PART 2

“Oh God... You aren’t here by coincidence... You’ve come to help us! I prayed to God to help us when Sarah started to feel pain; that’s why you’re here!” The boy exclaimed, with astonishment.

Andrew smiled at the boy’s surprised and hopeful face, “Yes, that’s it, Edward. We come to earth in this form to help the ones who need. And tonight, the most magical night of the year, we were sent especially to you...” the blond angel explained.

Monica nodded her head, “We have a message from God to you both... His plan is always perfect; He never makes mistakes and He never abandons His children. And right now, He wants to help you and this little child, but, for that, you need to have faith and trust your lives to Him. This little boy is a gift to you both, a precious gift and all that he asks of you is that you love him.”

“We do! I don’t know what’s gonna happen to us or how we’ll make it, but we would never give up on him...”

“If you’re willing to live your life in God’s teachings, if you’re willing to give nothing but love to your child and to each other, then trust God and He’ll do the rest... What comes out of love is nothing but love too.” the Irish angel spoke, and suddenly the ugly, cold and dirty warehouse where they were staying at, turned into a cosy and clean place, with a fire lit not far from them, keeping the atmosphere warm and protecting them from the cold outside.

“Look at this...”

“It’s a Christmas miracle!” the couple of teenagers exclaimed, marvelled with the sudden change.

“It’s the second Christmas miracle of the night... the first one is right there in your arms, Sarah,” Andrew added.

“Yes, it’s the most miraculous night of the year! Merry Christmas, Sarah and Edward!” the Irish angel announced, she and Andrew had a broad smile on their faces.

“Have I missed something?” the sudden voice was a familiar and dear one, and the two angels turned around to see Tess carrying a few bags with food for everybody.

“In fact, we were missing you, Tess!” the Irish angel happily replied, “And we were eager to tell you the good news!”

“Yeah, but don’t worry, Tess! Monica and I can keep you informed about the latest events!” the blond angel spoke, as the supervisor came closer to them and gave a good look at the little baby.

“Hum... I guess I have a slight idea of what’s been happening here!”

“Are you an angel too?” Sarah wanted to know.

“Yes, baby, and I was sent to spend the night with you all and with this little boy who has come to this word.” Tess was marvelled at the cute little child, “Does he have a name already?”

“Well... Edward and I had decided a long ago that, if it was a boy, we would name him Gabriel, as he’s like a little angel who came to us... We couldn’t imagine that the angels would be so close to us!”

“Gabriel! It’s such a beautiful name!” Monica exclaimed, as happy as her angelic friends.

x

Monica and Tess took care of Sarah while Andrew taught Edward how to take care of his son. The Christmas night was spent there, in a poor neighbourhood, in an abandoned warehouse, but the angels’ presence made it a warm, special and blessed place. On the Christmas morning, the news that a little baby had been born in that place quickly spread and lots of people – homeless or not, came to see in person the little miracle that had happened on that cold but magical night. Most of them, even the poorest ones, brought a present and were enchanted with the cute child.

Soon, the TV appeared too, broadcasting the amazing story of the homeless teenagers who, against all odds, were decided to keep their son with them and face together the adversities to come. Always protected by the angels, who remained invisible at their side the whole time, the couple of teenagers happily accepted the gifts and were surprised to see how many people came to see them and their child.

Suddenly, a very beautiful car stopped at the entrance of the warehouse and a very elegant old woman got out of it.

“Thank you, Edmund...” she politely said to the driver who had opened the vehicle door. Then, she looked around her and frowned to see the bad conditions of the place. “Dear God...”

The woman entered the warehouse, passing by the poor people who had also come to see the baby, and walked up to the young couple who remained inside, holding their small child.

“So it’s true... it is true!” the old lady spoke, marvelled to witness the miracle that had happened the previous night. The two teenagers looked at each other and at her, who continued talking, “I heard about you both and about your baby and I just had to come and see you all...”

