CHAPTER 12

Monica walked around the yard of the church, helping the volunteers pack up the remnants of the sale. Her heart was still incredibly heavy, for even though they had raised a good sum of money to help Carrie with medical bills, the couple had left here fighting. The whole purpose of this fundraising was to make them start to have faith in each other and now that goal seemed further away than ever before.

The little angel looked around for Andrew and spotted him helping the other men to carry the tables back into the church basement and she sighed. His presence beside her was such a great comfort, but right now there was work to be done.

Monica resumed packing up a few unsold items until she felt a firm grasp on her arm. Gasping, she was jerked around to face Jim's angry eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me Carrie had cancer?" The man demanded, his eyes glaring down at her.

Monica swallowed back her fear as she struggled to remain calm, "It wasn't in my place to tell you, Jim and she didn't tell me until today!"

"But you're an angel so you can't tell me you didn't know!"

She winced at his anger as she tensed her body to keep from trembling; she didn't want to show him that he frightened her, "I only knew because Andrew told me and I was working on getting Carrie to tell you and if you just hadn't gotten so angry today, maybe she wouldn't have told you like she did!"

"So this is my fault?" The man snapped, his grip tightening on her arm, "I thought angels were supposed to be helping people, but all you've done is make things an even bigger mess!"

"No, you're wrong," The little angel insisted, "Even though you told Andrew that you were going to try to do better by your family, you haven't done that. You've never turned to God for help-."

"Why would I do that when his angels are such a disaster?"

"Let go of her."

Andrew's strong voice and his firm hand on Jim's arm caused them both to look at the blonde angel of death. Relief was written on Monica's face; annoyance on Jim's. But what the little angel couldn't miss was the fury in Andrew's steely green eyes as they fixed on Jim's face. Jim immediately released his grip on Monica's arm and the young angel felt Andrew's arm circle her waist as he pulled her protectively to his side.

Andrew needed to take a moment to swallow down his anger. He had felt Monica's fear from where he had been in the basement of the church and had taken the steps two at a time to get back out to the yard to her. His first reaction to seeing the human gripping his angel's arm had been to punch the man squarely in the jaw. Being an angel though, he knew that was a line he should not cross, though unfortunately, it didn't make his desire any lesser.

"I wasn't doing nothin'." Jim growled, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jeans and lowering his eyes, finding it difficult to face the angel's furious gaze.

"Maybe not, but you have no right to touch her," Andrew's voice still held a bitter edge to it and he could still feel the rapid beating of Monica's heart.

"Well, then keep her from interfering in my life, Andrew, okay? Ever since she first crossed my path she has caused me nothin' but trouble."

Though he could now feel the grief flowing from Monica's soul, Andrew didn't have time to respond before the little angel slipped out of his embrace with a whispered, "Excuse me" and a half-hearted smile. Andrew's heart plummeted, as he watched Monica quickly walk away, her feelings deeply hurt, her small shoulders drooping in sadness and defeat and the urge to punch this man in the mouth was again resurfacing.

"No," Andrew stated firmly, his anger barely restrained, "She has not caused you trouble, Jim, because your own stubborn pride has been taking care of that all by itself. Monica has been assigned to your wife by the Creator of the universe and she has been helping Carrie in more ways than you can see. Carrie now has the strength to face her cancer instead of sitting quietly at home, waiting to die. She now knows she has the finances to see a doctor, where before she knew that telling you she needed to see one would have placed you in financial stress." The angel's hands clenched and unclenched in an effort to control his temper, "It seems to me that everyone around you is afraid of upsetting you, but yet you don't seem to care whose feelings you stomp all over. But this isn't about you, Jim, and it isn't about your pride. It's about your wife and whether or not her cancer can be cured!"

"I'm not arguing that, Andrew! I'm angry because Monica never bothered to tell me Carrie had cancer in the first place!"

"It wasn't her job to tell you!" Andrew snapped back at him, "She's an angel, Jim, not an old family friend! If she weren't here, you still wouldn't have known because nothing would have changed for Carrie and she would still be harboring her secret; a secret that would eventually kill her! Then you would have had to face up to the fact that no one else is to blame!" He forced himself to lower his voice as he continued, "You frightened and hurt Monica the very first time you met her, but regardless of all that, she has come here at God's bidding and tried to help you and your family. So in no way has she deserved the way you've treated her, as because of Monica, you now have a starting place with your wife."

"Excuse me?"

Both man and angel turned to face an elderly, but distinguished gentleman who had approached them, "My name is Dr. Fogarty and I'm trying to speak to someone in charge; of either this event or who may know the family in question."

