Chapter 3

Little by little, the Irish angel seemed to register everything that was happening around her: the perfume, the breeze, the warm sunrays and Andrew's strong arms holding her small form as well as his green pools gazing at her, filled with expectation as she regained consciousness.

"Where… where are we?" She wanted to know, frowning a little but at the same time at ease to be surrounded by so much peace.

"At the park." He replied, helping her sit up straight. "It's quite a beautiful morning, isn’t it?"

Monica looked at the beautiful scenario around them with a pleased expression on her face. "It is, indeed. I... don’t remember falling asleep, though…" she looked at herself and frowned at the beautiful white dress she was now wearing. Then, the angel turned her sparkling brown eyes to her friend and, quite embarrassed, kept on talking. "I'm terribly sorry…"

Chuckling at her embarrassment, Andrew placed a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's alright, angel. You kept me company just the same."

"Is it our day off?"

It became clear to Andrew that she did not have any memory of what had happened over the last 24 hours and, truth to be told, he was thankful for that. At least for a while, he would manage to spare her.

"Kind of. You are on an assignment but at this very moment, you're dreaming. Remember that once you were curious to know what dreaming was like? I felt like showing you a little bit of it."

She turned thankful eyes at him. "Oh, Andrew…"

"Come with me." He helped her stand on her feet and held her hand. "There's a place I want to take you."

"A place? Where is it?"

Chuckling at her childlike curiosity, he took her hand to his lips. "Not too far. And you'll like it!"

X

The couple of angels walked for a while until they reached what seemed to be a reserved area in the same park where Monica had woken up a few minutes before. From a distance it was possible to see that there were many people talking and laughing while some children ran around. There was also soft music playing.

"Is it a wedding?" The Irish angel wanted to know, her eyes quickly scanning the area.

"That is correct, angel." He said, gently guiding her up to the crowd that was celebrating so happily the union of a young couple. "And I believe you know the bride."

It did not take Monica too long to find out who he was talking about. Not far from them, a young lady, with dark hair and dark eyes was wearing a long white dress and held hands with a man at about the same age, but with different physical traits: he was blond and had blue eyes and was elegantly dressed in a suit. And what no human nor angel would miss was the loving way both gazed at each other.

“Oh, goodness gracious, it’s Elisa!”

“Yes, and I’ve heard that an angel of God helped her in a very important moment in her life!”

Slightly embarrassed, she nodded her head. “Elisa was my very first assignment when I got to this town, about a month ago.”  She explained, unaware that he already knew a little about that assignment. It did not matter to him, though. Andrew would always listen – either reports from recent assignments, memories of past ones and everything else the precious little angel had to tell. Watching her enthusiasm while she narrated the facts or wiping away her tears of sadness and comforting her... He always felt grateful for the opportunity to spend some time in her company. “You see, Elisa comes from a very poor family and had a very difficult childhood. She started to work at the age of twelve and it was with much sacrifice that she managed to graduate and become a teacher at St. Patrick’s Elementary School.”

“And even having such a difficult past, she still keeps that sparkle in her eyes as if she never lost hope.” He added, pleased to hear that brief story.

“And her faith. But when she met Matthew they fell in love immediately...” Monica smiled with a dreamy expression due to the enchantment she always felt when the subject was two souls so romantically involved. That particular image went straight to the blond angel’s heart. “But Matthew comes from a very rich family and they did not accept their union. Elisa and Matthew were attacked and taken for granted and his father even dared to say he would not be welcome at his house if they went on with their romance.”

“But there was a little angel who put herself in between these two families and made them realise how genuine Elisa and Matthew’s feelings were.” He added, watching as her smile grew a bit wider.

"And I confess that after I revealed to Elisa and Mathew I thought my assignment here had already finished. But then I was glad to know that there were so many more I could help at St. Patrick's, you know, Andrew."

"You're always doing wonderful things for those who cross your path, angel." He gently placed his hands over her small shoulders while she tilted her head, still delighted to watch her first Bontiful assignment following the path that the Father had planned for her. Soon, the music increased and the newly-weds started to dance – there was a small platform built there for that particular purpose. And after them, the other guests followed Elisa and Matthew and swayed along with elegance and joy.

Standing behind her, Andrew bent his head down and spoke against his friend's ear. "May I have this dance?"

It was obvious that he knew the answer to that, but then again, he would never miss the chance to ask her again. Monica turned around so that she could face him and the sparkle in her eyes captured his gaze. "You most certainly may."

