parts three and four

PART THREE

“Do you think Tess will be upset because we took her car?” Monica asked, sitting on the passenger’s seat of Tess’ Cadillac.

Andrew was driving along an empty road and chuckled at that question, “Well, she lent me the car to pick you up at the store, didn’t she? I’m picking you up!”

“But we’re not going to the cabin...” she replied, smiling and amused with his playful tone of voice.

“We are, angel. But we’re using a longer way!” he turned his eyes from the road just for a few seconds and looked at her meek face, chuckling even more to see an inch of worry clearly mixed with some amusement.

“Hope I’m not making a mess around here... And... I hope I’m not making you make a mess around here...”

Laughing at that statement and at her choice of words, he took her hand and kissed its back, “You? My dear angel, making a mess? I don't think this is possible!”

Smiling, Monica looked around them and spotted the signal along the road, indicating that they were arriving at their destination city, “Here we are...”

“Yes. I just hope we can find our little friends soon... The weather forecast announced it will snow later at night!”

“We will!  I know the Father is with us!” She turned her eyes to him again, “And I’m grateful you’re here with me too, Andrew. I guess I’d have to look for the right house all by myself if you hadn’t come with me!”

Hearing those words Andrew realised something: considering Monica’s poor sense of direction, the chances of her finding the right house located in a strange city and without a complete address were drastically reduced. His being there to pick her up at the same moment she had found that letter was much more than a mere coincidence. Yes, the Father was with them, guiding their steps on that assignment and the blond angel smiled, now fully aware of his own assignment.

“Andrew?” Monica's soothing voice took him out of his reverie and made him look at her again. She was eyeing him with an adorable expression of curiosity on her face. The angel of death took her hand once again and gave it a light squeeze. “There’s no other place I’d like to be, angel, other than by your side.” Watching as her smile grew wider, he added, “And something tells me that this is exactly where I was supposed to be. As always!”

As he returned his eyes to the road, the little angel inched closer and brushed a loving kiss on his cheek. "I love you... as always too."

x

Monica and Andrew arrived at their destination city some time later and started to look for the Smith’s house. The first place they went to was the post office, as there they would obtain a list with the people who lived in the town and their addresses. But as soon as he was given the paper containing the names, the blond angel frowned slightly worriedly.

“Andrew? What is it?”

“Well, angel, we got 23 addresses to check this afternoon!”

“23 people named ‘Smith’? Oh dear!” she exclaimed, browsing her attentive eyes on the paper he was holding, “Do you think there’ll be enough time?”

“Hum... let’s do the following: let’s split up and check the addresses that are close to this post office. Then, finding them or not, we’ll be back here in... one hour, is that ok?”

The Irish angel nodded enthusiastically, “Oh, that’s a great idea!”

“Okay...” suddenly, Andrew frowned again, concern back to his face, “But Monica... it’s really the addresses close to this post office, ok? Don’t... erm... don’t go too far...”

“Don’t worry, Andrew, I’ll be here in an hour, I promise,” she replied, not aware of his true concern.

“That’s ok, then. I’ll check out these ones and you these, ok?” he tore the paper in two and gave her one half, keeping the other one.

“Alright!” the confidence in her eyes was such that it was impossible not to believe that a miracle would happen at any moment.

Andrew bent his head and kissed her forehead, “See you in an hour, angel.”

“See you, Andrew.”

The two angels started a search for Matthew and Mary, going from door to door in the post office surroundings. Monica visited four families: in one of them there were two little children but they were still toddlers and had different names. Other two didn’t have any children, and the last Smith she spoke to was a very bad humoured old man, who was probably in his late 80’s.

With Andrew it wasn’t very different: the blond angel passed by six homes and even if in three of them there were children, none were called Matthew or Mary and all their parents were in very good health. When his search was over he returned to their car, where he would wait for Monica.

X

Ten minutes had passed since he had arrived there and the blond angel was already glancing at his pocket watch every 30 seconds, and regretting the idea of splitting up to look for the right address. His worry, however, was over before he set off to look for her: his dearest friend finally appeared on the corner of the same street. He heaved a sigh of relief as she ran to him with a quite worried expression on her face.

“I’m so sorry, Andrew! I didn’t mean to leave you waiting for me for such a long time but there was this old man... he was such an unhappy human being and... well... I thought that maybe I could say a few words to make him feel better and to let him know that he is not alone and...”

Chuckling, Andrew nodded and gently placed his hands on her shoulders, “Let me guess... You had a little ‘angel talk’ to him, right?”

