so housing off campus was all on me.

The year found me in tough spirits until after Christmas. That's when I fell in with Lizbit. She was the loudest person I had ever met and I loved her immediately. We were inseparable. She introduced me to all sorts of people, sent my ass on a few dates, and always included me in the group outings to bars and clubs. In other words, she dragged me from the pit of my shell and introduced me to the world around me.

Summer had been unremarkable, thank goodness. I worked. I played cards with grandma every night and listened to her talk about everything. She would laugh and ask me about boys. When I said there was no time for that kind of thing, she cackled and said she didn't believe me.

The night of the 4th of July found me once again in the park for the city festivities. This year, all the Kiszka's were in attendance, including Jake and his wife. She sat with Ronnie and Karen. I had to admit that she appeared to be a nice addition to their family. Jake looked... I couldn't place it, but he had taken more than a few steps away from the boy I had known. My heart felt cold in my chest as he moved around, his face not quite catching the light as he used to. He was as handsome as ever, though. Jenni saved me from my ruminations with a handful of sparklers.

I ran around with the little cousins all over the place, hamming it up with them and just being free. Everyone started to congregate back to their respective spots as the first of the fireworks were set off. I was corralling a few from the far corner and the swings when Jake crossed my path, alone. He was quick to smile, his head tilted as looked me over.

"Mandy," he said, a faint smile appearing on his mouth.

"Jake," I managed, as the kids I was just chasing ran around us in a twist. "Guys, come on - get over to Grandma - the show's about to start!"

They laughed and giggled and finally did as I asked when the first bang of the display was launched. I couldn't help that my eyes traced to his the moment we were alone. The punch to my gut was not as strong, but it was there. I could feel the tendrils of our gravity begin to reach out for each other, longing to once again entwine.

"You're looking good. How's school going?" he asked, raking a hand through his hair.

"It's going very good. I hear you're in partnership with Mr. Henry like you wanted," I said with a grin.

"Yeah, yeah," he answered with a nod. "Our arrangement looks a little different, but it's been... Yeah."

The crackle and bangs of the show began falling into a rhythm that seemed to match my heartbeat as he continued to shuffle his feet and smile before me. The shimmer in his eyes warmed as he seemed to want to talk more.