CHAPTER 2

Bright sunshine was pouring in her bedroom window but it couldn’t disguise the fact that it was freezing outside. Each windowpane was edged with frost, and a few errant flakes from the storm continued to blow around in the wind. Her normal routine was to flip the covers back over her head and pretend that it was still three a.m., but that plan was disrupted by the fact that when she rolled over she immediately smelled coffee brewing in the kitchen.

Monica.

Convincing the angel to spend the night had definite advantages, Alex thought as her bare feet hit the floor. She scuffed into her well-worn bunny slippers (which she hid whenever Paul was around) and headed downstairs. Monica had obviously been up for some time, because the downstairs, which was usually freezing in the morning, was already warm and toasty. Alex padded into the kitchen and smiled at the sight of the little angel bundled in one of her spare robes, sitting at the table with her hands wrapped around a large mug of coffee.

"I wasn’t sure if you’d still be here when I woke up. Figured Tess might whisk you away in the middle of the night," she said with a wink.

Monica looked at her over the rim of her mug with just the tiniest hint of sadness. "Tess is busy for the Christmas season. She’s been temporarily transferred to lead the choir."

Alex’s eyes widened. "She has? That’s some honor!" she exclaimed, and then realized the implications an instant later. "Well that does it then. You’re coming with me to the farm. You are not spending Christmas alone!"

The angel shook her head lightly. "Alex, I’m never really alone, and I can always go Home."

Alex stared at her and crossed her arms. "I know all about that, and I think He’ll pardon me for saying that while being in His presence is the most wonderful place you can be, but at this time of year, more than any other, you also need your friends and family around you."

"He is my family," Monica said with a grin.

"And I’m your friend," Alex replied with a definitive nod, "and so is Paul, and you’re coming to the farm to spend Christmas with us, and that’s that." She brushed her hands together and considered it a done deal.

Monica giggled. It seemed ridiculous to be hundreds of years old and yet reduced to the role of little sister by one particularly stubborn woman.

"All right, all right. I suppose you won’t be happy until I agree."

"Quite right," she said with a wide smile.

"Then you’d better call Paul and tell him to set another place for me at the table."

"Yes, I guess I’d better, and I know how thrilled he’s going to be!"

Carrying her coffee she headed to the phone, not even noticing that it was really only seven in the morning. She dialed the farm, turning her back to Monica so that it wouldn’t be so obvious that she knew the number by heart. By the third ring she was beginning to tap her foot, but thankfully he picked up a moment later.

"G’morning," he slurred, still half asleep.

"Paul? Paul, it’s Alex. Are you okay?"

Paul shook his head to clear it and blinked blearily at the clock. "Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. Sorry, Alex. I wasn’t expecting you to call so early."

"Early?" Alex glanced around at the clock above the oven. "Oh good Lord! I’m sorry! Didn’t realize it was so early myself! I had a sort of unexpected guest last night."

"Guest?" Paul was instantly awake. "Nothing bad, right?"

"Not at all! It’s Monica! I ran into her last night and she’s going to come with me to the farm." She lowered her voice before she continued, "Andrew and Tess are both away on assignments and she’s all alone."

Paul chuckled. "Tess may be on assignment, but Andrew is right in the next room. He showed up last night when I was out sho… running some last minute errands. He’s gonna be just as happy as I am to hear she’s coming."

"Yees," Alex drew the word out. "Quite a Christmas surprise, don’t you think?" she said slowly.

On the other end of the phone, Paul smiled. "You don’t want me to tell Andrew?"

"Exaaactly," she replied. "So," she started speaking normally again, "we should be leaving by around nine or ten and we’ll be out at the farm by mid afternoon."

Paul’s smile faded and he almost scowled. "Are you sure you don’t want me to fly up to get you? It’s a long drive, even if you do have company."

"Paul, don’t be such a worry-wart!" Alex exclaimed. "I’m driving out and that’s that. You can fly us all back Christmas day."

"All right, you win."

"Yes, I’ve been batting a thousand this morning."

"Drive safe, and try not to get any tickets on the way out here."

She rolled her eyes playfully even though he couldn’t see it. "I’ll do my best. See you soon… love you," she added.

"Love you too, Alex, and I can’t wait to see you."

She hung up the phone and walked back over to the kitchen table. "There. All settled! And Paul was thrilled, just like I said he’d be.’

Monica grinned. "Well I’d better get dressed and packed so we can leave."

Alex shook her head. "Hold your wings there, Monica. It’s barely seven-thirty! I’m going back to bed for an hour and then we can start getting ready."

