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“It’s harder than it looks, Amanda,” Sonny said with a frustrated groan while he shot water into the clown’s mouth. Amanda was standing to his left suppressing her laughter as the teenager several clowns down beat him soundly. Swallowing the sound, she assures him that he must be right.
She took his hand, and dragged him away from the silly carnival game, offering him a piece of the fried dough he bought her before attempting the clowns.
“You know these games are rigged, Carisi, they aren’t much better than gambling. You’re just throwing your money away.”
He looked at her, disappointed, “I know, I just wanted to win one for Jesse, and another for Billie.” Her heart warms with his declaration which shows her again how much he cares for the three of them.
“Let’s just walk around for a while.” She linked their arms, and pulled him in the direction of the rides. “I can’t believe this whole carnival is a fundraiser for your church?”
“The carnival brings in the people. The admission goes to the church, and the crafters have to rent the tables. There’s collection buckets, too.” She smiled, having already clocked the bills he stuffed into a couple of the collection boxes, reflecting in wonder how deeply ingrained in his childhood community he remained, as he seemed to know all the church volunteers stationed at each box.
“Oh, Manda--look that one is just a duck pull, I bet I can win them something on that one.” She looks at the pool of ducks skeptically. “Sonny, there is probably one duck in there that wins anything, and they’re moving. Even if you spent fifty dollars, you probably wouldn’t win. Maybe we can look for something that actually requires some skill? Or better yet, you can take me on the Ferris Wheel?”
They keep walking, enjoying each other’s company and a rare night without the girls “Jesse would have loved this, we should have brought her.”
“I know, Manda, but I thought if we waited till next year, Billie would be big enough to enjoy it too.” He pulls her close and whispers “besides, my Ma has been dying to have a night with them, and I’ve been looking forward to getting a few minutes away.” She smiles widely at how easily they both know that they’d be there again next year, but instead of commenting emotionally, she brushes it off and suggests again “Ferris Wheel?”
They make their way over to it, and he buys the tickets, Amanda appears to enjoy the ride, and settles into his side. “You know, you were right. It's a beautiful night and nice to be alone together.” She looks up at him and finds him staring at her, and looks at him questioningly.
He’s mesmerized by her, enjoying her wide smile, the city lights in the background. “You take my breath away, Amanda Rollins.”
The memory of that night would be with the both of them for a long time as one of their favorite evenings. And that Monday evening, when he grilled her about the tiny stuffed monkey in is briefcase, (which he luckly found alone in his office, not in court) she winked, and told him that next year he’d have to go back and try the balloon darts next to the men's room.