CHAPTERS 2 AND 3

CHAPTER 2

Andrew had been standing on his feet for a few minutes next to Tess’ Cadillac, patiently waiting for his dearest friend. It was a sunny day and he had parked the car under the shadow of a huge tree near the road that led to the mountains; the blond angel checked his pocket watch for the 5^th time in the last ten minutes, sighing deeply as he kept it inside his pocket once again. But suddenly, the silence was broken by a puppy bark and a second later, he saw a chubby black spaniel clumsily running towards him – practically bumping onto his feet.

Unable to resist to such a cute little animal, and not missing her enthusiasm in seeing him again, he chuckled and knelt on the ground, “Hey, little one... I missed you a lot too!” he ruffled Joy’ soft fur as she started to lick his hand and wagged her tiny tail.

“Yes, yes, I know you missed you dad a lot too... And where is that mother of yours, huh?”

“Andrew...” he heard an unmistakable voice calling him from some distance and saw Monica walking over to him; she was wearing a beautiful flowered  dress and comfortable sandals, and carried 2 suitcases in her hands. A few seconds later, the Irish angel was at his side, with a somewhat embarrassed expression on her face. “... I’m sorry...”

“Hum... Monica? May I ask...?” he said, looking at her extra luggage. He took  the suitcases from her hands and placing it in the back of the car, together with another one, which had been there previously.

“They’re my clothes, you know... I had to pick them up and I... well I couldn’t decide what to pick!” she lowered her head, “I didn’t know if I should take one or two dresses, which skirt to take, and suddenly I realised it’s also a bit chilly at night in the mountains...”

Andrew smiled at the worried expression on his dearest friend’s face, as she kept on talking “...and I know I shouldn’t worry about all these things because I’m an angel! Tess even scolded me the other day, you know... I guess I’ve been spending way too much time with humans beings and it’s clearly affecting me!”

Chuckling at her words, he closed the car trunk and nodded, “Well... then I guess some time away may restore your ‘angelic traits’...”

She tilted her head and nudged his arm, “Oh yes, and I’m glad you’re an angel too!”

Smiling, and silently lifting a prayer of thanks for having that wonderful creature at his side at such a difficult moment, Andrew took a roundish present box that had been placed on the passenger’s seat and gave it to her, “Hum... but I guess I ended up contributing to this little confusion in your pretty head!” he handed her the box, not missing the surprised look in her eyes, “A present? For me?”

“I just hope it matches the clothes you had so carefully selected for these days off!”

“Andrew... you didn’t have to...”

“C’mon, open it!”

One of the things Andrew loved most about Monica was her childlike curiosity and excitement with the most simple things, and one of his favourite hobbies was to imagine the many possible ways to surprise her so that he could watch her reaction. With amusement, he watched as Monica undid the ribbon around the box and carefully opened it, finding a beautiful flowered hat inside of it, “Oh, my goodness, it’s beautiful!!!”

“Really? So, I got it right?”

She shot him a grateful look, “You’re always right about me...” she said, wrapping her arms around his waist, in a warm embrace, “Thank you, I love it.”

“I’m glad you like it, angel.” He replied, kissing the top of her head. When they pulled away, he took the hat from inside the box, “May I do the honours?”

“Yes!”

Andrew placed the beautiful hat on her head and watched with contentment the gorgeous image in front of him: it really suited her perfectly and emphasised her angelic and meek face even more, leaving him to wonder if there could be a more lovely creature in the whole world.

“Well, now you’re ready for your little trip! Get in you two, I’ll do the driving.”

*

Although Monica’s presence alone was enough to lighten the atmosphere, during the journey from the town to the cabin up in the mountains, Andrew spoke very little. Even his dearest friend’s constant chatting and her detailed (and sometimes philosophical) observations about every little thing that crossed their way weren’t able to make him speak more. Not that her talking bothered him – much on the contrary, he loved listening to whatever she had to tell him and watching her enthusiasm did make him feel better. But, whenever he smiled or made a short comment, he remembered all those victims he had been taking Home, and that was enough to make him sad again, as if he felt suddenly guilty for having a tiny happy moment while all those women had suffered so much.

That part of the road they were passing now was particularly beautiful because the tall trees that stood on either both sides of the road were inclined in a way that made their canopies meet each other, creating a natural green tunnel, through which the sun light could barely pass.

“Nature sometimes shapes itself in so many curious ways, doesn’t it?” Monica spoke, admiring the ‘tunnel’. Andrew nodded his head, “Yes, that’s true. But you know, this only happened because somebody should come here and cut those canopies a little.”

“Oh but I like them that way! They’re so beautiful...”

