CHAPTERS 12 AND 13

CHAPTER 12

The loving embrace that Monica and Andrew shared by the window put an end to the incident that had happened on the previous day and the blond angel could finally feel like a ton had been lifted from his shoulders. Her kind and loving words left no doubt in his heart: his dearest friend had forgiven him; and now he could hold her again, as he always used to do, without facing her rejection, and he promised himself that he would never repeat the same mistake again.

Stroking her hair, Andrew bent a little and kissed her temple repeatedly. “I love you too, Monica... God knows how blessed and grateful I am for having you by my side...”

“Well, in that case, that makes two very grateful and blessed angels here!” she said, with a wink and causing him to chuckle.

It was then that little Amy came downstairs chasing Joy and saw the two angels holding each other. And when she saw her “daddy”, little Joy ran towards him, wagging her tiny tail and begging for his attention.

“Hey, look who is here!” he said, kneeling on the floor and stroking the animal’s black fur. “Hey, little one, looks like you got yourself a new friend, huh?”

Little Amy, however, stopped running at the moment she saw the blond angel. She remained by the living room stairs, watching him carefully as if deciding if that stranger deserved to be trusted or not. Monica didn’t miss the look of curiosity and fear in the little girl’s eyes and smiled cheerfully at her, “Hey Amy, is wee Joy behaving well? Is she a good friend?”

Shyly, she nodded her head.

“Well, then don’t you think she deserves a little present?”

“Yes...” came her answer, together with a slight smile.

“What do you think, Andrew?” Monica now turned to her dearest friend.

“If you two say so, then, ok, I agree!” A bit afraid to be rejected for the second time, he looked at the little girl, “Hey, Amy, I’m gonna tell you a secret... I keep Joy’s cookies in the kitchen! Would you like to give her those cookies?”

After reflecting upon her answer, she nodded her head again. Now more confident, Andrew smiled, “Ok... I’ll be right back!”

Monica winked at him and watched as he disappeared through the living room door. A few seconds later, when the Irish angel was sitting on the floor together with Amy and Joy, he returned, bringing two different kinds of cookies: one kind was for dogs and the other was for a very shy and wary little girl.

“Very well, here they are...” he placed two plates on the coffee table, “These are for Joy and... these are for you...”

A bit hesitantly, and after silently asking for Monica’s permission, the girl took 2 cookies, one of each kind, and finally gave one to the little puppy (who was nearly frantic for the food she could see in her tiny hands).

Watching Joy’s excitement, Amy smiled broadly and giggled when Joy jumped on her, “She likes it!”

“Oh yes, you have no idea how much!” the blond angel replied.

It was then that the little girl stared at him for long, silent minutes, still analysing if that man deserved to be trusted. Finally, she spoke again, “Can I give her some more, Andrew?”

“Of course you can, sweetie!” hearing her saying his name only contributed to his nervousness and he didn’t believe that such a tiny little creature could make him feel so insecure. Amy kept on looking at him – her expressive big brown eyes showed him that she was still deciding if that was a safe territory.

Warily, she showed him the other cookie in her hand, “And... Can I eat this one?”

“They’re all for you, and there’s more in the kitchen, whenever you want them, you can ask me or Monica or your mom to take them for you, ok?” he said, gently placing his hand over her little head.

Andrew felt a flood of relief washing his soul to see Amy’s cheerful smile and to notice that she wasn’t afraid of him any longer.

“Okay...” she replied, and, with a totally unexpected attitude, she inched closer and kissed the blond angel’s cheek, “...thank you, Andrew.”

Lost for words with that cute gesture, he looked at Monica, who had watched the entire scene in silence: she was smiling and had some tears filling her eyes.

“You’re always welcome, dear...” he replied, overwhelmed with tenderness, tickling the girl’s pink cheek and feeling Monica’s hand squeezing his own – her reassuring gaze at him spoke volumes to his heart.

*

When Pamela climbed down the stairs, she found her daughter happily playing with the little black puppy and laughing with the couple who had so kindly sheltered them on that rainy day. But her initial reaction wasn’t a very happy one.

“Amy...” she said, looking especially at Andrew and visibly uncomfortable to have her little daughter near that man. The little girl was trying to escape from Joy, who had been eagerly chasing her for more cookies. But, as soon as she heard her mom calling, Amy stopped, “I’m sorry, mommy...”

“What have I told you about behaving yourself?”

“Oh, she wasn’t doing anything wrong, Pamela...” Monica spoke, noticing the uncomfortable expression on the woman’s face.

