CHAPTER 14

A week later, Tess sat on the deck and lazily watched as Andrew and
Monica threw a Frisbee back and forth to each other down on the beach.
Her two charges were laughing and teasing each other as they played and
Tess had to smile as she offered up prayers of thanks.

Her prayers had been answered as during the last few days, the healing
had indeed begun. Slowly, Monica had been getting her strength back.
She had eaten the night she had finally confessed her fears to them,
before she had fallen into an exhausted sleep, her mind and heart
finally free of her fear of them leaving her. Andrew had stayed near
her all night in the event that Kathleen would have the gall to show up,
but she hadn’t and the next morning, Monica had begun to emerge from
under the dark veil she had been living under.

There had still been some occasional nightmares after that night, one
bad enough that she had slipped into Andrew’s room, trembling and
tearful. Tess had heard them talking and had joined them and she and
Andrew had listened as the human angel had poured out the dream to
them. The lines of communication had finally been opened for her and
now that she realized how badly she needed their help to heal, she kept
nothing inside that had to do with that horrible night. She gladly
accepted the comfort and strength her friends had to offer as that
night, she had gone through every detail of the torment Kathleen had put
her through, before falling back to sleep, wrapped in the safety of
Andrew’s arms.

Since that nightmare, there hadn’t been anymore as they had watched
their friend grow stronger. The pain and sorrow were slowly leaving her
eyes and in its place was peace. Monica often woke early and went for
walks on the beach, perhaps trying to work out her feelings with God,
and she always returned smiling and rejoicing in the all the beauty that
had surrounded her. Tess had gotten up late one morning and had found
both she and Andrew out on the deck, with Monica pointing excitedly to a
school of dolphins that played in the surf. Tess had laughed out loud,
realizing by Andrew’s tousled hair and groggy expression that her Angel
Girl had, in her excitement, woken him up to share in her discovery. He
never minded though and he stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her
as they had watched the fascinating creatures play. Tess had joined
them and the three of them together marveled in the beauty of God’s
creation.

Tess worried a little about her Angel Boy as she had a feeling he was
harboring a lot of anger at Kathleen deep in his heart. He knew now
that the night he had found Monica bleeding, that Kathleen had done
that, as well as instilled in her the fears of abandonment. He was
keeping the anger hidden as best as he could, but Tess knew it existed
and continued to pray for him to be able to release it. She knew, being
older and wiser, that nothing good would ever come of carrying hate and
anger in their hearts, and she knew Andrew knew that too. However, he
and Monica, though they had always been close, had grown even closer
through this whole ordeal and his fierce protectiveness of her was
unfaltering. Anytime Monica even spoke Kathleen’s name, Tess would see
for an instant, Andrew’s eyes darken before he would turn his head away
from them, lest he reveal too much. She remembered the afternoon he had
brought Monica here, wounded and unconscious, and she would never forget
his face that day. There had been such grief and pain emulating from
him and somehow, Tess knew that day was often on his mind as well.

Today, however, there was no evidence that either of her two charges had
a care in the world as they played down on the shore. The Indian summer
day was hot, though the gentle breeze off the ocean made it quite
pleasant. Tess smiled, watching as Monica mischievously threw the
Frisbee high over Andrew’s head, and then laughed at his failed attempt
to catch it. He then charged at Monica and gave out a startled cry as
she ran from him, but she was not quick enough. Gently, he tackled her
down in the sand and relentlessly tickled her.

Monica laughed hysterically as she tried to get away from him but could
not,
“I give up! Andrew, please!”

Andrew grinned widely, taking great joy at the laughter that rang out
from her; a sound he had missed hearing over the last few weeks. He
stopped tickling her and she sat up, still laughing and trying to catch
her breath,
“Thirsty?” He asked, standing up and extending his hand to help her to
her feet. Seeing her nod her head, he dusted himself off,
“How ‘bout I go fix us all some lemonade?”

“That sounds wonderful,” Monica replied, brushing the sand from herself
as well as he turned at started back to the house.

“Coming?” He asked, turning back to her briefly.

“In a minute,” She replied, watching as his eyes flickered worriedly for
a second,
“It’s okay, Andrew. There’s something I need to do first.”

Reassured, he nodded his head and ran back up to the house, spoke
briefly to Tess and then went inside.

Monica walked a little further down the beach before stopping and gazing
up at the sky for a moment. She then knelt in the sand, thinking about
what it was she needed to say before beginning,
“Father, thank you for this day and for giving me such wonderful friends
to share it with. I know I haven’t spoken to You in awhile and I know
that You know why. I was angry over what had happened to me and what I
was afraid could happen. I know that when we allow fear to lead us that
we listen to things we shouldn’t listen to; like I did with Kathleen. I
was too busy listening to her that I couldn’t hear You speaking to me
and I know that I’ve listened to her on many occasions since this all
started. I know now that You never abandoned me, but rather, I
abandoned You. I know now that You were beside me the entire time when
Kathleen took me and that You were even trying to give me hope when I
heard Tess singing and saw Andrew in my mind. But I misconstrued those
things into something bad instead of seeing them for what they
were—signs of Your love.
Father, please forgive me, your angel, for doubting that you are still
at work even in the darkest hour, even in the most painful moments.
Forgive me for forgetting that Your love is perfect and that even though
we are not, that You are always there. Thank You for your healing and
for letting me experience it as a human might. It has given me such
understanding. I only want to please you, Father; to do Your will
instead of my own.”

Monica bowed her head as she felt God’s love flow through her like a
warm light and when she lifted her head back to the heavens, her face
shone with pure joy.

Andrew came back outside, carrying a tray with a pitcher of lemonade and
three glasses.

“Take a look, baby,” Tess said softly, as he set the tray down on the
table.

Andrew looked out on the beach, tears filling his eyes as he saw the
soft light of God’s love radiating from his friend,
“Tess, is she--.”

“Yes, baby,” Tess smiled as she stood and wrapped her arm around him,
“Our Angel Girl has found her wings again.”

Together they walked down to the beach and as they got closer, Monica
rose to her feet and turned towards them, her tear-streaked face filled
with love and joy. Andrew ran to her and caught her up in his arms,
spinning her around as she hugged him tightly. He set her down as Tess
caught up to them and she then wrapped her arms around Tess,
“Thank you both,” She whispered as she pulled away from Tess,
“For everything you’ve done to get me to this moment.”

“Its been our pleasure, baby,” Tess replied as she took each of their
hands and together they offered up prayers of thanks to the Father.