CHAPTER 1

The look of indecision on Monica’s face was one Andrew wished he could capture in his heart and keep for all eternity.

“Angel, I promise I will not let anything happen to you,” He coaxed her gently as they stood outside on the shore the next morning after breakfast.  They were both dressed to swim but he was starting to doubt any water would be involved at all.

“I know you won’t.” She hedged, but it was blatantly obvious to them both that she was not yet showing any signs of moving, “Andrew, I just…it scares me.”

Compassion filled the depths of his green eyes as he let his hands rest on her waist, “Baby, I know it does, which is why I want to help you to know that there is little to really be afraid of.  You know how to swim-.”

“But I’m not good at it, Andrew,” Her plea and the sweet way she said his name with her thick Irish brogue caused his heart to ache pleasantly.

“Now who told you that, Angel?” Andrew’s expression was stern as he waited for an answer.  Something had tripped her up terribly on her last assignment, of that he was certain.   Her confidence in her own abilities seemed rattled and that only caused his concern to deepen.

“No one has to tell me.  It’s just a fact.”

“Well, a fact isn’t a fact until it is proven, Monica,” He tried to reason with her, but her stubborn expression remained firmly in place. He elected to play the one card that always worked, “Baby, don’t you trust me to take care of you?”

Monica blinked, “Of course I do!  You always take care of me!”

Her earnest expression told him he had won, “Then trust me to take care of you in the water.  I promise I will not let you go.”

“Promise?” Monica was still skeptical but not about trusting Andrew.  She trusted him with her whole heart; it was herself she didn’t trust at the moment.

“You have my word.”  Extending his hand, he waited until she took it and then he slowly guided her into the water.

“It’s warm,” She observed, obviously surprised at that bit of information.

“Of course it is, Angel.  I wouldn’t have asked you to come in if it was freezing,”
 His eyes twinkled mischievously as they went in a little deeper and he turned his back to the water to take her other hand into his as well, “You okay?” His expression turned to concern.

Monica nodded her head as she squeezed his hands reassuringly.  She waited until Andrew finally stopped walking, noting how the water was still well below her shoulders, “Have I told you how happy I am to see you?” She asked, tilting her head up slightly to look at him.

“Hmmm….No, I don’t think you have…at least not today.” He replied with a wink.

“Well, I am,” She insisted, giggled as he pulled her closer.

“I am always more than happy to see you, Monica,” Andrew stated softly before he brushed his lips with her, “But I suppose it has a lot to do with the fact that I love you.”  Not wanting to say anything to upset her, but still knowing there was more to say, he continued gently, “In fact, I love you so much that I can see in your eyes and feel in my heart that something is bothering you.” Seeing her about to protest, he raised his hand and pressed a finger to her lips, “Shh.  You don’t have to say anything until you are ready to tell me.  Just know that I know that something is not quite right and that I want very much to help make it right when you are ready.”

Her huge doe eyes blinked back tears as she struggled to keep her voice steady, “I know that.  I do and please, Andrew, know that it has nothing to do with you.  I just…some things just make my heart ache and sometimes those things are hard to put into words.  But as soon as I find those words, I promise to share them with you.”

His hand moved to stroke her cheek, “I hate to see you hurting, Angel.”

“Ah, Andrew, I know that too, but please know that you being here makes it not hurt quite so much.”

He wanted to believe her words, but the pain in her eyes was still all too present for his liking and not knowing what was so terribly wrong was eating away at him.

*****

After their successful morning swim, the two angels decided they needed to venture into town if they wanted to eat over the next few days.  Andrew noted how Monica was still unusually quiet on the drive down the mountain as normally she would be chattering nonstop and making comments about the little things she saw and thought.  But he summed it up to whatever had happened on her last assignment and continued to summon his own inner patience to not badger her into telling him.  The problem was his innate need to fix anything that was upsetting the little angel and this problem was hard to fix if he didn’t know where to begin.

They found a little country market that enchanted Monica as from the outside it looked like a larger version of their little cabin.  When she stepped inside, she felt as if she had been transported back in time as she gazed at the wooden shelves laden with food and other necessities.  The young woman behind the counter greeted them both warmly and after the angels assured her they didn’t need any help, Andrew grabbed a small basket in his hand and they strolled down the aisles. 

The conversation was light hearted as they added a few small items to the basket; some meat from the deli for sandwiches, bread, milk and eggs as well as some other fresh meats for dinners.  Neither of them had any idea of how long they would be staying at the cabin but they also knew that they could always venture back into town if their supplies ran low. 