“Thank you, madam...” Sarah spoke.

The woman came closer and knelt right in front of the girl, and with emotion in her face, she reached out and stroked her face. “My name is Vivian Lewis.”

“I’m Edward, this is Sarah and this is Gabriel, our son! Thank you for coming to see him, Ms Lewis...” the young man said, still wondering what such an elegant and visibly rich woman was doing there.

“You don’t have anything to thank me... In fact, I’m the one who is thankful... I was watching the news on TV last night when I saw what happened here and...” a tear rolled down her face as she never removed her eyes from Sarah, “I lost a daughter some years ago... she looked just like you, young lady...”

“I’m... I’m sorry...” the teenager replied, already understanding how painful the loss of a child could be.

“Since then my days have been sad and lonely and... I kept asking God why I was still here on this Earth. But this morning, when I heard about you two and this little baby, something deep inside of me changed... your story, hearing about how you gave birth all alone, in such a terrible place... it moved me so much...”

“But we weren’t alone, you know... God helped us!” Edward informed her.

“He sent His angels to help us!” his girlfriend added, taking a quick look at Monica, Andrew and Tess, who were standing close to them.

“Well... some time ago I’d doubt this story, but judging by how you managed to do it... I have to believe that only a miracle made it possible...” he inched closer and caressed the baby’s cheek, “... he’s such a cute little boy...”

“He looks like his mom!” the child’s father happily exclaimed, and smiled as Sarah shot him a loving look.

Also smiling, despite her tears of emotion, the old lady nodded, “He sure does! And, if it weren’t for him I wouldn’t have found you three...” Once again the teenagers exchanged a confused look, “I came here to ask you something...”

Protectively, Sarah held her little boy closer to her chest, “I know what you’re going to ask but I’m not giving my baby, Ms Lewis. I’m sorry you’ve lost a daughter but Edward and I made a promise that we’d always be together and that we’d take care of our son, no matter what...”

“Sarah is right, Ms Lewis... we won’t give up on him...”

“Oh no! No, I wasn’t going to ask you to give him away... Much on the contrary... I came here to ask you if...if you accept my help... I know you want to keep your child with you and I’d do the same if I were you, but I also know that things won’t be easy for you, especially now... So please, let me help you... You remind me of my daughter so much, child... Let me do for you what I cannot do for her anymore...”

Now really surprised, the young couple looked at each other and at the angels, who were smiling at them. “You... you don’t want us to give him to you?” Edward had to confirm that all the woman wanted was to help them.

“Of course not, I’d never dream of separating a family... All I want is a chance to keep on loving... I want a chance for me...”

“Well... in that case, you’re much welcome, Ms Lewis!” the girl finally spoke.

*

“Oh Father... 3 Christmas miracles in only one night...” Monica spoke, wiping away the tears that were falling from her eyes. Knowing exactly how sensitive his beloved angel girl was, Andrew wrapped his arm around her small shoulders and brought her closer to him, kissing the top of her head.

“It’s amazing that, despite all the difficulties, Sarah and Edward are so happy to have their baby in their arms. I’m glad that they’ll have a little help from now on!” he said, running his hands through Monica’s hair.

“It was the news about little Gabriel that guided that old lady up to this place. And I know exactly how that young lady is feeling!” the supervisor spoke, in a slight self-assured way.

The two angels looked at her a little surprised, “You do?”

“Of course I do, angel girl! The Father gave me two children too... What on Earth do you think you’re both are to me, huh?”

Smiling, they held each one of her arms and kissed the oldest angel’s cheeks, “Oh Tess, you’re like our mother too... the most loving mother we could ever ask for!”

“I couldn’t agree more!” Andrew added, chuckling at the contented expression on Tess’ face.

“Well... I know that but thanks anyway, babies!”

Monica gave a few steps ahead of them and, with a permanent smile on her face, she conjoined her hands, “And all I ask for is that on this blessed day  each and every person on this Earth can feel their hearts filled with joy, peace and much love, the same way I’m feeling right now.”

