CHAPTERS 6 AND 7

CHAPTER 6

“... Monica?” Andrew called the Irish angel’s name for the third time on that morning but having no reply, he opened her bedroom’s door and poked is head inside. His face softened when he saw Monica sound asleep in between coloured pillows and under a warm blanket. With a tender smile, he stepped inside the room and tiptoed up to her bed, being warmly greeted by an excited little puppy dog, “Hey, little one, good morning to you too...” he spoke, in a low voice, gently stroking Joy’s black fur.

Then, he knelt right beside his friend’s bed and soothed her hair with the back of his hand – a light contact, as he didn’t have the courage to wake her up. Slowly, he straightened the blanket around her small form and placed a tiny kiss on her temple, and was about to leave when she stirred slowly and opened her eyes. “... Andrew?” the little angel had confused sleepy eyes and a tiny smile beginning to form in her lips. Feeling a bit guilty for waking her up, he brushed away some strands of hair off her face, “Good morning, Sleeping Beauty!”

“Good morning...” She frowned a second later when she saw some sun rays entering through the window, “... what time is it?”

“Almost 10 o’clock!”

“Oh my...” her blushing face caused him to chuckle.

“And if I can remember well, a certain little angel girl told me that she would beat me up today, during her swimming lessons!”

“And I meant it... I just need a few minutes to wake up properly...”

Chuckling at her wording, he nodded his head and kissed the side of her head, “Alright then, you take your time, angel. Breakfast is ready, I’ll be waiting for you ladies downstairs!”

*

As Monica had woken up a bit late, the angels had breakfast and decided to prepare a basket with enough food and drinks (fruit juice, tea and, of course, mocha) and to have a picnic near the lake. Besides, the day was so beautiful, with the bluest of the skies and the sun shining brightly, that spending it in the forest sounded a wonderful idea.

Andrew (and little Joy) waited patiently in the living room for Monica. Finally, she climbed down the stairs wearing her one piece blue bathing suit and a white pareau around her waist. Barefoot and always carrying the hat he had given her, Monica had a contented smile on her pretty face: after their talk on the previous night, Andrew seemed much more confident and the sadness in his heart was indeed going away. He was finding his enthusiasm back – thanks to his faith in their loving Father and thanks to her.

“Everything ready?” he asked, and saw her nodding her head enthusiastically, “Yes!”

“So let’s get going!”

Hand in hand, and followed by an excited little puppy dog, the angels left the cabin and headed towards the forest. The 20 minute walk passed by quickly, as for the first time since they arrived there, Andrew and Monica were engaged in a happy conversation; the blond angel’s friendly personality was coming back, after some very sad days, and at least for some moments, he managed to put aside the sorrow that had been in his heart for 3 months.

*

“... look, there she goes again! This wee fish loves you, Andrew!” Monica spoke, amused to see as a cute clown fish swam right next to Andrew for the 3^rd time in less than 5 minutes. The angles had been in the water practically since they arrived at the lake and even Andrew was surprised with the progress his friend had made concerning her previous (and now apparently forgotten) fear.

The blond angel rolled his eyes and chucked, The blond angel rolled his eyes and chucked, “And I guess we could consider her part of the family already, right?”

“Yes! Look at her, she’s so cute... We could come here to check on her once in a while! And I guess you can consider that she’s yours now! See? She’s really enjoying to be close to you!”

“Oh, my own clown fish? Hum... yes, I like the idea!”

“Don’t you wanna give her a name?” she suggested, both angels enjoying to watch the tiny little animal swimming next to them.

“Yes! Hum... what about ‘Amy’? It’s little and cute like her!”

“Amy...” the Irish angel smiled, “Yes, I like it!” she said, having fun with her idea and with the little fish that now swam right next to Andrew’s hand. “Hullo, Amy! Andrew is right, you’re a rather cute lady!”

“Yeah... It’s gonna be a pleasure to take care of you, missy!” he added.

The small animal remained there next to him for a few moments more when a very jealous little puppy barked on the other side of the lake.

