CHAPTER 18

Monica was still towel drying her hair as she emerged from the bathroom the next morning. Alex had told her to hold off on wearing any of her new clothes until after the big night, so she was dressed in jeans and a cozy sweatshirt, but at least the flannel shirt had been left in the closet. She wandered back to her bedroom, and then into the kitchen, finally ending up in the living room where Paul and Alex were reading the paper.

“Have you seen Andrew?” she asked. She wasn’t exactly nervous, but at the same time she felt unsettled at not being able to find him.

“Andrew had to run off for a bit,” Paul said.

“Run off? He was called away?” her voice rose a bit and Alex whacked Paul with her part of the paper.

“Stop teasing her, Paul!” she admonished. “He just went to do some “secret stuff” for tonight, Monica. Nothing to be worried about.”

Paul looked up sheepishly, and reached for Monica’s hand. She still looked a little upset and he felt guilty, a feeling made deeper by the glare Alex was sending his way. “I’m sorry, sweetie. Hey, Alex was just about to start making a picnic lunch so that we could go for a nice long ride. How does that sound?”

The pathetically apologetic look on his face was enough to make Monica smile again. “That sounds like a wonderful idea,” she agreed, thinking that it would also keep her from continuing to wonder what Andrew was up to.

Alex, on the other hand was having a hard time containing her sarcastic grin, considering that the picnic lunch she was supposed to be making was something she was just hearing about for the first time. She had to hand it to her husband, he was very good at thinking on his feet.

“Well,” she said with just a hint of a grin and a raised eyebrow at Paul, “I guess I’d better get busy on that lunch.” She folded her paper and restrained herself from smacking him again as she passed by on her way to the kitchen.

“I’ll help,” Monica said brightly, completely oblivious to the spousal politics playing out around her. She turned to follow Alex, and Paul let his head fall backwards against the back of the sofa. One more little disaster averted.

The day was spent very pleasantly, riding and laughing, with Paul and Alex continuing their familiar banter through all of it. They ate lunch in the same spot where Monica and Paul and Andrew had first picnicked together almost three years earlier. When Monica thought about that time it was hard to believe that it had been so long ago. She only thought about Andrew every other minute or so, and considered that rather good considering that she was sorely missing his presence. They all continued their ride after lunch, going deep into the forest and following an overflowing creek that crossed the property. It wasn’t until Alex gave a little gasp that they realized how late it was.

“Oh no! It’s almost four o’clock. Okay, everyone turn around, we’ve got to get back… hurry, hurry!” the woman exclaimed.

Paul chuckled. “Alex, what’s the big rush? I thought they weren’t going out until seven?”

Monica was thinking the same thing, but she wisely kept it to herself as Alex looked at him with exasperation.

“That’s only three hours away! We still have to get her showered, dressed, made-up and ready! Now move, move, move!”

He was still chuckling, but he wheeled his horse around and spurred him into a trot as Alex and Monica did the same. Gone was the leisurely pace, but suddenly the butterflies were back in the angel’s stomach and she pushed Scout to go faster. What if Alex was right? Maybe they didn’t have enough time! She and Alex ended up passing Paul as they reached the pastures and broke into canters. Of course, Paul lost some time then when he pulled his horse to a halt in order to throw back his head and laugh. He wasn’t laughing quite as hard when he saw that his wife had left him to deal with the horses as she and Monica ran up the path to the house.

Twenty minutes later Monica was towel drying her hair for the second time that day, and Alex was laying clothes out on her bed. The black dress was short, but not too short, and low-cut, but not enough to make the angel self-conscious. It was strapless, with a scoop neckline trimmed in subtle black beads, just enough to bring a little sparkle, and scattered over the rest of the dress were more beads, which glinted slightly in the waning sunlight. The hem had another row of beads and Alex had even managed to find a pair of strappy shoes that matched. The young agent felt as if she was about to send her little sister off to the senior prom. She left to let Monica get dressed and when the angel hesitantly walked into the living room Paul was the first to notice.

His eyes widened and he looked her up and down, feeling that now familiar surge of protectiveness wash over him. Yes, he would definitely have to kill Andrew if he so much as laid an inappropriate hand on her. He cleared his throat and Alex turned around and saw her standing in the doorway, hair loose around her shoulders, eyes bright but slightly nervous.

“You look beautiful,” she said with a smile. “Doesn’t she look beautiful, Paul?”

He stood up and moved to kiss the angel on the cheek. “Stunning.”

“Okay, now on to phase two. Make-up,” Alex said as she sprang from her chair and led Monica back down the hall to the bathroom.

She had managed to convince the angel to get just a bit of lipstick and eye shadow and applying it only took a matter of minutes. She took a half step back to admire her handiwork and nodded in satisfaction.