Blushing a little, she too nodded her head, “Yes... and I ended up a wee bit late... please don’t be upset with me...”

Andrew felt an inch of sadness inside his heart: the last time she had disappeared from his view he argued with her and hurt her feelings. Although she had forgiven him, deep inside his heart, he hadn’t forgiven himself and he knew that the worry in her eyes was caused by that awful misunderstanding that had happened a few months before. The blond angel quickly placed his hand against her cheek and stroked her soft skin, “I’m not upset, angel. Much on the contrary! You were helping someone who certainly needed it. I just thought that maybe you could have found the kids...”

Monica sighed deeply, slightly disappointed, “No, I talked to all the families on this paper but none of them was the right one. What about you? Did you find anything?”

He shook his head, “Nothing. All the families were at home too but none of them was the right one...” Not wanting to see her sad, the blond angel took her hands and squeezed them, “That’s why we gotta keep on looking!”

Smiling, she nodded, “It sounds like a plan!”

With their hopes renewed, they got in the car and set off for a new search.

x

Tess’ car was very helpful as it accelerated the search for the two siblings but, as the number of houses visited increased, the chances of finding the children were reduced. By 3 PM they had been to 20 of the 23 houses.

“We have only three left, Andrew...” Monica spoke, looking at the paper with worried eyes. The blond angel had stopped the Cadillac near a café and turned his head to face her, “We only need one, Monica.”

“Yes...” she sighed, with a mix of worry and anxiety in her eyes. Once again not wanting to see her sad, Andrew looked through the windshield with an idea on his mind. “I’ll tell you what: we’ll have a break now. Let’s go inside that café and while I ask the attendant for some information about these addresses, maybe you can drink erm... let’s say... a cup of mocha... That is, if you want to, of course...”

He chucked at seeing how wide her eyes grew when he said that, like a child who had just earned a special treat. How amazingly adorable that sweet little angel could be!

“Isn’t it wonderful to have friends who know exactly what you like?”

Once the were seated at a table, the waitress brought them an extra large cup of mocha and a cup of hot chocolate, and Andrew took the opportunity to ask her about the three addresses on the list.

“Oh, they’re far from here,” the woman spoke, frowning a little.

“How far exactly?”

“Almost on the border with the next city, mister. In the countryside.”

“Really?” Monica was immediately worried, “And do you know if there’s a Smith family living there? We’ve been looking for them all day long...”

“Hum... yes, I believe so, there are a few of them, miss. It’s a very common name and there are many small farmers there. I guess there are two or three called Smith.”

“Do you think we could get there in maybe an hour?” Andrew wanted to know.

The woman’s face was one of worry. “Well, in normal weather conditions yes, but... is it urgent or something?”

“Kind of...”

“Then maybe if you leave now and hurry you can get there. I’ve been listening to the radio and just a few minutes ago they’ve announced that a snow storm will hit this entire region at night.”

Andrew and Monica looked at each other and the blond angel feared having to drive along those deserted roads with his dearest friend, especially in the middle of a snow storm. “Well, then we have to hurry, angel.” he paid for the drinks. “One hour drive is not that close, if we leave now we’ll get there before it starts snowing.”

Monica nodded her head and both thanked the waitress for the information and left the small café.

PART 4

The sky was starting to get darker when Andrew reached the countryside. Sitting next to him, Monica looked through the window with worry in her eyes: she didn’t want to tell him anything, but the simple thought of being stuck in a snowstorm was scaring her deeply and secretly she prayed to find the Smiths family as soon as possible, as at least they would have a safe place to stay.

But if there was an angel who knew exactly what was on her mind and especially in her heart, this angel was Andrew. The rare and strong connection the two heavenly beings had shared for years since they first met was deep and made them feel like only one being. He knew that she was afraid – and considering the selfless creature that she was, he also knew that she wasn’t only afraid for her, but for both of them.

Silently, he reached for her hand and squeezed it, causing her to turn her head and face him, “We’re almost there, angel.”

Monica nodded her head, “I know... I guess I should have told Tess that we’re here...”

“Somehow I’m under the impression that she knows that we’re together and that you’re doing everything you can to fulfil your assignment,” he replied, trying to calm her down, “Remember when we first visited the toy shop and that she was all grumpy?”

“Yes...”

“Well, she was upset because there was a possibility that she wouldn’t spend Christmas together with you, as you’d be exactly here, looking for the children...”

“So that’s true, right? We won’t see Tess on the Christmas night?”