“Come here, wee baby! Come on, you can do it!” Monica spoke, looking at a very wet puppy dog, who was on the other side of the lake. Standing right next to her, and having fun with her excitement, Andrew waited until Amy was in a safer place, now a bit away from them, and also called the small animal, who took only a few seconds to reach them.

“Very well, baby girl!” the Irish angel exclaimed, gathering Joy in her arms and kissing her tiny head once she had reached her ‘parents’.

“I wonder how in the world she learned how to do that!” Andrew spoke, poking the puppy’s roundish belly and really intrigued with that ability.

“Hum... yes, you’re right, you know, Andrew. Even though now the water doesn’t scare me that much, she can’t have taken that from me... Maybe from you!”

Chuckling with her association, he nodded his head, “Well, in that case I have to agree, cause it’s hard to beat me up...”

Monica immediately realised the teasing tone in his voice and narrowed her eyes as she looked at him, “Oh really?”

“Really.”

With tenderness, she placed Joy in the water again, “Now you go a play on the grass for a while, ok, wee one? Your daddy and I have a few issues to solve!”

After she watched as the little dog swam up to the bank of the lake and left the water, the Irish angel turned to her dearest friend, “What were you saying?”

“You heard me, Monica, it’s hard to beat me up!”

“Well, for your information, I happen to reach the other bank of the lake first than you... starting by now!”

Saying no more, Monica started to swim and left him behind. “Hey! That’s cheating!!!” he complained, trying to reach her. But, a couple of minutes later, she reached the other side of the lake first than him, unaware that, secretly, the blond angel had let her win.

“What were you saying, mister?” she spoke, coughing due to the water she had swallowed during the ‘race’ and laughing at him.

“That you’re such a cheater!” he said, playfully splashing her and causing her to squeal. “Andrew, stop!”

“You asked for it, Monica!”

That happy moment and their laugher were suddenly interrupted by Joy’s startled barks not far from where they were.

“Joy? What is it girl?” Andrew spoke, immediately checking around their surroundings, looking for anything that could be causing that reaction. But the puppy kept on barking loudly, causing the blond angel to frown with concern. “Why is she barking so much?”

“She must have seen something near...” Monica suggested and that was enough to fill Andrew’s heart with fear. Quickly, he reached for her hand, “Come with me, Monica, let’s get out of the water.”

He helped her out of the lake and was quick to place a thick towel over her shoulders. But, to increase their worry, Joy suddenly bolted through the vegetation, in a desperate rush, as if hunting something invisible to them.

“Joy!”

“Joy, come back here!” Monica and Andrew shouted, but the dog didn’t obey to their command.

“Oh no!” the blond angel spoke, “Stay here, I’ll go take her!”

The Irish angel watched as he followed the same direction taken by the little puppy dog and disappeared through the vegetation. Sighing deeply, she looked around her, immediately feeling sorry that that incident spoiled such a happy afternoon, she started praying, “Father... please, make him find her...”

A sudden cold wind blew against her face, causing her to shiver and wrap the towel around her more tightly. Joy’s barks and Andrew’s callings soon disappeared and all she could hear now was the most absolute silence, only broken by the occasion noise of the wind blowing against the leaves on the top of the tall trees. And a weird sensation of fear unexpectedly took over her soul; her heart strangely started to beat quickly. Shivering with goosebumps, caused not only by the cold she was now feeling, but also by her inexplicable sensation of panic, Monica looked around her, “Andrew? Andrew, where are you? Joy? Joy, come back here!” she called, giving some steps towards the same direction taken by her friend and the puppy, “Where are you two?”

The Irish angel had hardly said that when she heard a noise of broken sticks not far from her – they were steps, indicating that someone was coming closer to her.

“Andrew?” she called one more time, with her heart pounding loudly in her chest.

CHAPTER 7

“Andrew? Is that you?” Monica called, looking around her with a constant sensation of panic and her heart beating wildly. The chilly wind and the sudden change in the atmosphere of the place caused the Irish angel to tremble from head to toe, not only with cold but also with fear. She thought she had heard a noise coming from the vegetation and for a few seconds wondered if it was just an animal. “Andrew?”