“Yep. If his jaw doesn’t drop to the floor, I’ll be very surprised,” she declared, pleased when Monica giggled at the thought.

Only moments later there was a knock at the door and Alex glanced down at her watch. “That must be him!”

Monica went to answer the door but Alex grabbed her wrist firmly. “You can’t get the door! Go wait in your room, I’ll come and get you,” she insisted.

“But I’m all ready now,” Monica said, puzzled.

“I know, I know. Just trust me. This is how it works on first dates,” she said with a wink, and then gave Monica a tiny shove to her room.

Paul already had the door open and Alex wasn’t sure what he had said, but the angel was standing there looking almost as nervous as Monica had earlier in the day.

“She’s just finishing up, I’m sure she’ll be ready in a minute,” she said as she took note of the roses Andrew was holding.

“I don’t know about you, but this feels awfully weird,” Paul finally said as they stood in the entryway staring at each other. “I mean, hell, it isn’t like they’re just meeting for the first time!”

Alex rolled her eyes as Andrew relaxed and grinned. “That’s not the point,” she said with a sigh, and then looked at the two of them again and gave in. “Oh, all right. I’ll go get her.”

Paul kept himself from laughing until Alex had left the room. “They’ve been in there for almost three hours!” he exclaimed.

When Monica appeared a moment later, Andrew decided that it had been worth every minute.

“Be back by midnight,” Paul whispered to Andrew under his breath, only half-joking, before he gave Monica a hug. “Have a wonderful time,” he told her, and then went to find his wife.

“You look… exquisite,” Andrew said, slowly, as if searching for the perfect word and still not quite happy with his choice. “I mean, you always do… but…” he smiled, unable to even continue.

Monica’s eyes were sparkling and she pointed to the roses he held. “Are those for me?” she said with child-like excitement.

“Oh, yes, of course,” he stammered as if just remembering that he was holding them. He handed them to her and watched as she buried her nose in the dark red blossoms, her smile growing wider, and her eyes closing blissfully.

“They’re beautiful,” she said softly.

“I have something else for you too,” he said as he carefully took the flowers back and set them on the table by the door, knowing that Alex would take care of them. He handed Monica a flat velvet box and watched as her cheeks flushed and her delicate fingers traced the soft material. “Aren’t you going to open it?” he teased.

She grinned and slowly pushed the cover open, the creaking sound giving way to a dull snap as it opened all the way. Inside, was a delicate necklace, a heart pendant made of tiny emeralds and suspended from a gold chain. Monica had to blink quickly to keep tears from obscuring her vision of it.

“It-it’s beautiful,” she breathed as she gently removed it from the box. It had to have been very expensive and the thought suddenly occurred to her that whatever money Andrew had spent on it had come directly from God. She felt a little sob catch in her chest at the realization that it was another sign that He approved.

“May I?” Andrew asked as he held out his hand, and Monica nodded and handed him the necklace before turning around.

He carefully brushed her hair to the side before lowering the pendant and then fastening the clasp behind her neck. He gently brushed the soft skin there and couldn’t resist bending to place a delicate kiss just above the clasp.

“What on Earth is going on here!”

Monica jumped so much that she nearly stumbled, and Andrew had to reach out a hand to keep her on her feet as he watched the color rise in her cheeks.

“I think I asked you angelbabies a question!”

Andrew had always thought that Tess had impeccible timing, but this was not one of those times.  He felt completely speechless for a moment, but Monica looked as if she wanted to bolt from the room, so he decided he’d better start talking, “Glad to have you back, Tess,” He remarked with a wry grin.

The older angel looked slightly more than disgruntled, “Someone needs to start explaining something.”

“A lot has happened,” He offered, winking at Monica to put her more at ease.  This was not the way he wanted this evening to begin and he offered up a silent prayer for Divine Intervention.

“Obviously,” She replied, eyeing the blond angel up and down.  A lecture was on the tip of her tongue, when unbeknownst to her, Andrew’s prayer was answered.  The words spoken to her caused the annoyed lines in her face to soften and an expression of almost awe to replace it. A moment later, she was shaking her head in wonder, “In all my days…I suppose if the world ended tomorrow, I could honestly say that I’d seen everything.”

Andrew relaxed and even felt bold enough to wrap his arm around Monica’s shoulders, “I take it that it has been explained?” He was unable to help but grin.  It wasn’t often that Tess had so little to say.

“Yes, not that I wouldn’t like to hear it from the two of you…” She began, but then she smiled, “But not tonight.” She was still feeling rather amazed by this unexpected turn of events, but she felt tears moisten her eyes when she looked at her young charge, who had finally started to relax.  There was a happiness in the little angel’s eyes that had not been present when Tess had last been here and that fact alone brough more peace to her heart then she had felt in quite some time.