"Andrew," The angel extended his hand for the doctor to shake. Though his heart was aching to find Monica, the whispers to his heart were telling him to stay put for a little bit longer, "This is Jim, Carrie's husband."

"Perfect!" Dr. Fogarty smiled as he shook Jim's hand as well, "I spoke to a young lady earlier, with a beautiful Irish accent who told me all about your wife, Jim. I read about this event in the paper and it was just amazing how a community has come together to help one of their own."

Jim managed a weak smile, but remained silent, trying to gauge where this man was coming from.

"I want to take that caring just one step further, if you'll allow me," The doctor continued, "I work for the largest cancer center in the city and I would like to offer your wife a full assessment and treatment at no cost to your family."

Jim blinked, hardly able to believe what he was hearing. Carrie's treatment, if she could indeed be treated, could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and this man was offering it all… for nothing, "I…I don't know what to say…"

Dr. Fogarty handed Jim a card from his pocket, "Call my office tomorrow morning and just give your name. The receptionist will get Carrie set up with an appointment immediately. I look forward to getting to know you both and to helping your wife."

Jim remained speechless as the doctor walked away, the card still in his fingers. Carrie had a chance now and because of that, they, as a couple, had a chance as well.

"Your chance is possible because of Monica," Andrew stated, as if reading the man's thoughts, "Please, don't forget it again."

X

As soon as the angel of death departed from Jim, all he wanted to do was find Monica, but thankfully, he had an idea of where to start. Two days ago, the two angels had discovered a little stream down the hill from the church and Monica had been enchanted by the simple peace of the trickling water and the large rocks that they had perched on as they had planned today's event.

"I'm coming, Angel," Andrew murmured as he broke into a jog, heading down the hill to the little trail that would lead to the stream. Monica had been so full of excitement and hope the last time they had been there and he despised the fact that in a few hateful words, Jim had shattered everything she had done.

The little angel finally came into view and Andrew slowed down his pace. He could just see her up ahead; her face buried in her hands and though he couldn't hear her, he could just make out the trembling of her shoulders. She had always been such a dear, sensitive little soul and it angered Andrew that humans could be so cruel as to hurt one who only wanted happiness for everyone she met.

As he drew closer, he watched as Monica raised her head, having sensed his presence. Her reddened eyes and tear stained cheeks caused his heart to ache as she slid off the rock and like a lost child seeking comfort; she closed the distance between them.

"Andrew…oh Andrew…" She murmured on a sob as she felt strong arms draw her close.

"I'm here, Angel," He replied softly, cradling her close to his body and allowing her to weep softly for a moment, until he could bear it no longer. Pulling away, he cupped her face in his hands, "Listen to me. He's wrong. You have done nothing wrong, Angel; nothing at all. You have helped both he and Carrie and Jim will not be able to deny that much longer."

"I was only trying to help, Andrew…" Monica sobbed, her tears drifting down into his fingers, "I didn't mean to make more problems…I promise I didn't…"

"Baby, you're not hearing me," Andrew lowered his voice further, which forced her to calm somewhat in order to listen to his words, "You didn't make any problems for anyone and Jim was reacting to just finding out his wife has cancer. It was never your place to tell him, Angel and you know that. You did everything right, Monica and don't forget that the Father led you to do the things you did; the things you were supposed to do. In fact, you spoke with a man today about Carrie and as it turns out, he is a doctor who offered Jim an all expenses paid assessment and treatment for Carrie. Jim knows that it was you who led the doctor to him, so he can't deny what you've done to help him much longer."

"I don't want him to acknowledge that I've helped him, Andrew," The little angel whispered sadly, "I just want him to stop being so angry with me all the time. I don't understand it…I don't.."

"Shh. Baby, it's himself he's angry with, but he isn't yet willing to admit that, because it's so much easier for him to take that anger out on you. It's wrong; it's more wrong than anything else in this world, I think, but that's what he's doing. Don't let an angry man break your heart, angel, because your heart belongs with mine and I want it all in one piece."

Andrew watched tears pool in her eyes, as he tucked a loose wisp of hair behind her ear, kissed her forehead and then pulled her into his arms once more.

Monica held him tightly, feeling all his love for her, emulating from his heart, "I love you so much," She whispered fiercely, "So much it hurts sometimes."

"I understand completely, baby," He replied softly, "Because my heart hurt with its love for you when it felt the pain coming from your heart. I love you completely; Monica and I never want you to forget that."

"I won't. Not ever."