It did not matter if they were in their angelic form, unseen to the human eye. Truth to be told, being in cosmic mode caused them to look even more beautiful than what they already were. Monica rested her right hand over his palm and, just as he wrapped his arm around her waist, she placed her other hand over his shoulder. They never broke their eye contact, through which a silent conversation had always taken place, since from the very first time they danced together. With a permanent smile on their faces, the two angels swayed along the green field to the sound of the soft music that was filling the air. Their smile was a slight hint of the joy each of them felt during those pleasant moments.

The guests missed as the Irish angel twirled around holding her partner's hand and his grabbing her by the waist once she gave a step forward so that they stood face to face again. Their steps were precise and for moments they seemed to float up in the air. At a certain moment, they pulled away, keeping just their hands entwined, and Andrew winked at her, eliciting a giggle from his sweet angelic friend. On the following moment, he dipped her towards the ground just to catch her and bring her back to him all over again.

They danced elegantly and in graceful movements and lost track of time, as they would always do whenever they were together. Only when the sequel of songs was over did they stop, but still kept admiring the beautiful party. It was at that very moment, that the word was given to Elisa and with emotion in her eyes, she spoke about the one she had been missing during her party.

"Matthew and I want to thank all of you for being here, sharing this moment with us. It means so much and we'll certainly carry you all and this day in our hearts forever. We thank God for making our paths cross and for bringing our families together and let go of their differences. But there is someone we will be especially thankful to and that is Monica."

The little angel looked at her friend with surprise and returned her gaze with a reassuring smile and a gentle squeeze in her hand.

"She was… a true angel in our life." Elisa kept on talking, aware that her guests did not know that she was telling the truth about the "angel" part. "Monica taught us not only to stand for what we believe but also to open our hearts to the love our Father planted in them. Mathew and I were 'fighting' against our families for what we believed instead of 'showing' them that our love was for real. Monica made us realise that. She taught us that there is no room for love where words are always said with hate.

"She does not have to thank me…" the Irish angel spoke, deeply moved with the words she had just listen.

"Elisa knows that, baby. But I believe that she thankful that, among all the angels our Father could send to her, He chose you."

Lost for words, she held him tightly. "I'm so grateful you brought me here…"

"It was such a great day, baby. And Elisa isn’t the only one who is grateful here..." he said a few moments later, waiting for her to turn her eyes back at him with expectation and curiosity. And once she did so, the blond angel kept on talking. "I too have to thank you for the company!"

Her reply was a broad smile, which was followed by her clumsy attempt to hide a yawn – and that fact alone amused him even more. "I'm afraid that all this dancing has made you a little tired, am I right?"

"You are..." She bit her lower lip as her enthusiasm subsided. "...does it mean it is time to leave?"

With a half smile, he stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. "Unfortunately it is, angel. You should rest now."

The expression on her face softened and she let out a small sigh of resignation. "I understand. But if it's what dreams are like, then I want you to know that you gave me one of the most beautiful memories of my entire existence. I'll never forget it..."

His heart was full at those sweet words and gave him the strength to fight all the sorrow caused by her true condition, which he elected not to mention. Andrew gently placed both hands against her cheeks, his green eyes never leaving her brown ones. "I'm honoured for that, baby. It was definitely one of the best memories of my existence too. And if you allow me... maybe there can be more of these..."

Her trembling smile was one of those images one keeps etched in their hearts for the rest of their life. "Can you promise me that?"

"Angel... There are very, very few things in this world I cannot promise you. Making this beautiful smile appear on your equally beautiful face isn't one of them."

And receiving a lovely grin in return, he wrapped his arm around her small shoulders, guiding her back to the same spot where she had woken up a few hours earlier. The sun started to set down in the horizon and soon the sky would be covered with stars. They sat down and watched its last moments but Monica gradually started to have difficulty keeping her eyes open.

"I suddenly feel so tired..." she said, snuggling closer to him and resting her head over his shoulder.

"It's okay, angel. It's been a really busy day and you should take a break now." He tightened the hold around her small form, cradling her in his arms.

"Thank you... I love you..." she murmured, before falling unconscious into deep sleep.

With sadness, Andrew placed a soft kiss against her forehead. "There's absolutely nothing you should thank me for, baby. I'll always be here, guarding your sleep. It's an honour and a privilege to someone who loves you very much."

Little by little, the scenario around the two angels started to change until they were finally back at a hospital room, Andrew sitting next to Monica's bed, holding her hand and gazing at her in deep silence.