CHAPTER 23

Everyone was cheerful and talkative over lunch, and the three angels prolonged it, knowing that it would be their last bit of time to spend with Faith on earth. Tess had pulled Andrew aside and let him know of Monica’s intentions and he paid particular attention to the little angel, looking for any sign that she needed help. She gave none. In fact, she was more relaxed and at peace than he had seen her in days.

As they each pushed back from the table Monica took Faith’s hand in hers. "I was thinking that the two of us could go for a little walk," she suggested. She glanced at Andrew and Tess playfully. "Just us girls."

Faith, her mouth still full of cookie, nodded, her eyes bright and happy. "Yeah, just us girls!" she said as she hopped down from her chair.

Tess reached out and ruffled Faith’s hair as the girl passed. "You stay close to Monica," she said.

"Don’t worry, Tess. I will."

Andrew didn’t say anything, but he touched Monica’s shoulder as she stood up, and she looked down into his face. She didn’t need any words to hear what he was telling her.

Hand in hand, Faith and Monica left the cabin. Faith started to pull Monica down the driveway, figuring that they were going to walk down the old dirt road, but the angel squeezed her hand and led her towards the forest. Faith started shaking her head and looked up, fearfully.

"I don’t wanna go back in there. Can’t we walk somewhere else? Please?"

Monica stopped and wrapped her arm around Faith’s shoulders. "We aren’t going to the cabin, sweetheart. There’s something else I want to show you. You know you can trust me, don’t you?"

Faith’s mouth puckered up as she considered the angel’s words, but then she nodded her head. "Yes… I trust you…"

She smiled. "Good. Then come with me, and don’t worry, I won’t let go of your hand."

They walked through the woods and very soon they came to a clearing. It wasn’t the same one that Monica and Andrew had picnicked at that first day, but somehow Monica had known where it would be. It stretched out in a nearly perfect circle, and the long grass was strewn with wildflowers. The deep blue sky was so clear and pure that it seemed as if they just reached up they would be able to brush it with their fingertips.

Faith’s expression had gone from apprehension to childish joy as soon as she stepped foot in the field. She smiled up at Monica before dashing off to pick flowers, with the angel right beside her the whole time. The little girl finally sat down in the center of the clearing and began sorting her flowers into three groups.

"One for Tess, one for Andrew and one for you," she explained. She was only a little startled when Monica suddenly pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.

"Lie back with me and look up at the sky," Monica said as she lay down, hands behind her head.

"It’s really pretty," Faith said. "Blue’s one of my favorite colors."

"Mine too."

As they were lying there, a large maple leaf fluttered through the air to land on Faith’s chest. She picked it up and twirled it between her fingers as she looked at it.

"Summer’s almost over."

"Yes it is," Monica agreed.

"You’re going to be leaving," she said very softly.

Monica turned her head to look at the child. "Yes, we are."

Faith rolled over and threw one arm across Monica’s chest. "You’ll take me with you, right? You aren’t going to leave me? You aren’t going to make me go back to my father?"

The angel took a deep breath and sat up, still holding Faith in her arms. "We aren’t going to leave you, Faith, but you can’t come with us, either."

"But why? I love you! You love me too, don’t you?"

"I love you so much, Faith… you can’t even imagine," Monica said, blinking rapidly to keep the tears in check. "But there’s Someone else who loves you even more, and He’s waiting for you. He’s been waiting for a long time now."

"Not my father! I won’t go back there!" Faith cried.

Monica pulled away and held Faith at arm’s length. She looked deep into her eyes, and she could feel God’s love beginning to flow through her body. "Not your earthly father, no. Your Father up in Heaven," she said gently.

"Heaven? But… I don’t… I don’t understand…" Faith was sniffling and Monica brushed away her tears.

"Faith, I am an angel. I was sent here to find you and to send you to your real Home. To the Home that has been yours since the day you were born."

"Home to Heaven?" Faith repeated, as she stared at Monica, who had taken on the light of God. Monica nodded, praying that the little girl wouldn’t ask about her own death. Instead her little eyebrows furrowed and she looked at Monica sadly. "That man… in the woods… I was afraid of him, but he was an angel too, wasn’t he?"

"Yes he was. He was sent to deliver you from your father on earth to your Father in Heaven."

Faith’s voice dropped to a whisper. "Is God mad at me for running away?"

Monica’s eyes widened. "Oh, no! Faith, He loves you so much, and He just wants to have you with Him. That’s why he sent me, and Andrew, and Tess." She leaned forward and kissed Faith’s forehead. "He loves you so much that He sent three of His angels to help you."