“I... I don’t want her to be a bother...” she said, walking over to the girl and wrapping her arms around her little shoulders. Also noticing her evident apprehension, and aware that his presence was causing it, Andrew stood up from the floor and looked at her, “Ms Garner, please, don’t ever think you or little Amy here are a bother, because it’s not true. You see, Monica and I were relieved that, with all this rain and in that desert mountain, God sent you right to this cabin. This house is yours too. We’re glad to have you here.”

Judging if those words were really true, the woman nodded her head, “Thank you... Thank you both...”

“Mommy, it hurts again...” little Amy spoke, placing her hand against her throat.

“Well, then you’ll to drink some more medicine...”

The girl frowned at those words, “No... it tastes bad...”

“It does not taste bad...”

“Yes it does...” she protested, loathing the idea. The angels exchanged an amused glance, and Andrew’s face turned a mock stern one. “Well... It seems that [i]two[/i] people here should be taking their medicine!” he said, looking at his dearest friend accusingly.

“You gotta take medicine too, Monica?” little Amy wanted to know.

“Well...” she started to say, but the blond angel interrupted her.

“Yes, she does, Amy. A medicine exactly like yours!” he helped Monica on her feet and added, “Besides, I guess you’ve made a lot of effort for one day, you should be resting!”

“Resting? Don’t you know me, Andrew?” she replied, rolling her eyes and finding his mock annoyance rather funny.

*

Some time later, in the kitchen.

With her eyebrows raised, Amy watched as Andrew placed a glass with water in front of Monica and dropped some of the medicine the doctor had prescribed inside it. Then, she watched as Monica drank the content and wondered if that was really safe to do the same.

“See Amy? It doesn’t hurt and it’s not that bad!” the Irish angel said, with such a look in her eyes that it was almost convincing the little girl.

“Really?”

“Really!”

“But it tastes bad when mommy gives me...” she insisted, with such a tearful expression on her face that melted 3 hearts. Pamela and Monica looked at each other not knowing what to do to convince her, but Andrew was quick to act: he pulled a chair and sat down right next to her, “You know, Amy, the medicine doesn’t taste that good, it’s true. But if you don’t take it, then your throat will continue to hurt over and over and then, maybe, you won’t even be able to play with Joy...”

“No?” she asked, now with a worried look. The blond angel shook his head, “No, probably you’ll have to go back to the hospital and take more medicine.”

“I don’t wanna go back there, I lost mommy there...”

“Hum... so how about drinking this little medicine for just a few days? And... I gotta an idea to solve the taste problem...” He stood up and reached inside the fridge, where there was a beautiful strawberry pie. Smiling, he placed it on the table right in front of her. “It can taste a little bad, sweetie. But if you drink it really fast and after eat a piece of this pie, then you’ll forget the bad taste quickly!”

“Hum... okay then!” she quickly answered, letting go of her previous worry.

Having taken the medicine and with a delicious piece of pie in her hands, Amy started to run away from Joy, trying to escape from the excited puppy dog who was also eager for a little piece.

“Amy, don’t run!” her mother said, and was already going after her when Andrew stood up from the chair. “Oh, it’s ok, I’ll go.”

She and Monica watched as he left the kitchen and the woman turned to the Irish angel, who was following him with tender eyes filled with love. “Your friend has a way with children, doesn’t he?”

“Oh yes... Andrew loves children, you know. He has a way to communicate with them.”

“Yes... You two have this ability, in fact.” the woman looked at the Irish angel still with amazement, “It seems like a miracle finding you two up here in the middle of the mountains...”

“God performs miracles every day, every time, Pamela. Some are very small ones and we don’t even notice them from the start; others are more evident and immediately call our attention. But all of them make us realise He’s always watching over us... No matter where we go.”

Those words brought some sudden tears to the woman’s eyes, as if touching a place in her heart. “You know, Monica, there was a time in my life that I doubted that... But now... I can’t deny it...”

“Are you alright?” she asked, placing a supportive hand on her arm.

“Yes... yes, I’m sorry.”

“If... if you need to talk, I’m a good listener, Pamela.” The Irish angel spoke, aware of the sudden sadness that was evident in her dark eyes.

“Thank you... Have you noticed how many times I said ‘thank you’ to you and to Andrew?”

“Yes, and it’s not necessary. Thank God for finding a shelter for you and for wee Amy.”

“I will.”

CHAPTER 13

Despite Andrew’s protests – both because she should rest and secretly due to her culinary abilities, Monica helped him to prepare dinner and it was served by the beginning of the evening. Having guests and being able to help them anyway they could really pleased the two angels and Andrew was little by little rediscovering the joy of being an angel. At about 10 PM, Pamela and a very sleepy little Amy excused themselves and went to their bedroom.

