CHAPTER 2

She didn’t notice Andrew move up behind her as she was paying for the card, and she nearly jumped over the counter when he placed his hand against her back to guide her out of the store. He instantly pulled his hand back and moved it to her arm.

"Monica, it’s just me," he wanted to kick himself for sneaking up behind her.

He watched as she forced a smile and took hold of his hand. "Sorry about that. Just a little jumpy I guess."

"Any particular reason?" he asked, hoping that he wasn’t forcing her into another trip down memory lane.

She scanned the area as they walked out of the store, looking for the man who had showed her Faith’s picture. He seemed to have disappeared. "Actually, yes… there was a man…"

Andrew’s protective instincts kicked into overdrive. "Man? Where? What did he do to you?" The edge in his voice was unmistakable and Monica smiled, remembering again all the reasons why he was her dearest friend.

"Inside the store, but he didn’t do anything except show me a picture." Andrew led her to a bench as he waited for her to continue. "It was a picture of a little girl, Andrew. Her name’s Faith and he said that she was kidnapped months ago."

The blond angel found some of his earlier doubt beginning to fade, but it was replaced with questions. "You think she’s the little girl you saw."

Monica noticed that he didn’t say ‘the little girl you think you saw’, and she knew that he was starting to come around to her way of thinking. "I don’t know for sure, but don’t you think it’s a very big coincidence?"

"But if she was kidnapped, what is she doing out in the middle of the woods all by herself."

She shook her head, unable to think of a reasonable explanation. "I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense. I just hope that Tess is able to find her. Maybe then we’ll get some answers."

"If it is her, maybe that’s Tess’ assignment… to reunite her with her family." He caught the troubled look that passed over Monica’s face as soon as those words left his mouth. "What is it?"

"I…" she sighed, knowing that her next words would sound horrible. "I don’t think I want them reunited."

Andrew looked at her with surprise. "Why not?" Usually she was the first one to want to see a happy ending with everyone together.

"He just didn’t seem… right."

"Right?"

Monica shrugged. "I wish I had a better word for it. He made me uncomfortable."

She didn’t have to say another word. Andrew could count on one hand the number of people who had made Monica uncomfortable in the past. She had ended up being right about every one of them. Suddenly Tess’ little refresher assignment didn’t seem quite so little anymore.

*****

Andrew expected Monica to be quiet on the ride back to the cottage, but instead she filled the air with chatter, asking him if he had noticed this or that in the town, and telling him about the other places she wanted to visit. They had only managed to work their way down the main street, and she wanted to venture onto nearly every side street. Apparently her eyes had picked up interesting shop signs and points of interest that his male eyes had skimmed right over.

As they approached the cottage, however, she grew more and more silent, and Andrew glanced over to see her looking out into the woods as if she thought that the little girl would run into view. He wasn’t sure whether to hope that Tess had found her, for now he was sure that Monica had been right about seeing her, or to hope that she hadn’t. Tess was a very straightforward sort of angel. If she knew that Faith had a father looking for her there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that she would consider it her duty to bring the two of them together. After seeing the look on Monica’s face when she spoke about him, Andrew was inclined to think that maybe things weren’t so simple.

The road curved and twisted as it climbed upwards towards the top of the mountain, cutting a narrow path through trees that grew so close they formed an archway overhead. It was beautiful country, filled with the wonders of God’s creation, but it was clear that Monica wasn’t seeing any of them.

"Monica?"

"Mmm-hmm?" She wasn’t really paying attention and he settled a hand on her knee and waited for her to turn towards him.

"You’re thinking too much, Angel."

She smirked at him and gave him a little punch on the arm. "Am not."

"Are too, and don’t make me tickle you to keep you from saying ‘am not’." He looked at her out of the corner of his eye and saw her press her lips together. "I know the way you are. You’re worrying. You’re thinking three steps ahead and we don’t even know for certain that what you saw was a little girl, never mind a little girl named Faith."