Stepping over to the youngest angel, Tess laid a hand against her cheek, “You look beautiful, baby.  Have a wonderful time tonight.”

Blinking back tears, Monica nodded her head as she moved her hug her supervisor, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome and Andrew, you take good care of her,” She added as she pulled away and gave the angel of death a hard look.

“Only the best, which is what she deserves, I promise,” He replied warmly, looking down at Monica, “Shall we?” He held out his arm to her and smiled when she took it and nodded her head.

As the two angels departed, Tess shook her head once more, “Lord, you do move in mysterious ways,” She muttered but then looked up at the setting sun and smiled, “But this one, certainly must be one of Your greater miracles.”

*****

Andrew opened the passenger door of Paul’s car and holding onto Monica’s hand, guided her inside, before closing the door behind her and walking over to the other side of the car.  She was nervous and he supressed a smile, finding it endearing, though he was also not completely at ease and the near run in with Tess hadn’t helped.  He wanted this to be a night the little angel would remember for a long time, and he wanted to do it right.

Monica glanced over at him shyly as he pulled out of the driveway, “I don’t think I thanked you for the roses and the necklace,” She said softly, as her fingers moved to touch the delicate heart around her neck.

He smiled as he briefly met her gaze, “It reminded me of you, angel; delicate, beautiful and perfect.”

She nearly corrected him, but thought better of it.  She had agreed to let him convince her of all the things he and Paul had been telling her.  It was just hard at times to hear them and to believe them about herself.  She felt a slight blush rising to her cheeks and she ducked her head slightly before stealing another glance at him.  He looked quite handsome in his black suit and tie and she felt her breath catch in her throat.  It still felt odd to think of him that way, and to feel the things in her heart when she had those thoughts.  She was still terribly nervous about where all of this was going, but was determined to stay in the moment and allow tomorrow to take care of itself.

Sensing that she was lost in thought, Andrew reached over and linked his fingers through hers, “You okay?”

Monica nodded her head and emitted a small giggle, “I’m nervous.  I’ve never gone on a date before.  You’ve at least had some experience with an assignment or two.”

“Yes,” He admitted, squeezing her hand reassuringly, “But never with someone I had given my heart to.”

The tears rushed to her eyes unbidden and she blinked them back once more as she smiled and settled back to enjoy the ride.

****

“Andrew…” Monica’s voice was scarcely a whisper as the waiter led them to a table; a very private table, alone, on the beach right next to the lake.  The only illumination was a candle surrounded by a hurricane glass that sat in the middle of the elegantly set table.  The starched tablecloth was crisp and white and the only item on the table that was not of that color was contained within the white budvase; a beautiful red rose. “You did all this?”

He smiled as he nodded his thanks to the waiter before turning to the little angel and taking her face in his hands, “Finish the sentence, angel.  Yes, I did all this…for you.”

She was unable to stop the tears that welled up in her eyes this time, though she bit the inside of her lip to try to keep them from falling. He had put forth such effort and for no other reason than to make her happy, because he loved her. Reaching up, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, “I love you so much,” She whispered tearfully into his ear.

Andrew’s hand rubbed her bare shoulder soothingly as his other arm wrapped around her tiny waist, “I love you too, sweetheart,” He replied softly, once again promising himself that he would convince her that she deserved all this and more. Just before he pulled away he kissed her tenderly, feeling the warmth of her her body as she pressed up against him to return his affection.  As they reluctantly parted, he pulled out her chair for her and as she sat down his hand remained on her shoulder, “Are you warm enough?”

“Yes.  It’s a beautiful night,” Monica smiled as she wiped at her eyes carefully, “If you don’t stop making me cry, Alex is going to be upset that I ruined her makeup job.”

He chuckled softly as he sat down and then reached for her hand, “The makeup wasn’t really necessary as you are beautiful without it, but you are breathtaking tonight, angel.” He knew it was true as he could barely take his eyes from her and sitting across from her at the small table felt like miles away.  Just being away from her all day today had been agonizing, but the smile on her face made the separation today worth while. 

Monica blushed at the sincere compliment, “Thank you, but Alex did it really…” She stopped as she felt him squeeze her hand.

“God did it, angel,” He told her gently, “Alex just accentuated what was already there to begin with,” He saw her blush deepening and the almost thankful look on her face when the waiter approached with a bottle of champaigne on ice.  He smiled at the surprised look on Monica’s face as he moved to pour them each a glass.  He waited until she had taken hers, before he raised his slightly and appeared thoughtful for a moment, “To a beautiful night,” He said simply as he brushed his glass with hers and held her gaze as they took a sip.