Faith threw her arms around Monica’s neck and held on as tightly as she could. "I used to pray that mama would come back as my guardian angel. I guess God sent you instead."

The Irish angel squeezed her eyes shut, and swallowed hard around the lump in her throat. "I’m very glad He did," she whispered.

They held each other for a minute before Faith spoke again. "Do I have to go right now? Are you going to take me?"

Monica still had her eyes closed, but she answered, "Yes, sweetie… now… but I won’t be taking you. The man from the woods… his name is Adam. He’s one of my friends, and he’ll take you Home. It’s something he’s been wanting to do since he first saw you."

"Can’t I say goodbye to Andrew and Tess?"

Monica opened her eyes, already knowing what she would see. Standing at the edge of the woods was Adam and Andrew and Tess. Each one was clothed in white, and the light of God was shining all around them.

"Yes, you can definitely say goodbye," she replied, and she stood up with Faith in her arms and turned to show the girl what she was looking at.

"They’re beautiful," Faith said, awestruck.

Monica managed a little chuckle through her tears. "Yes, they are."

Faith turned her head to look again at the angel who had first found her. "I’m going to miss you," she said as she kissed her on the cheek, "but if you’re an angel you must be in Heaven all the time. I’ll see you again, won’t I?"

"Not all the time, Faith, but yes… you’ll see me again."

Green eyes turned solemn. "Then I’m ready, Monica. I’m ready to go Home."

Monica turned the little girl lose and watched as she approached Tess and wrapped her little arms around the angel, "You made the best cookies ever, Tess. Can you bring me some in Heaven?"

The older angel smiled down at Faith as she hugged her, "I think that can be arranged, baby. You have a beautiful journey, sweetheart. Adam will take good care of you and God is waiting for you with open arms filled with love."

"Thank you, Tess," She whispered before she turned to the blond angel of death, tears that were both happy and sad trickling down her face, "I love you, Andrew," She said softly and he knelt down to be at eye level with her.

"I love you too, honey. Your heavenly Father cannot wait to hold you, Faith. He’s been waiting a long time to be able to do that."

"I want to hug Him too and thank Him for rescuing me," She replied as she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

Andrew closed his eyes briefly as he embraced the little girl one last time, before he opened them to gaze over at Monica. Her tears were falling unashamedly, but he could feel the two emotions she was feeling in his heart; happiness over knowing where Faith was going and what awaited her and grief that even regardless of that, this was another goodbye.

The little angel wiped at her eyes as Faith turned back to her and wordlessly ran back to her for one last hug, before Monica took her hand and led her over to Adam. She reached out for the angel of death’s hand, her dark eyes conveying the apology she had been waiting to give and she smiled tearfully at the warmth in Adam’s eyes.

"Want to come along?" He asked her, smiling at the way Monica’s eyes widened. She turned to Tess but didn’t even have time to ask.

"Go on, Angel Girl," Tess told her gently, tears lingering in her own eyes, "Enjoy your trip."

Andrew felt tears burn in his eyes at his friend’s happiness as Faith took each of their hands, her little face shining with happiness and contentment. He was eternally grateful to Adam for inviting the little angel to go along, as he knew how much easier this would make it for her as she would be able to witness first hand the certain joy that was about to take place at Home.

The two remaining angels watched as the threesome disappeared into the radiant light of God before the light faded and it was only moments before Monica reappeared in the field and Andrew watched her closely for any signs of grief or despair but there were none. Her brown eyes were shining with happiness though a few tears still lingered there.

"How was your trip, angel?" He asked her softly, moving to wrap an arm around her waist. He had seen many a reunion in heaven, but for a young caseworker, it was a rare thing to be asked to cross the bridge from life to Life.

"Perfectly beautiful," She replied in a hushed voice that was still filled with the reverence of what she had seen and heard, "She was a little afraid at first, but as soon as the Father smiled at her and spoke her name, she ran into His arms."

"You did well, Angel Girl," Tess stated with a smile, a hint of pride in her eyes for her charge, who had been faced with so many difficult situations of late. The older angel knew that God was preparing her for more diverse assignments and though there had been times when Tess had doubted His wisdom, it was obvious that Monica never had. "Are you two ready to move on?"

Andrew glanced down at his friend as she replied softly, "Yes." Though this place held many happy memories for her, only the Father and quite possibly Andrew knew that she would be in no hurry to return. This was still a place where a child had died, and her best friend had lost his temper and she knew it was time now to leave the past behind and move forward to wherever God chose to lead them.

As soon as the single word was spoken, the three angels vanishing from the clearing, leaving only silence and the beautiful day the Father had created for one little girl to find her way Home.