PART 2

“In my latest assignment I learned that Garlic has anti-inflammatory properties and lemon has vitamin C, so they will help your human body to heal much faster.” The Irish angel happily informed, watching as a very upset Andrew drank the content of the much she had just given him – after much reluctance on his side.

Visibly annoyed, he handed her the empty much with a smirk. “Monica...garlic is related to vampires, not angels!”

As he moved to leave the bed, she frowned. “Where are you going?”

“Brush my teeth!”

As he disappeared through the door, the little angel shrugged her shoulders, not really minding his bad mood. “Grouchy!”

When Andrew returned to their room, Monica had already left but he could hear her working in the kitchen, and that fact alone made him fear what was still about to come.

Letting out a tired sigh, as he indeed had a bad cold, the blond angel climbed in bed again and looked up. “Father, You know I love her with all my heart and soul... But... She’s cooking...” he said, in a low voice, and after some moments of inner reflection, he spoke again. “... You know I don’t ask anything for myself because I’m always so grateful for everything You gave me, but... Please, make me heal...”

The evening fell gently and despite Andrew’s reluctance in accepting Monica’s care, his human form needed special attention. The blond angel felt exhaustion and pain all over his body, and the cold made him feel tired and weak, so shortly after he had lay down in bed, he fell into deep sleep.

Monica came back to check on him and when found her dear valentine fast asleep in their bed, her heart seemed to ache with so much love. Carefully not to wake him up, she approached their bed and took a seat on its edge, admiring the strong features of his handsome face for a few moments. She lay a gentle hand against his cheek and noticed he was running a low fever.

“Ah, my dear Andrew... I wish you weren’t feeling this way but since you are, I’m glad I have the opportunity to watch over you...” she caressed his tousled blond hand with her fingertips. “... You’re always the one to take care of me... I just wanted a chance to repay all this love. But I know I would never be able to do it because what you give me is... so very precious and it’s so much that... all I can do is thank the Father for sending me an angel like you...”

She bent down and kissed his forehead and after some more instants of contemplation, she rose to her feet and headed back to the kitchen, where she was happily preparing Andrew’s dinner.

X

“A homemade legumes soup?”

Andrew’s eyebrows were raised suspiciously as he looked at Monica’s hands. She was carrying a tray with a dish that contained a warm cream, whose colours were a mix of green and yellow. The Irish angel carefully placed it on their bed and motioned him to lean against the pillows – he had woken ten minutes earlier and she gladly informed that dinner was almost ready. What Monica did not see was the look of sheer terror in his eyes at her announcement.

“Exactly. I watched my assignment making it and it was not that difficult. I’m glad that she was a nutritionist otherwise I don’t think I would be able to treat you as good as you deserve, you know?”

Andrew did not reply, observing how she placed the dish right in front of him.

“There you go.”

The blond angel took a spoon and looked at her, avoiding to have the first sip. “Aren’t you going to have it?”

“Oh, I’ve already eaten.”

“Monica...” he started to protest, but a quick look at her face told him he would not escape. There was so much expectation in her eyes; a mix of anxiety to see him heal and also to know if what she had prepared him was really good.

And then he took the courage and ate it. Little by little and all of it, as Monica would not leave the room until he was over.

“Thank you, angel...” he spoke, as he placed the spoon inside the empty dish, trying hard not to show her what he really thought of it.

“I’ll take it back and you can lie down a little. I’m sure you’ll be better by morning.”

He cleared his throat, looking at the wooden clock hanging on the wall. “It’s... erm... it’s not that late, you see... And I guess I feel much better now, I rested the whole afternoon...”

“Oh, yes you did, and I confess you were quite cute in your sleep!” she said, with a lovely smile that went straight to his heart.

Chuckling, and slightly blushed at her praise, he inched closer and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You look quite cute when you’re taking care of your sick husband... Maybe you could take care of him a little bit more right now...”

He inched closer in an attempt to kiss her but Monica’s smile disappeared and she frowned with a stern expression on her face. “Oh, but I am. Right now I’m telling you that you should go back to bed and keep on resting as much as you can, mister!”

Much to Andrew’s distress, she was staring back at him with her arms crossed and with the same Tess’ look she had earlier.

Also slightly annoyed, the blond angel gave up his seductive gaze and started to leave their bed. “Very well...”

“Where are you going?”

“Brush my teeth again...” he had said it too quickly and in no way wanted her to know that it was a way to remove the taste of the soup that his beloved wife had made him. But looking at her questioning eyes, he was also quick to add. “I’m sleeping, right? Heading straight to bed with no other benefits!”

She rolled her eyes and watched him disappear through the bedroom door for the second time. “I did not know that some sick angels tend to be in such a bad mood!”