The bubbly liquid caused a warmth to rush through her, even after one taste and after another venture of a small sip, she began to feel more relaxed, “I think Tess was a bit surprised.” She grinned as she set her glass back on the table and ran her finger idly around the rim.

“I would say so,” Andrew chuckled, “And I don’t think she was the only one.”

Monica giggled, remembering how she had felt as if she and Andrew had been caught doing something wrong, “I’m sure Paul and Alex are being given the third degree right about now.  Thankfully, Alex has no fear, though at times, I think Paul is still slightly intimidated.”

“Well Paul probably has the right idea!”

Another laugh from Monica made Andrew’s heart beat faster. Despite the unusual start, this was turning out to be exactly the night he had planned.

Dinner was filled with more shy smiles from Monica and loving looks from Andrew as they worked their way through three courses and on to dessert. For once it was Andrew who was having the hard time eating. He didn’t want to look away from her long enough to concentrate on his food.

At first conversation was almost awkward, as Monica was nervous, and neither of them were quite sure what to say. They had been best friends for so long, they had shared so much, and now suddenly they found themselves tongue-tied. Monica wondered if this was what Alex had meant when she said that things would be different. Then, as if in an answer to a prayer, a firefly had flown down over their table, circling and blinking out it’s delicate light. Somehow seeing it flitting around had made them both laugh, and the next thing they knew they were talking just the way they always had.

After dessert of cheesecake with strawberries and cups of hot cappuchino, the two of them sat staring at each other as the candles burned down and the music from the restaurant drifted out on the breeze. Andrew’s eyes were lit like stars as he watched Monica delicately take the last sip of her coffee. Over the course of the evening he had only become more infatuated with her. Every movement was catalogued and stored in his mind as precious and sweet.

“Are you still warm enough?” he asked as he placed a strong hand over hers on the table.

She nodded as she set down her coffee cup and smiled. “I feel wonderful.”

Andrew’s eyes motioned towards the shoreline and he squeezed her hand. “I was thinking we could take a little walk along the beach,” he suggested.

Monica’s eyes lit up but then she looked troubled as she looked down and poked one foot out from under the table. “I’m not exactly wearing the right shoes.”

Andrew bent over and quickly unbuckled the straps on both shoes. “I think that bare feet are perfectly acceptable,” he said as he stood up and offered her his hand.

Their table was positioned on the harder sand not too far from the restaurant’s back deck, and Andrew dropped her shoes beside it and led her down to the softer sand, and near the shores of the lake. His fingers were intertwined with hers and she smiled up at him as they walked along the water.

“Have you had a good time?” Andrew asked as he looked off over the lake, feeling suddenly nervous.

Monica stared at him, astonished that he would even wonder. “Andrew… this has been one of the best nights of my life,” she said, eyes bright with tears. “I… you… this has made me feel…” she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. “You have made me feel perfect,” she whispered and felt his arms tighten.

“Angel, you are perfect, and beautiful, and so precious.”

“When you’re holding me like this… I believe that,” she said as she tilted her head and gazed into his eyes.

He ran one hand through her hair and bent his head to kiss her. “In that case, I guess I’ll never be able to let you go.”

*****

“Paul, it’s only twelve-thirty!” Alex exclaimed as she grabbed onto her husband’s shirt and pulled him back to the bed.

“I said midnight,” he said, with a stern look on his face.

Alex started to laugh and covered her mouth so that the sound wouldn’t disturb Tess who was sleeping down the hall. “I hate to be the one to break this to you, but you’re not her father,” she said once she had her laughing down to a snicker.

He glared at her, and then rolled his eyes. “I never said I was… I’m more like her big brother… her very protective big brother.”

She leaned over and kissed him, then ruffled his hair, pulled back and slapped him on the shoulder. “That’s what I love about you, Paul, ya big goof.”

“Hey, you never know what could happen,” he defended himself.

“Are you listening to yourself?” Alex replied, her face showing both amazement and humor. “They’re angels! Angels, Paul. I don’t think you could ask for a safer date!”

Paul finally let out a long sigh and fell back against the pillows, pulling his wife close. “Yeah, okay, fine.”

Another chuckle from Alex, and he looked down as she muttered, “Sheesh! I can only imagine what you’ll be like if we have a daughter.”

He instantly tensed as his eyebrows drew together. “She wouldn’t date ‘til she was twenty-one, simple as that,” he declared.

“Yes dear,” Alex said and she rolled towards him and kissed him on the cheek. “Whatever you say. Now please shut off the light and kiss me.”