Andrew and Tess also gave a step closer to their beloved Irish angel and stood by her side, holding her tight and joining her prayers, “May that be true, Father, for all Your children.” The supervisor spoke, followed by the blond angel, “Yes... I wish every human being could feel the happiness and receive the love I feel and receive every day of my existence.”

“Merry Christmas to the humankind!” the three angels spoke, and watched as the old lady offered the young couple and their son a place to stay. With a contented smile, Monica looked at Tess and Andrew, who didn’t miss the opportunity to kiss the tip of her nose. Right before they started to disappear, they saw as the new family left the warehouse carrying the little baby boy and a white dove cooed and flew in the sky.

*

A little epilogue

It was almost midnight and a young couple and their little son were now resting in a cosy and comfortable house far from the cold streets where they had grown up. Christmas had definitely been a good one for them and for the angels who had taken part in that little miracle.

Up in there in the mountains, which were now covered by a white blanket of snow, it was silent. The cabin where the three angels used to stay whenever they had some free time on Earth was warm and cosy and a closer look revealed that not all the angels were asleep. Wearing a thick robe over her flannel pyjamas, Monica was kneeling in front of the beautiful Christmas tree, placed by the fireplace, and had her hands conjoined – she had been praying there for some time. But suddenly, she felt another loving presence coming closer and a tiny smile appeared on her meek face.

Less than a minute later, Andrew entered the living room with his eyebrows raised and a questioning expression on his face. “Angel, what are you doing here?” he wanted to know, and his beloved Monica couldn’t help giggling at his dishevelled blond hair.

“Well, I was... I was talking to the Father, you know. Thanking Him one more time for the opportunity to help people who need it, for being closer to the people I love, for you...” she spoke, reaching for his hand as he sat down next to her.

“Oh, for me?” he repeated, with a mock surprised face.

“Yes! I happen to love you very much, you know?” Monica cheerfully replied, and inched closer to him to brush a tiny kiss on his lips.

“Really? Oh well, then I must join your prayers right now to thank God too!” the blond angel wrapped his arms around her waist and also lay a tender kiss on her lips.

Trying to arrange his hair, Monica eyed him with an adorable questioning face, “What made you wake up? You were sleeping so peacefully and cutely!”

Chuckling at her wording, Andrew nodded, “Well, let’s see... Maybe it was the fact that there wasn’t ‘anybody’ there to elbow me during their sleep, or not ‘anybody’ to chat for long minutes, also during their sleep...”

Enjoying to see her blushing face and finding it incredibly adorable, he leaned against the couch, right in front of the fireplace, and pulled her to his arms, “Come here, angel.”

“So you mean things were a wee bit monotonous there?” she asked, happily snuggling in his embrace and resting the back of her head on his strong chest.

“Definitely! But you know what? I’m glad I woke up and came here. Now, although it’s almost December 26^th, I feel like a kid who woke up in the middle of the Christmas night to see the presents that Santa left by the tree!”

She turned her head to face him, “Why?”

“Well, because I’ve found a beautiful, wonderful Christmas present by the Christmas tree: a cute little angel girl!” he concluded, holding her tight and kissing her cheek repeatedly.

Giggling again, Monica turned around and grabbed his face with both hands tenderly caressing his cheeks, “Well, so you’re really blessed, mister, because I’ve heard that this little angel you’ve found will belong to you for the rest of eternity!”

Completely lost in her soft brown eyes and gently caressing her long auburn hair – now even more accentuated by the light of the fire, Andrew brushed a tender kiss on her forehead, “So this little angel can be sure that I’ll love her and that I’ll take care of her for ever!”

They were once more hypnotised by each other’s gazes and soon their lips met in a loving and tender kiss and the Irish angel felt like falling in his arms one more time; both souls lost in time and place; aware of nothing but their own hearts beating in the same rhythm.

To be continued.