Monica spent some time in the kitchen, washing the dishes and preparing the table for breakfast. She was glad to see that they had everything they would need for their human forms. Everything tidied up, the little angel turned off some lights and went to her bedroom, where she found once again a very serene Andrew. Smiling, she felt his face and was relieved that the fever seemed to have broken.

Trying not to make any noise as not to disturb him, the angel changed into warm pyjamas and turned the lights off – except for the one on their bedside. Then, she lay down on her side and facing him, their faces were just a few inches close.

“Sleep well, my sweet Andrew...” Monica whispered, leaning forward to brush a very soft kiss  against his lips. “... I hope you have only good dreams. Wee Angela and I love you very, very much.”

She spent some time contemplating his face, searching for any traces that could remind Angela’s, as the little angel was turning more and more similar to her mother despite Monica’s insistence that she had many of Andrew’s traits. She scooted closer until they were sharing the same pillow and finally fell asleep next to him. And even in his deep sleep, the blond angel seemed to sense her presence as he raised an arm and wrapped it around her waist, bringing her closer as if she belonged only to him.

X

A pair of soft brown eyes watched as Andrew’s green ones opened slowly, still getting used to the morning light. The blond angel blinked shortly a few times and the first image he saw was Monica’s beautiful face and her warm smile. She was lying next to him, leaning on her elbow, head propped on her hand, and a quick look at her green sweater and jeans made him realise she had been up for a while.

“Good morning...” Monica’s soothing accent reached his ears as his lips curved into a sleepy smile.

“Monica... Good morning, angel...What time is it?” he frowned a little, not pleased with the fact that he had been asleep for so long.

“It’s a good time for recovering angels to wake up...” she replied, tilting her head and as if studying his handsome face. “How are you feeling today?”

Her sweet perfume once again invaded his lungs and her hair fell over her shoulders, tickling his face and arms.

“I’m...” He frowned again, but now with a surprised smile on his face. “...Actually, I do feel better...”

The Irish angel watched with expectation as he slowly sat down in bed and ran his hand through his short blond hair.

“What about the pain in your body? And the soreness in your throat?”

“I don’t feel them anymore...”

She lay a tender hand against his face, caressing his cheek and forehead at the same time she checked his temperature. “The fever did not return either...” And she finally smiled. “...You’re healing, Andrew!”

“I guess am!”

“I knew the tea and the soup would help you get better but I didn’t expect it to be so soon!” Her marvelled eyes at all the care she had given him on the previous day was moving and he elected not to speak about if he had really enjoyed her methods.

“Hum... they might have helped but I guess what really made me heal was a certain angel of God and the loving way she took care of me!”

He winked at her and found her blushing face rather adorable.

Shaking her head, Monica threw him a loving gaze. “You see... I liked to be able to take care of you, but I prayed so much to see you healing.”

“Well, I liked having you taking care of me...” he made a short pause. “...well, I confess that I was quite scared when you gave me one of those Tess’ looks.”

She rolled her eyes playfully, “You were supposed to be in a recovery process, mister!”

“That might be true, but now...” he wrapped his arm around her waist and gently brought her closer to him. “...I’m much happier being able to hold you close without you telling me that I have to sleep, you know? I’ve slept a lot already...”

He inched closer, seeking for her lips but Monica playfully moved her head backwards. “You should have your breakfast now... I’ll bring it for you...”

She tried to move away but Andrew’s strong arms stopped her. “Andrew!”

“You’re not getting away that easily now, angel...” he spoke in her ear, enjoying to hear her giggling. “You and I have unfinished matters to discuss!”

She did not protest as he wrapped his other arm around her small body and pressed his lips against hers, in a deep loving kiss for which he had been expecting for since the previous day. It took Monica just a few instants to adjust to the situation and she gently touched his cheek, caressing his skin with delicate fingertips as he applied gentle pressure on the back of her head, kissing her more deeply until they felt the need to breathe again.

“I love you, my angel...” he whispered, as he held her tightly and delivered soft kisses against her neck.

“My dear Andrew... I love you so much...” A sudden thought made her chuckle and she caressed his hair as she spoke, “And I must confess that you look rather cute when you are grouchy...”

She kissed his cheek as she said that, now laughing at the way he playfully rolled his eyes with mock annoyance. “I prefer the loving, protective and caring Andrew, though... He is much more adorable!”

Also laughing, Andrew caressed her long tresses as he kissed her lips softly before looking her in the eye, “Angel... Yesterday you told me you wanted to be a loving and caring wife, but the truth is that there’s no soul on Earth or in Heaven who is just as loving and caring like you are, baby... The perfect wife...” He kissed her lips softly and added. “...And I’m eternally grateful for your love...”

The kiss that followed was the first of many others on that sunny winter morning spent at the cosy cabin up in the mountains, a perfect shelter for the two enamoured souls.

X

To be continued.