They bid them goodnight and the woman lifted a prayer of thanks for meeting those two kind people on that difficult hour. If initially she was afraid of Andrew, soon the woman came to the conclusion that he and Monica were equal – two good souls in a world full of danger, full of evil. Pamela was tired. Tired of travelling. Tired of moving from city to city, running away from an invisible enemy. Shedding some tears, she held her little daughter, who was peacefully sleeping right next to her, and prayed for their safety.

*

In the living room, sitting on the couch and in front of a warm fireplace, Monica watched the flames dancing and snuggled close to her dear friend; his fingers absentmindedly playing with her hair caused her eyelids to grown heavy with sleep.

“Should I do to you the exact same thing that Ms Garner did with little Amy?” the blond angel spoke, smiling down at her.

“Can we stay just a wee bit longer, please? The fire is so warm.”

“Okay... But just a few minutes more; it’s late and you should rest!” he agreed, playfully rolling his eyes with some mock impatience. “Tomorrow, if the rain stops, I’ll go and take a look at Ms Garner’s car.” He noticed the slight frown on her forehead and cupped her chin, so that she could look at him, “Monica? What is it?”

“I...” after reflecting a little and putting her thoughts in order, she started to speak what had been on her mind since the afternoon, “You know, Andrew, I... I was under the impression that Pamela has some more problems than a broken car... Some more serious problems...”

“Really?”

“Yes... I could see great fear deep inside her eyes... and a lot of sadness too...”

“Did Ms Garner tell you anything that made you think that way?”

“No... she didn’t, but I felt something wrong... Her tears, her apprehension... Something happened in her past, Andrew, and it makes me think that she needs help...”

He thought about it for a few moments and nodded, “So she’s in the right place, angel. And we’ll help her; we already are. When the time comes, the Father will show us what to do...”

A bit more relieved to have shared her thoughts with the one angel who was always ready and wanting to hear her, Monica nodded her head, silently agreeing with his words. Andrew glanced at his pocket watch and turned to her, “But we can’t forget that, in order to work on our assignments, we need to be in human form and therefore, we’re exposed to the exact same needs a human being is. And right now, the need is to rest and sleep. So little angel, it’s time for you to go to bed!”

Now it was Monica who rolled her eyes, “Yes, sir!”

He brushed a tender kiss on her temple and stood up, but before they climbed the stairs to their rooms, Andrew started the night ritual of checking on all the doors and windows, being attentively observed by Monica. She knew he was still healing from the horrors he had witnessed over the past three months, but she could also feel the small change in his heart - his angelic compassion seemed to be coming back little by little.

And secretly, she thanked their loving Father for sending those two poor souls to the cabin – maybe helping them was what was missing for the blond angel’s healing. Maybe Pamela and Amy’s arrival, Monica’s illness, her loving words of encouragement and support and even his outburst at the hospital could be small things performing a greater change.

After finishing his task, he walked over back to the sofa and offered his hand to her, “Let’s go?”

“Alright then... I’ll be a good ‘angel girl’ and will go straight to my room now!”

Andrew wrapped his arms around her shoulders and, with a serious expression now, he nodded, while both climbed the stairs, “Good. You’re still recovering from a bad flu and with your fever and all... You should rest, angel.”

“I know. I’ll take care of myself, I promise.”

Their bedroom doors were one in front of the other and, as usual, right before she entered her room, the blond angel gently grabbed her face and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Have a good night, Monica.”

“You too, Andrew.” she replied, and moved to go to her room. But, right before she entered, Andrew felt a knot in the pitch of his stomach, a bad sensation which was becoming quite common to him.

“Monica...”

“Yes?” she turned around to face him again, with a questioning look, but, without saying a word, as he himself didn’t know how to explain his feelings, he gave two steps towards her and held her tightly.

The Irish angel held him back with the same tenderness but frowned a little, “Is everything okay?”

“Yes... I... I just want to hold you a little more...” he answered, overwhelmed with emotion.

Monica couldn’t understand his sudden attitude at first, but then she came to the conclusion that, once again, it was an effect of the personal drama he had been living. Only a long minute later did they part, just enough to look at each other’s faces, “I’ll say a special prayer for you, ok? I’ll ask the Father to fill your sleep only with good dreams.” She said, gently placing her hand over his cheek. A tiny smile appeared on his face and he took her hand in his own. “Thank you, angel. For everything.”

Standing on the tip of her toes, she kissed his cheek and held him once again before pulling apart and heading to her bedroom. Andrew, however, remained there, standing on his feet and staring at her bedroom door for a few moments, trying to understand why he was feeling that sudden sadness invading his heart. Eventually, he left to his own room and in the silent dark place, he offered his prayers to the one loving Father Who could protect and bless all the ones inside that cabin.