“Yes, but they cover the few lamp posts along the road; at night it can be dangerous to pass here, especially with this dense vegetation...”

The Irish angel didn’t miss the distress over his face and the fact that almost all the victims had been found in areas distant from the city, where vegetation grew high and where light was practically non-existent. Slowly, she nodded, “Yes... I... I hadn’t thought about it before... you’re right, Andrew...”

The rest of their journey was a silent one, as Monica suddenly feared that her continuous chatting would bother him – she could feel that the permanent anger and sadness in his heart were still very strong. But fortunately it didn’t take them too long to arrive at the cabin and a broad beautiful smile appeared on her face: the last time they had been there was on Christmas, with Tess, their other angelic friends and a group of children they had helped along their trip.

“Oh, it’s as lovely as always!” she exclaimed, opening the car door and getting out of the vehicle together with little Joy. Andrew watched as she climbed the porch steps and surveyed her surroundings with the excitement of a 5-year-old and a small smile appeared on his handsome face. While Monica opened the door and checked the interior of the house, he grabbed their bags in the trunk and also entered the cabin. And the happy memories of the days spent there together with his friends did make him feel a bit better. Andrew doubted whether he would recover from the awful things he had seen along those 3 painful months, but one thing was sure: that was the right place for that healing to happen.

While Monica walked around the whole cabin, surveying every little detail of it, the blond angel placed her two suitcases in her bedroom and then headed to his own room. After putting his own luggage on the wooden floor, he opened the window and kept on staring outside at the vast green vegetation that grew everywhere around. He remained staring out the window for some time, lost in his sad thoughts when a soothing voice took him out of his reverie.

“The Father prepared everything for us, Andrew. All the rooms are tidied up and the cabin is clean...” Monica announced, as she entered his bedroom.

“Yes... everything is just... perfect.” He replied, looking around him, admiring how his room was in the most perfect order.

Somewhat feeling unsure of what to say, the Irish angel gave a few steps towards him and gently stroked his arm. “Would you like me to make you a sandwich?”

“No... I’m not really hungry, you know...” he answered, unable to hide his sadness. Feeling his distress and, once again, fearing to bother him, Monica retracted her hand and averted her eyes from him, “You must be tired... you’re in human form and drove all this time, I’ll let you rest...”

“No... Monica, angel...” he searched for her hand before she could move away from him, and squeezed it. “... I’m... I’m sorry if I’m not much of a talkative friend right now... but please, don’t even think that you’re bothering me or something like that, ok?”

A tiny smile appeared on her face and she came closer to him once again, her soul renewed by those few words, “Anytime you need to talk, you can come to me, Andrew. I’m here with you, whenever you need me...”

He stroked her face with tenderness and also with a small smile, “That’s why I said everything was perfect.”

That statement was enough to make the little angel to give one more step and wrap her arms around his waist. Her dearest friend returned that warm embrace with the same tenderness and kissed the top of her head. “It seems I’m your assignment now, angel.”

“I wish you weren’t because... if you’re my assignment, it means that you’re facing difficult times... But... since you are... Then I can say you’re the best assignment I’ve ever had!”

Her words, always a bit confusing even to herself but never to him, caused his smile to grow wider and he pulled away just enough to look at her meek face, “Well, in that case it wouldn’t hurt to say you’re the best angel I’ve ever had!”

Frowning a little, she stared at his green eyes, “And when was the last time you had another angel?!”

Now Andrew let out a small laugh and kissed her forehead, “No, in fact, I didn’t. And now why on Earth would I need another angel if I have you?!”

Smiling cheerfully, she stood on the tip of her toes and kissed his cheek. “You can stay here, you know... I’ll prepare our lunch.”

“No! I mean, I’ll help you!”

He followed her out of his room and didn’t see the mischievous smile upon her pretty angelic face.

*

“... It was delicious, Andrew!” Monica spoke, finishing the lunch they had “both” had prepared.

“I had some help...” he said, remembering how that adorable little angel had nearly driven him crazy in the kitchen, trying to “help” him by adding all sorts of weird ingredients to a simple lunch and, of course, massive doses of pepper.

“Hum... but you didn’t let me help you! You practically made it all by yourself, Andrew!”

Chuckling, he looked at their dishes and had an idea, “Well... you can do the washing then!”

“Okay! But the next time, I will do the cooking!” she spoke, collecting the plates and carrying them to the kitchen.

*

Monica had finished to do the washing and to tidy up the dining room when she noticed that Andrew wasn’t anywhere around. Frowning a little, she looked for him in the living room and was about to climb the stairs to check on his bedroom when she saw the blond angel sitting on the porch steps. It nearly broke her heart to see the sad expression on his face and the only reason why she didn’t go to him was because she realised he was praying.