"Andrew, you already told me that you think I’m right about the little girl and about her being Faith. It’s a little late to back out now."

"All right. Fine… but that doesn’t mean that you need to be worrying already. This is Tess’ assignment, remember? I think we need to let her handle it. The Father gave us this break for a reason. We’ve been working really hard… you’ve been working really hard. You need to relax and get your bearings again."

"Yes, but I can’t just forget about Faith. What if Tess doesn’t find her?"

"Then she’ll look again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, until God tells her to do otherwise. He’ll take care of it, Angel."

She sighed. "I know, but it’s awfully hard to just drop everything and go on vacation."

Andrew laughed. "I think we’ve had assignments who thought the same way until you taught them differently. If we’re needed, Tess will let us know."

She turned in her seat to face him and smile. "You’re right. She will. So… now that we’re on vacation, I guess we’ll be spending a lot more time in town. Did you know there’s a place where you can paint your own pottery, and another place that rents bicycles? We could ride all around the country."

Andrew quickly turned a slightly overwhelmed expression into a smile. If Monica was an angel with an itinerary then he would be the one to follow it to the letter. "Sounds like a plan, Monica. You can work on a list of things to do and tomorrow we’ll start checking them off."

The Irish angel leaned back into her seat, satisfied and happy. "And then tomorrow night I’ll work on a new list!"

*****

"Hello? Is anyone out here? C’mon out… I’m not going to hurt you…" Tess was tromping through the woods and calling out much the way a person would call out to their wayward dog. Unfortunately it was having about as much effect.

She got more and more annoyed and frustrated the further into the woods she walked. "You know, Father, I know I’m supposed to be working on my own here, but a little guidance right now would be great," she muttered under her breath.

Tess hadn’t ended up getting directions to the ramshackle cabin from Andrew so she was both surprised and relieved when she stumbled onto it just five minutes later. "Thank you Father," she said with a grin.

She walked up to the front door and knocked loudly. "Hello? Anyone home?"

She ended up abandoning the door and peering through the same window Andrew had looked through, and seeing the same scene. It made her knock harder. When she still got no answer she turned the doorknob slowly and gave it a gently shove. A shiver ran up her spine at the sound of rusty hinges and creaking wood.

"Hello?" she called again as she stepped inside.

She walked over to the sagging cot and gave it a pat, then stepped back as a puff of dust rose into the already stuffy air. None of the windows were open, and even in the relative cool of the forest, the hot sun had managed to heat the cabin to an uncomfortable temperature. She bent down and picked up the thin pink cotton sweater that lay next to the cot. Without even thinking about it she held it up to gauge the age of the girl it belonged to and then folded it neatly and placed it at the foot of the cot.

"Where are you?" she whispered, "and what in the world are you doing out here all alone?"

*****

Andrew didn’t miss the look of delight that appeared on Monica’s face when she realized that Tess had not yet returned to the cottage. He knew she was anxious to hear about the little girl, but not so anxious for any scolding that could occur over the use of her car without her begrudging consent.

"You didn’t seem nervous about what Tess would think before we left, angel," He teased gently as they walked in the front door.

"I feel like we’ve gotten away with something," She grinned impishly, looking like a naughty five-year-old who had gotten away with sneaking forbidden cookies from the cookie jar.

"Don’t be so sure of yourself, Miss Wings."

Andrew had to stifle a laugh as Tess walked in behind them, holding the flat bag that Monica had forgotten to bring in from the car. The little angel’s expression had gone from smug to something that resembled absolute guilt. Her jaw had dropped slightly and her eyes had widened as she stared at the tell tale bag in her supervisor’s hand and the blond angel could plainly see that it was all Tess could do to contain a smile at the youngest angel’s "deer in the headlights" expression.

"I think you forgot to cover your trail, baby," She continued, managing to keep a straight face, "The friend I believe this card is for should have taught you better."