“That’s the most amazing part in God’s plan, Monica. He knows how much Tess loves you and how much it means to her spending Christmas with you. If you were there at the toy store all alone, it would take you much longer to find the addresses and the houses. But... well, with me being there, the search is being quite fast as we have Tess’ car.”

She sighed deeply, “You’re right again...”

“Not to mention that I don’t like to imagine you here all alone looking for the Smiths family and I’m positively sure that neither does Tess!”

“You and Tess are the best Christmas presents I could ever get in my whole existence, Andrew...” there were some tears in her eyes when she said that, and he was immediately moved to see the affection she felt for him and for Tess reflected in her soft brown eyes.

“You can be sure that you are the best present I could ever receive, and I know the same goes for Tess. A present that is worth all the other ones!” the blond angel spoke, kissing the back of her hand and happy to see a tearful smile back on her face.

But the snow suddenly falling on the windshield drove their attention back to the road and, as much as they wanted to avoid it, they were already in the middle of a snow storm. Andrew reduced the velocity and his eyes became twice attentive to the road ahead, which was completely deserted at that time of the afternoon. Soon, the snow started to accumulate everywhere, leaving the path they had to follow slippery and very dangerous.

By 5 PM the sky was completely dark. The cold wind blowing against their car and the snowflakes that left the windshield totally dirty, along with the darkness of the region, were causing Monica’s heart to pound loudly in her chest. And, as much as he tried to keep calm, Andrew was also getting more and more worried about the weather conditions.

“Angel, I’m afraid I’ll have to stop at the first shelter we can find,” Andrew said, feeling the anguish that was coming from her heart. Monica nodded her head, “Yes, that would be the best thing to do... I never thought it could be that dangerous, you know...”

“No one could’ve ever guessed the snowstorm would arrive so soon. Even the weather forecast was wrong.” The blond angel frowned at the huge amount of snow thrown against the windshield – not even the windshield wiper could clean it. The road ahead of them was dark and, even with the fog lights on, they couldn’t see much.

“I just hope and pray for the ones who are on these roads like us...” she closed her eyes and bowed her head for an instant, “... please, keep them safe, Father...”

Andrew also lifted a silent prayer and, for a split second, a gust of wind blew a great quantity of snow against the windshield, blocking his view. And, when the wiper cleaned it, both angels felt a chill running down their spine: there was a huge tree fallen on the road.

“Andrew!” Monica shouted, and the blond angel had to make a quick movement to swerve to the right and break at the same time. Were they not wearing seatbelts, both angels in human form would have been thrown forward against the windshield. The Cadillac went out of the road and slipped, turning around a few times, and finally stopped.

“Monica? Are you alright? Did you get hurt?” the blond angel asked, immediately taking her hand and not missing how pale her face was.

Breathing hard and feeling her heart pounding erratically in her chest, Monica nodded, “I... I’m fine...”

“Are you sure?” he insisted, laying his hand on her face, searching for a bruise, not yet convinced and already feeling terribly guilty if she got hurt because of him.

“Yes, I am, Andrew, I promise... How... how about you?” she covered his hand with her much smaller one and looked at him equally worried, still trying to calm herself down.

“I’m fine, angel... We have to get out of here, I don’t like the way things are going...”

He turned the motor on and accelerated the car but, to their surprise, the Cadillac was stuck in the thick snow layer and didn’t move.

“Oh, no...” the blond angel murmured, twice scared, “Please, don’t...”

“We’re stuck, aren’t we?” his dearest friend spoke, watching as he tried everything he could to make the car move.

Andrew sighed deeply and looked at the Irish angel, dreading to think about what could happen to them – to her, if the fuel was over. “I have an idea: I’ll get out of the car and try to pull it while you stay here and accelerate.”

“Ok...” came her feeble reply, as she didn’t like the idea of seeing her friend outside, exposed to the snow and the low temperature. Andrew grabbed a flashlight and got out of the car, and Monica took his place in the driver’s seat. With the cold howling wind blowing against his face and the snow falling down on him, Andrew went to the back of the car and put all his efforts into pushing the Cadillac while Monica accelerated it. But, after spending almost ten minutes trying, the blond angel gave it up and entered the car again, “It’s useless, Monica, it won’t move,” he said, wiping the snow from his hair and shoulders.

“Well... maybe we should stay here and wait, Andrew. Somebody may pass by the road and see us...”

But the blond angel shook his head, “I’m sorry, angel, but the chances of someone passing by this same road are almost... zero...” then he looked at the fuel gauge, “Not to mention that we have enough oil for two hours only.”