Almost in a whisper, the Irish angel sighed and lifted a quick prayer herself, “Father, please, help him. Give him courage to face this assignment... And please, protect all these women... Make it possible for the police to catch this evil man before another victim is made...”

CHAPTER 3

Monica decided to leave Andrew alone for some time, as she knew he was having a silent conversation with the Father and listening to His reassuring words. Sitting on the porch steps, looking at the sky with his hands conjoined, the blond angel prayed to get the courage to face those hard assignments.

“... I’m lost Father... I know I shouldn’t, but I am... I didn’t lose my faith in You but... I guess I’m losing my faith in human beings...” the blond angel whispered, listening to some silent loving words in his heart and nodding his head afterwards, “I know... they’re Your children too, like me, like Monica... but I can’t see any beauty in their feelings... I know it’s a terrible thing to say but... I feel that their feelings can’t be as pure as an angel’s ones... a man who does such a terrible thing... I saw all these women, Father, and I can’t possibly accept that a human being who is capable of such thing deserves to be called Your child...”

Andrew listened for some more time and sighed with sadness, “I know that there’s good and evil in the world and that sometimes good loses a battle and yes, angels aren’t perfect either... but they would never hate the way humans do...”

The blond angel offered some more silent prayers asking for guidance and reassurance and was so absorbed in this that he didn’t notice that his dearest friend had approached him. Monica was standing behind him, on the doorstep, with her eyes filled with sadness as she could feel the sorrow that was coming from his heart. She didn’t want to bother him but at the same time, it hurt to see her beloved friend in so much sadness and not being able to hold him tightly and to tell him that everything would be alright, that his soul would be restored.

Eventually, however, Monica walked over up to him and knelt right beside him, placing her hand over his shoulder. “Can I stay here by your side? You don’t need to talk, Andrew, I just wanted to be here with you...”

Without saying a word, he took her hand from his shoulder and kissed it; then he made her sit right next to him and wrapped his arm around her small shoulders, in a tight, thankful embrace.

*

Monica and Andrew remained in that silent embrace for a long time, when the blond angel raised his head and looked around him; it was a beautiful day and their surroundings made it even more gracious: summer was due to in only a week and the gentle breeze blowing in that afternoon brought the perfume of the several wild flowers that grew next to the cabin. The sky was deep blue, with only a few white clouds, forming some funny forms that Monica loved to observe and make strange and funny comparisons. He gave his dearest friend a light squeeze and waited until she looked at him with a questioning face, “Would you care for a walk?”

His soul seemed to be 10 times lighter when he saw the smile on her face and the sparkle in her brown eyes with that invitation, “Yes! I’d love to!”

“Well, so...” he stood up and helped her to her feet.

“Can you wait here for a moment? I need to get some things!”

With some amusement, he watched as she entered the cabin and came back a minute later, carrying a chubby little dog in her arms and the beautiful hat he had given her. “I guess we are ready now! You know, our baby needs to do some exercise!” she said, winking at him. Unable to remain serious, he stroked Joy’s soft fur, “Yes... judging by how much she eats, I guess she could use some exercising!”

Hand in hand, they started a walk, with little Joy running along their feet. Monica’s eternal chat managed to lighten his spirit and he finally started to open a little more – the little Irish angel along with the Father’s loving words somehow started to produce their first effects on him.

“It’ll be summer in only a few weeks! I love this time of the year... You know, Andrew, I didn’t use to like winter very much, but I remember that once, while we were working on an assignment, Tess made me change my mind about it and now I actually like it. Winter is a good time to reflect about things and to see colours we usually don’t pay attention to because of the light...” seeing that he was attentive following her ideas, she kept on talking, “... but summer... it’s magic, you know. Everything is more fragrant and vibrant and... and  colourful! Take a look around us! It’s as if during the cold season every little plant or flower or wee animal had been waiting for this moment! They bloom in spring and now, in the summer, here they are! In all their plenitude!”

A tiny smile appeared on the blond angel’s face, “You’re so philosophical today, my angel!”

“But don’t you agree with me? I mean, could you pick one colour or flower of anything else when everything around us has its unique beauty?”

“Hum... Well, I couldn’t at first. But, you see, I guess that we end up picking a favourite because there’s always something special about this favourite... something that touches the heart... the beauty that only we can see...” he said, looking at her. Monica’s pensive face, reflecting about what he had said, was so adorable that he couldn’t help chuckling.

“You know something, Andrew? You’re right!” the Irish angel finally concluded, causing him to let out a small laugh, “You’re philosophical too!”