Her heart seemed to skip a beat when the same noise reached her ears again, now louder and clearer than before: they were footsteps and someone was walking in her direction. But, before she could run, Monica felt a hand over her right shoulder and let out a scared cry.

“Monica?” a very surprised Andrew exclaimed, looking at her with evident concern and carrying a chubby little puppy in his arms.

“Andrew...” she spoke, breathing a sigh of relief to see him and still shaking with fear. Twice worried, the blond angel placed Joy on the ground and took her hands, “Monica? Angel, are you alright?”

“I...”

“You’re shaking and... and pale...” one of his hands now came to rest on her cheek, “... what happened?”

“I... I don’t know... I guess the weather changed a little and this cold wind started to blow... I’m cold...”

“Yes, I guess it’s time to go, it’s really getting cold and the sun will set in an hour...” he spoke, straightening the thick towel around her small form, in an attempt to keep her warm.

“Why did Joy run away? Did she see anything?” Monica asked, still looking around her with a bit of fear.

“Yeah, a bird! And you know she isn’t very fond of them!” he said, gathering their things. And that remark seemed to send away Monica’s worried, as a smile appeared on her face, “Oh yes, our wee one is a very temperamental and jealous wee lady sometimes!”

*

Some time later, the angels and the little puppy returned to the cabin and Andrew was quick to send Monica to take a hot shower. She had sneezed twice while they were coming back from the lake and the constant sensation of cold she was feeling worried him a little. They were angels but due to their human form, they were also exposed to any sort of dangers and weaknesses common human beings were.

And, to his worry, at night, while the blond angel prepared dinner, Monica started a sequence of endless sneezes. He quickly left the kitchen and headed to the dining room, where she was, and offered her a handkerchief, “Hey... what’s happening to you, huh?” the tone in his voice was a gentle one, yet there was concern in it. He pulled a chair for her and made her sit down.

“I don’t know... Sneezing is a weird thing...”

“I guess you’re catching a flu, angel...” he spoke, eyeing her carefully and not missing every little detail of her face – the red nose and some tiredness in her eyes.

“Oh... that has happened some times before... And I didn’t like the experience at all!”

“Neither did I, angel... That swimming lesson lasted way too long!” Andrew said, with a bit of regret. Not wanting to worry him about what seemed to be just a light flu, Monica smiled and playfully nudged him on the rib. “You’re just saying that because you lost the race in the lake!”

Also smiling, he nodded his head, loving her usual cheerfulness, “There will be a revenge, Miss Wings!”

“Ok, I’ll be waiting for that!”

He took her hand, “Now come, sit in the living room by the fireplace and let me finish to set the table.”

“Absolutely not, Andrew! I’ll finish it; it’s only a slight cold!” she protested, standing on her feet a second later and causing him to shake his head with slight disapproval.

“You’re quite a stubborn angel girl!”

*

The angels had dinner some time later, although Monica wasn’t very hungry, and later the two, together with little Joy, sat down on the couch, in front of the warm fireplace. The Irish angel was feeling the first effects of the flu, such as tiredness and a congested nose, besides the many sneezes.

“I’ll make you a cup of tea later, Monica, and you’ll take some medicine before you go to bed.” Andrew spoke, straightening the warm quilt that was on the sofa around her small form.

“I’m sure I’ll be better tomorrow, Andrew. You shouldn’t worry so much, you know.” she replied, snuggling closer to him, and causing him to chuckle, “Me not worried about you, angel? I guess this is something we could call impossible.”

Monica let out a small giggle, “I should know you’d say that!”

As he kissed the top of her head, her face became serious again, “Andrew... do you know if there are other cabins near here?”

“Other cabins? Hum... I guess not... Why are you asking me that?”

“For no reason, in fact... I was just...” she sighed, trying to put her thoughts in order, “When Joy disappeared today, I thought it was because she had seen someone...”