Laughing, the angel replied, "I suppose that’s fair. I guess you didn’t realize I was sort of a morning angel."

"No, considering the last time we spent any amount of time together, we were either freezing or dying. No offense, Monica, but I’m looking forward to spending a little stress free time with you this time."

Monica smiled as Alex headed back upstairs before she turned her gaze back to the window. Snow was in the forecast though there were no signs of ominous clouds now. Giving a tiny sigh, she closed her eyes, hoping that God would deliver the message to Andrew; that she loved him and was thinking about him.

*****

Andrew wandered around the stables, pausing just outside of Scout’s stall to give the horse a pat. Scout put his ears back slightly and let out a little snort of air that sounded distinctly like the same question that the angel had been wondering about.

"I’m not sure of where she is, buddy," He replied, not even bothering to consider that he was speaking to a horse, "I’d like the answer to that one myself." Andrew let out a heavy sigh. The last few weeks had been exactly what he had expected. Some of his assignments during the holidays were a true joy; ninety-eight year old Mildred Blackstone, who had wanted to tell him all about her husband, Harvey, and how anxious she was to be reunited with him in heaven, or even fifty-six year old Joe Hamilton who had been battling cancer for years, constantly fighting the disease to be able to reconcile with his daughter. Peace had finally been made and Joe had willingly gone Home, happy now with all he had accomplished in life.

Those were the good assignments, the ones that filled the angel of death with great peace. But there was also nineteen year old Maggie whose boyfriend had broken up with her Thanksgiving night and unable to realize that she had her entire life ahead of her, she had ended it with a handful of pills. Or thirty-two year old Michael who now knew his wife was having an affair, and had taken his life with a handgun, in his car, outside of his wife’s lover’s home. These were the cases that broke his heart. The ones where no matter what caseworker tried convincing these humans that all they needed to live their life fully was God, just couldn’t or wouldn’t listen. These assignments made him weary right down to his soul and what was even harder than the assignments themselves was not having Monica around to relieve his tension.

The little angel had always had a way of touching his heart, without even trying and even more than that was his need to know that she was indeed all right. Though he had told Paul that he would know if that were not the case, Andrew always felt unsettled when more than a day or two past without seeing her. He knew God was always taking care of her and that was more than enough, but he had appointed himself her personal protector here on earth long ago. It was even more than that this time. It was Christmas and he wanted to share the joy of the very first one with her.

"Don’t worry, Scout," Andrew said softly, the words intended for himself every bit as much, "God is watching over her."

"So, is there an angel of therapy for the angels who hold conversations with horses?"

At the sound of Paul’s chuckle Andrew turned around and managed a self conscious grin, "Dunno. I guess we’ll find out." He then noticed the look of concern that lingered in the agent’s eyes, "What is it, Paul?"

"Well, while you’ve been in here, the little white Christmas that started awhile ago, has turned into a much bigger white Christmas. It’s really coming down outside. I tried to reach Alex to warn her, but she has apparently already left. With a roughly five hour drive, she is going to run right into this mess." Just the thought of Alex being caught in the storm had him feeling eternally grateful that she was not traveling alone.

"What about her cell?"

"Tried that. She may not be getting a signal where she is."

Seeing his friend’s worry, the angel replied carefully, "She isn’t due for a few hours yet, so lets not panic. If she sticks to the highway-."

"She prefers back roads, especially in bad weather," Paul frowned, "Something about ‘all the other idiots on the road’."

*****

"This is getting bad," Alex muttered as she switched the high beams on once more in an attempt to help her with visibility. It had been over an hour ago that she had made the decision to escape the highway and the numerous tractor trailers that insisted on flying by her, and now she was beginning to regret that decision. The alternate route she had chosen was full of winding curves and it was all she could do to keep her eyes on the dotted yellow line.

"Yes," Monica agreed quietly, still recovering from the last curve they had slid around, "So much for ‘stress free time’ with me, I suppose."

Alex giggled nervously, "I knew I should have knocked on wood." They fell silent again, so she could concentrate on staying on the road, but the snow coming at the windshield put in mind a movie she had once seen when the spacecraft had gone into light speed. It was nearly mesmerizing and she had to force herself to focus.

After a few minutes, her vision blurred for a just a fraction of a second but it was enough for her to miss the next curve until it was too late. Alex cursed and Monica gave out a surprised cry as the car skidded across the road and into a small embankment. For the moment the only sound was that of human and angel catching their breath, before Alex grinned sheepishly, "Just wanted to make sure you were awake."