Monica felt her heart clench with apprehension and fear, “Then, what are we going to do?”

The blond angel sighed deeply: he already had an idea but he was sure that she wouldn’t like it. Trying to find the best words to explain what he had in mind, Andrew reached for her hand and held it in both of his, “Monica, I need you to do something for me...”

“Of course, Andrew. What is it?” she replied, not fully aware of what he was about to purpose.

“Well.... according to the information we got at the café there are a few small farms not far from the road we came from. I need you to stay here in the car for a few minutes while I go and search for a shelter...”

Hearing that, her eyes grew wide with evident fear and Monica shook her head, “Oh no! No, Andrew! You can’t go outside, it’s too dangerous, you...”

“Monica, angel, please, listen to me-”

“No! Please, Andrew, don’t do it! We can stay here together and wait for help! We’re not alone, the Father is with us! He won’t let anything bad happen to us...”

He gently placed one of his hands on her cheek and looked deep inside her brown eyes, “Yes, the Father is with us. That’s exactly why you shouldn’t be afraid – He’s protecting you and me and I know He’ll guide my steps, I...”

Andrew stopped talking when he saw the tears in his friend’s eyes. Monica lowered her head and let out an anguished sob. “It’s all my fault... All my fault, Andrew! I should have seen the letter earlier, if I had found it earlier then I would’ve come to this city before the storm and found the children all by myself, I wouldn’t have dragged you with me...” she spoke, tears immediately falling from her eyes, “... I delayed us even more because I stopped to talk with that old man...”

Shaking his head, Andrew pulled her for a tight hug and, while she cried over his shoulder, he started to run his fingers through her hair and to speak soothing words to her. “Please, baby, don’t cry... You know that God has His own timing and that everything happens for a reason. We may not know yet why you only found that letter today after everybody had left, but it’ll be clear for us eventually. And yes, I too believe that help will arrive for us as well as for the children we’re looking for. But while it doesn’t, we cannot stay here knowing that soon the oil will be over and we’ll be freezing.”

He brushed an affectionate kiss on the side of her head and gently pulled away, “You know that the right thing to do now is to look for help, don’t you?”

“Then let me go with you...” she pleaded, dreading to see her dearest friend away from her.

“No, no angel. I’m taller and stronger than you, I can walk faster.”

“But...”

“You’ll stay here and wait for me, I won’t be long, I promise!” he wiped away the tears on her face and brushed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“Please, be careful, Andrew...”

“I will be. And don’t be afraid. Remember the One who is with us.”

Monica nodded her head and watched as he grabbed a flashlight and left the car. She kept the other flashlight and from the moment that Andrew disappeared in the road, the Irish angel bowed her head and started to pray for his safety.

x

Andrew walked for about 30 minutes with intense darkness surrounding him. He checked his pocket watch: it was only 6 PM but it seemed an endless night for him. The blond angel had walked a few miles away from the Cadillac and his constant worry about his dearest friend was almost making him come back. Rather painful memories of a recent assignment had left a permanent imprint on his heart and, even if he had overcome them, once in a while Andrew felt panic and anguish filling his soul to think about the day he had left Monica alone at the cabin with her assignments and an evil man broke into the house determined to hurt them all.

Due to this, it was not rare that Andrew felt the need to check on Monica in between his assignments around the world and since that particular incident his care and concern for the little angel grew even more. The two heavenly beings shared a deep bond, which was uncommon even to angels, and feelings such as love, joy, peace as well as fear, anguish and pain were easily transmitted through their hearts. And right at that very moment, he could feel she was deeply scared.

“Monica... angel, hold on a bit longer, I’ll be there with you soon...” he whispered, trying to see something through the road ahead. “Father, please, help me. Guide my footsteps so that I can help those children and take Monica to a safe place...”

The blond angel was almost giving up the search and coming back to the car when he saw a light at about a mile from him. Trying to see through the darkness, he gave a few steps towards it and, a few seconds later, a smile spread across his handsome face when he spotted an old cottage not far from the road and the light he could see was coming from a candle placed at the window. “Thank You, Father!”

Andrew rushed back to the Cadillac, eager to take his dearest friend to the shelter he had just found. It took him less than 10 minutes to return to the spot where he had left Monica as he was practically running to meet her.

“Monica! Angel, I found a shelter! There’s a house not far from here!” he announced, as he was coming closer to the car.

But, as the blond angel came by the car window his heart nearly stopped and he felt a wave of panic washing his soul: the Cadillac was empty – Monica wasn’t there anymore.