“Well, I got some inspiration here...” he lowered his voice and gently nudged her in the rib, “... from you!” Watching with amusement as she blushed, he kept on talking, “After all, it’s about you that I’m talking about, angel!”

Monica squeezed his hand, “The same goes to you!”

“Thanks!” he said, taking her hand to his lips.

A second later, though, her smile disappeared from her face as she realised something, “Andrew... Where is Joy?”

The two angels looked around them: the chubby little dog had disappeared.

“I wonder how she does that!” Andrew spoke, frowning with concern.

Immediately, both started to look for the small puppy – they were in a part of the forest which they didn’t know very well; for some reason unknown by them, they had never visited that area and they had no idea if there could be any danger around them.

“She was right here with us... Joy? Joy, sweetie, where are you?” the Irish angel called, but there was no reply. Monica moved away from her dear friend and headed towards some bushes, where the vegetation grew high. Andrew was distracted looking for the little animal and didn’t notice Monica going away from him at first; only when he turned to face her did he see the angel among the bushes, nearly disappearing from his view.

He felt a sudden sensation of panic creeping on him, “Monica!” his voice was a loud one, and that was enough to startle her.

“What? Did you find her?” she asked, staring at him with some fear in her eyes and with her heart pounding loudly in her chest. Immediately regretting the tone of his voice, he was quick to shorten the distance between them and place his hand on her shoulder, “No... I... I was...”

A sudden bark interrupted him and both followed the familiar sound: the little chubby dog was only a few steps away, at the bank of a beautiful lake, with crystalline waters.

“Oh! Andrew, look at this!” Monica exclaimed, forgetting their previous worry as she took the little puppy in her arms, marvelled with the scenario. Sighing deeply, Andrew tried to put his sudden concern aside and stroked Joy’s soft fur, “You almost got yourself in a big trouble!”

They heard an embarrassed bark and the Irish angel was quick to speak, “I guess she was a wee bit thirsty, you know... And look at the water, it’s crystal clear! Doesn’t it remind you of a certain special place?”

The cheerful look on her face along with the memory of their Home, brought his smile back and he nodded his head, “Yes... it sure does, angel!”

“There’s so much beauty in this planet, you know...” she said, looking around them, “This place is a good example.”

Andrew watched as his beloved friend gave a few steps away from him and looking at her barefoot, wearing that cute long flowered dress and the hat he had given her was almost the same as looking at a perfect picture, and for some instants his heart was filled with joy. Aware of all the love he felt for that little angel, he watched her placing Joy on the ground and the smile on his face grew wider as she let the lake water touch her small feet; a soft contact as delicate as she was.

Moved with emotion, he thought the there couldn’t be a more adorable creature like that angel in the whole universe and he felt grateful for having her friendship. But, suddenly, together with this feeling, came his huge sense of protectiveness – he knew that God was watching over her, but he couldn’t help feeling responsible for that warm hearted angel, as in a way, she was like a present he would be eternally grateful for. Then the hard and hurtful words that Dana’s mother had said to him on the day of her daughter’s funeral returned to his mind...

[i]...if there is someone you love, other than your ‘Almighty God’, try to imagine her lying on the ground, beaten up and strangled, after being attacked by a stranger whose only objective was to hurt her.”[/i]

It caused a wave of sadness and great fear to invade his heart, the depths of his soul, and for a moment he felt like grabbing her hand and coming back Home.

“...Andrew?” her insistent callings finally managed to take him out of his reverie. “Don’t you think so?”

“What? Sorry, angel, what did you say?”

“That we could come back here to swim!” she repeated, with an adorable mix of amusement and impatience. But the blond angel frowned as he gave a general look at the lake, “I don’t know, Monica... It can be deep...”

“Oh... but I can swim, Andrew. It was you who taught me, remember? During our vacations on the beach! Besides, we can be at a safe level and you could keep an eye on me all the time!”

The blond angel looked at her pleading face and frowned a second time, sighing with some disappointment, as he knew he had lost a battle. “I wonder how Tess manages to say ‘no’ to you!”

Smiling broadly, she held his hand and squeezed it, “Then I should be grateful for loving such different angels like you and her, right?”

He rolled his eyes, with mock indignation, causing her to giggle, “Yes, you should! But we’ll leave the swimming thing for tomorrow; right now we’re going back to the cabin cause, although summer is near, it’s always chilly up here in the mountains when the night falls.”

Sighing deeply, yet with a pleased expression on her face now that she knew they would return to that beautiful place on the following day, she encircled his waist with her arm, “Okay!”

Shaking his head with mock disapproval, and with a tiny smile back to his face, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and the two angels and their small dog left the new found lake.