"If I wasn’t, I am now," Monica assured her with a little grin in return, but it soon faded as Alex tried to turn the car back onto the road, but the wheels only spun helplessly in the snow. Seeing the agent’s determined expression, Monica said nothing for a moment as her friend tried to reposition the wheel and tried again, in vain to get the car to budge.

"Perhaps I should get out and push?" Monica offered, preparing to button up her coat.

Alex glanced over at the petite angel and managed not to chuckle. Unless Monica started glowing, the angel pushing would be pointless, "No, I’ll push. Can you drive a car?"

She gave a tiny shrug, "Depends on who you ask."

"Okaaay. Andrew or Tess?"

"Andrew says I have potential, but Tess says I can’t stop talking long enough to watch the road and that people on the sidewalks aren’t safe," She smiled brightly then, "But as you won’t be in the car with me, talking should not be a problem."

Alex rolled her eyes good-naturedly as she zipped up her jacket. "Okay, well let’s go with Andrew’s take. Slide on over once I get out and I’ll tell you when to step on the gas."

Monica nodded and Alex flipped her hood up onto her head and pushed the door open against the blowing, swirling snow. It was strange how very quiet it was outside. Aside from the howling wind making the trees knock into each other, and Alex’s feet crunching into the new snow, there wasn’t another sound to be heard. Even the car’s engine sounded muffled and far away. Alex wished she was wearing real boots instead of the dress boots she had picked to go with her outfit.

"Okay, Monica, I’m gonna start rocking it! You need to step on the gas when I say now!" Alex shouted to be heard through the closed door. She watched Monica nod her head and then started leaning against the trunk. "Okay, now! Gun it!"

The engine revved but the car barely moved. Alex, however, was not known for giving up easily. It took another twenty minutes of digging, leaning, rocking and revving, along with a few muffled swears, but finally the car shot from its place and back into the road. Alex was breathing hard and she stripped off her heavy coat and threw it into the back before climbing into the driver’s seat again.

"Now," she said, still slightly out of breath, "let’s just pretend that didn’t happen and we won’t have to tell the boys, ‘k?"

Monica nodded doubtfully. "I suppose I would just as soon forget it," she finally agreed. "I was beginning to get nervous."

"Well don’t. Trust me, I’ve driven in way worse than this before. We’ll just take it nice and easy and we’ll make it. We’ll be late, but we’ll make it."

"Maybe if we take long enough the storm will die down," Monica joked.

"I wish!"

In fact Alex was also hoping that the time it had taken to push the car out would have allowed the storm to move past them. As she started up the car again however, she saw that her wish had no been fulfilled. The snow was still coming down and so was the sun. Before long it would be dark and she would be forced to drive even slower than she already was.

She didn’t want to keep glancing down at the dashboard, but morbid curiosity drew her eyes there again and again. They were still fifteen miles from the main road and that last little stunt getting the car unstuck had used up a lot of gas. If she didn’t pick up the pace, they were going to be in trouble.

*****

"Paul, looking out the window isn’t going to make her get here any sooner," Andrew said as he patted the man on the shoulder. "She’s taking her time. That’s a good thing." When that failed to bring even a look in his direction, he asked, "Have you tried her phone again?"

"Yeah. It goes straight to voicemail. She must be out of range or the cell towers are acting up."

Andrew let out a frustrated breath. He hated seeing his friend so distracted. "I’m sure she’ll be here soon," he tried again for reassurance, then moved on to his own muttering. "Too bad she’s driving alone. If I’d gone to Washington instead of here I’d probably be driving back with her."

That made Paul’s head shoot up and Andrew looked at him questioningly. "What? What’s that look for."

Paul raked his fingers through his hair and stepped away from the window. For some reason he felt like he needed to be out of arm’s reach. "okay… ummm… here’s the deal. It was supposed to be a surprise… for both of you… And it was all Alex’s idea!"

The angel’s eyes opened. He didn’t need to have a map drawn for him. "Monica? She’s with Alex?"

"Well… yes. She ran into Alex last night and she convinced her to come here to spend Christmas with us."

"Monica is with Alex. They’re together." Andrew repeated the facts and then rolled his eyes. "That’s like sending Lucy and Ethel out to find their way through the woods. Between the two of them they’re a walking disaster area!"

"Andrew! That’s not making me feel better!"

The angel took a breath and unclenched his hands. "All right… you’re right… I’m sorry. I’m still sure they’re fine."

Paul looked back out the window. "One hour. I’m giving them one more hour before I head out after them."

Andrew didn’t offer to join him, but the agent let a wry grin flit across his lips as he noticed that he hadn’t said he was planning on waiting behind either.