They were just getting ready to check out, when Monica looked up at Andrew in alarm, “Andrew!  Coffee!”

He chuckled at her very worried expression, “It’s fine, Angel.  Go and get what you need and I’ll wait for you.”

She grinned sheepishly and then stood up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, “Be right back.”

The little angel scanned the shelves for her coffee and was delighted at the wonderful selection.  There was vanilla, Irish Cream, Hazelnut and chocolate flavors among others and she nibbled her lower lip trying to decide which she wanted to try.  Only the sound of voices from the back of the store brought her out of her reverie.

“I told you no!”  The man’s voice was angry and Monica could hear the sound of a woman crying softly, “That brat doesn’t need that crap!  He’ll eat what we have!  We can’t afford it!”

“We could if you’d quit gambling away our money in those tip jars at the bar!” The woman shot back.

There was a sound of rustling that made Monica flinch and she knew the angry man had grabbed hold of her.

“Don’t you backtalk me, woman!  I can curb your mouth the same way I do that bastard kid of yours!”

The little angel felt rooted to the spot.  She felt as if she should intervene, but yet she was too afraid to move.  Her mind remembered the way that John had yelled at her when she had simply tried to reason with him.  Thankfully, before she could decide to break up the argument, Monica heard the woman back down.

“Fine.  Get what you want, Mark.  After all, you know best.”  Before she could say anymore, a startled cry escaped her.

“Don’t you dare walk away from me, Crystal!”  The man was trying his best to keep his voice down so as not to attract any attention, but the venom was difficult to miss, “You don’t want me to have to teach you another lesson, now do you?”

Monica couldn’t listen to anymore, but yet fear kept her from interrupting.  Not even bothering with the coffee, she moved in a quiet rush back up to the front of the store.

Andrew’s smile faded as he saw the paleness of her face, “Angel?  What is it?  What’s the matter?”

She could barely get the words out, “Andrew…the people in the back of the store…they need help…please…I can’t.  I just can’t.”

His anxiety shot through the roof, but he immediately dropped the basket and walked briskly back through the store, only seeing out of the corner of his eye the fact that Monica was already out the front door of the shop. 

As he neared the back of the store, he could just make out the voices and Andrew immediately approached them with a sheepish smile on his face, “Excuse me.  I can’t seem to find the coffee.  You know where it is in this store?”

Though his words were innocent enough, they immediately stopped the argument that had been rapidly getting out of control.  The woman blinked back tears and forced a relieved smile, “Y-yes, I do.  Mark?”

Mark felt his anger beginning to diminish as he managed a smile, “Sure Crystal.  I’ll wait for you up front.”

Andrew followed Crystal to the aisle and after he thanked her and selected a can of Irish Cream coffee for Monica, he too, headed up to the checkout counter.  The couple Monica had been so upset about now seemed to be speaking quietly to one another and the Angel of Death was relieved that he would not have to further intervene.  He was doubly glad of that fact because all he could think about at the moment was getting out of the store and locating the little angel.

A little relief was brought to his heart when he stepped outside and saw Monica leaning up against the car, even if she was frantically wiping away her tears.  He approached her and after setting the two bags he was carrying on the hood of the caddy, Andrew quickly wrapped the angel up in his arms as his hand stroked her hair soothingly.  He had no idea what she really needed right now, but he was certain that this was a good start.

“I’m sorry,” Monica murmured after a moment, “I didn’t mean to throw you into that.  That man was just getting so angry and I was afraid he might do…say something…he’d…they’d both regret.”

“Angel, you know I never mind,” Andrew replied gently as he pulled away just enough to tilt her head with fingers beneath her chin, “So an apology is not warranted.  What I do mind however, is not knowing what made my little angel so upset in the first place as it isn’t like her to run away from anyone who needs help.”

Her expression filled with shame though she shrugged her shoulders helplessly, “I don’t know what came over me, Andrew.”

“I think maybe you do,” He whispered tenderly as his hand moved to stroke her cheek, “I just wish you’d tell me and let me help you, baby.”

“You are helping,” Monica insisted weakly, “You’re being here helps more than you know.  Andrew, please, can we just go back to the cabin?”

He was unable to suppress a small sigh and then felt terrible when he saw her bite her lower lip in response, “Of course we can, sweetie.”

She helped him place the groceries in the trunk and then he opened her door for her, waiting until she was inside to close it securely.  He would have to get better at disguising his frustration, but yet seeing the little angel in such emotional pain and not being able to help her was making him feel completely helpless.