Frowning with concern, he bent his head to face her, “Someone? A human being? Why do you think that? Have you seen anything unusual?”

“No... I... I just had a weird feeling... In fact, I guess I was a wee bit scared to be alone there for some moments, while you had gone after Joy...”

“But did you see anything different in this meantime?”

Realising his deep concern, she nearly regretted mentioning that, because, in fact, she herself wasn’t sure of what had happened there. “Well... I... I heard a noise, you know... as if there was someone walking through the vegetation...”

That revelation caused Andrew to sit up straight on the couch, with worry and concern evident in his eyes, “Monica, why didn’t you tell me that before?” the tone of his voice was a low one, but there was some distress in it, which caused her to feel slightly worse.

“Because I realised, seconds later, that it was you walking not far from the lake, and the wind blowing against the tallest trees...” came her quick answer, in a desperate attempt to calm him down.

“Are you sure it was me?” he asked, still not convinced.

“Yes, they came from the same direction you came, and I believe you heard me calling you...”

“Yes... I was about to answer you when I found Joy...” there was still concern lingering on his mind, but, little by little, he seemed to calm down with her explanation. It made perfect sense and if there was anyone hidden in the vegetation he probably would have seen them or heard their steps.

“I guess I was a wee bit scared without any reason for that, you know. This place is so silent, especially at night, and it seems that we’re isolated from the rest of the world. I almost forget that the town is just one hour away.” Monica spoke, glad to see his concern fading. She was going to say something else, but couldn’t even start speaking again due to a sudden crisis of sneezes.

Andrew stood up immediately, “I’ll prepare some tea for you now, Monica and you’ll drink it together with your medicine. I’m glad Tess thought about it in advance and sent us some.”

*

After Monica had taken the tea and the medicine, Andrew quickly sent her  to her bedroom, praying that the medicines would take effect soon. He waited until she climbed in her bed and covered her with a thick blanket, “Now rest, angel. Sleep as much as you can, I’ll be right next door if you need me, ok?” he said, gently rubbing his thumb on her temple.

“I’ll get better, Andrew, I promise. And that’s not fair, you’re my assignment, I was the one to be taking care of you...” she lowered her eyes a bit embarrassed to cause him some trouble.

The blond angel couldn’t help chuckling at those words, “Nothing makes me happier than taking care of you, baby!” he watched with amusement as she blushed a little and a tiny smile appeared on her face, “Besides, I guess that I have to learn a lesson here...” he added, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Monica’s questioning eyes turned to his own green pools and he kept on talking, “I cannot run away from the world nor try to keep you away from it either, because, even being distant from human beings, you got ill... And if you don’t get better I’ll take you to the town and look for a doctor...”

“I will get better, Andrew, I won’t need a doctor, you’ll see!”

“I hope and pray so, angel. But what I mean is that... I can’t just ignore the rest of the world and think that I’m better than humans... There’s good and evil everywhere and I know that by running away I’ll be giving evil more power.”

“So it means that you’ll return to your assignment?”

“Yes, angel... I will, as soon as you get better.”

Her hopeful eyes caused his heart to swell with love for her – yes, he was going back to his assignment, he was going to accomplish God’s will again, and she was the greatest responsible for that.

Monica reached for his hand and squeezed it tightly, “I’m so happy to hear that, Andrew...”

“I know. If there is someone I should thank for encouraging me other than the Father, that one is you, Monica.” he bent his head and brushed a loving kiss on her forehead, “Now sleep, my angel. Rest as much as you can so that tomorrow you wake up better.”

“I will... Good night, Andrew.”

“Good night, Monica. I love you.” he kissed her hand and stood up. Little Joy was standing right beside the Irish angel’s bed and, before he left, he ruffled the little dog’s black fur, “Good night to you too, little one.”

Hearing a low bark as a reply, he smiled and turned off the lights, except the one on the beside table, as Monica didn’t like sleeping in total darkness. Then, he checked the windows and left her room.

But, as usual, Andrew didn’t go to his bedroom straightaway. First, he climbed down the stairs and checked all the windows and doors of the cabin.