Monica’s face flushed bright red, which Andrew found endearing and Tess found amusing, "Tess…We…I… it was my idea. I just wanted to pop into town for a wee bit for something to do, you know, as Andrew and I are on vacation and we didn’t so much as put a speck of dirt on it. I’m sorry, I should have waited to ask, and please don’t blame Andrew, he only went along as I begged him to and I promise to ask next time…"

Tess could hold it in no longer as a deep laugh emerged from her throat, causing Andrew to soon join in with his own laughter at Monica’s sheepish expression, "Oh Angel Girl, your face was a picture."

Monica tried to look indignant at their laughter at her expense, but a tiny grin soon formed, "So, you aren’t upset?"

"No, baby. I should know by now that I can trust you and Andrew with my baby," She didn’t miss the triumphant look on her charge’s face before she added, "Providing Andrew does the driving." Watching amusedly at the small pout that formed, she continued, "You enjoy watching the scenery more than the road, baby and your mouth sometimes moves quicker than your foot could ever get to the brake."

"Well, I suppose there is some truth to that," She admitted with a grin, "And as Andrew is quite content to watch the road and listen to me talk, it all works out quite well."

"That’s why the Father put you two together, Monica, so you didn’t bang up some poor unsuspecting angel with your driving, talking and gawking."

"Very poetic, Tess," Andrew remarked with a smile as he sat down next to Monica on the couch.

"Thank you, Andrew. So, yes, you two can use my car as you’d like while we are here as I won’t be needing it to tromp through God’s wild country that is full of creepy crawly things."

As if reminded that there was indeed an assignment involved, Monica sat up straight on the couch, "Did you find her?"

"No, as a matter of fact, I did not, but it does seem that it is a little girl. She left a pink sweater in the cabin, but after searching for her all afternoon, I couldn’t find a sign of her. I just hope she knows the woods well and hasn’t managed to get herself lost after a certain angel chased her." She raised her eyebrows in Monica’s direction, though her eyes twinkled with amusement.

"I only wanted to help her," There was a slight defensive edge to her voice and she felt Andrew rest his hand on her shoulder to calm her.

"Tess knows that, angel."

Andrew’s words along with Tess’ gentle smile, caused her to relax once more, "I think I heard and saw something in town related to your assignment."

"I’m listening," Tess took a seat in the chair across from the other two angels and waited patiently.

"There was a man; the girl’s father and he was asking people if they had seen his daughter who was kidnapped in April. He had a picture of her and he said her name is Faith." She stated slowly and Andrew glanced over at her, wondering why she seemed to be measuring her words.

"Seems a bit too strong for coincidence," Tess remarked thoughtfully, "The poor man must be worried sick."

He waited for Monica to continue and was stunned when she simply nodded her head as if agreeing, which contradicted everything she had told him earlier about this man. It wasn’t at all like her to withhold her feelings or hunches, and he was struck by the thought that she was doubting what she had felt when speaking with Faith’s father. That wasn’t like her and he didn’t like it.

"So what happens now?" Monica’s soft voice interrupted his thoughts, though he placed his observations on a mental shelf until he could later confront her.

"I suppose I’ll need to search again in the morning," She grumbled softly as she rose to her feet, "But for right now, I’m forgetting about ticks and bugs and am going to start on dinner."

As Tess departed, Monica rose to her feet as well, "I’ll be back."

Andrew looked completely startled by her announcement, furthering his concern, "What? Where are you going?"

"Just for a walk. I won’t be long."

"Do you want company?" He didn’t want her going alone and he wanted to find out why she had withheld information about the man in town, but she shook her head with a slight smile.

"I’ll be fine."

As she hurried out the door and down the dock, he sighed heavily as he walked over to the window to watch until she vanished from sight. The little angel was a complex creature and one he wasn’t entirely sure he would ever completely figure out. But he was willing to spend the rest of eternity trying.