EPILOGUE

Ever since she was admitted to the hospital, Carrie used to spend most of the time sleeping. Her increasing weakness would only be beaten by the joy to see her two little boys and her daughter. The few hours the woman was awake were dedicated to them, and to her husband. For the first time in years, she could see in his eyes the old Jim to whom she got married and promised to dedicate her life.

The visiting hours were over for that Sunday and, after receiving kisses and hugs from her beloved ones, the housewife rested her head over her pillow and closed her eyes. She was tired. Very tired. And doubting she could ever overcome that disease. Maybe it was too late for her now. Maybe the damages to her organism were so much that a transplant wouldn't fix them anymore.

"When we met, I thought: whatever the problem with this lady is, I'm glad to see that God has blessed her with a beautiful family."

The sudden voice inside the hospital bedroom caused the woman to open her eyes. She knew who it was even before that, though. The only thing strange was that she hadn't heard anybody coming through the door, and the visit hours were already over. "Monica? I... I didn't hear you enter..."

With a warm smile upon her face, the Irish angel walked up to the bed and sat down at its edge. She wasn't wearing the casual clothes she would always wear. Now, a white dress that perfectly matched the curves of her small body made a contrast with the reddish brown hair that cascaded over her shoulders. Amazingly, Carrie felt that her anguish and fear diminished at the moment she lay her eyes on that kind young lady, who had helped her on the most difficult moment of her life.

Monica gently held her hand and squeezed it. "But I could hear your thoughts, Carrie."

The woman smiled weakly, "Sometimes I think you can really listen to what people think... You're so young and yet you seem to have the wisdom proper of those who have lived long..."

The Irish angel returned her smile, "I'm not as young as you think. But I'm happy I've lived long enough to be here today, before you, and deliver this message to you..."

Carrie blinked at the soft glow that surrounded Monica, and for a moment she wondered if that conversation was real. "Monica... I... I think the medication is playing tricks on my eyes..."

"This is not a trick, Carrie. What you see is real; I'm real. And so is God."

"God... You were right when you said God gave me a wonderful family... Even if I don't live enough to see my children grow, I'm sure they'll become wonderful people... Jim will take care of them. For the first time in my life I trust he'll be a good father."

"You both will be good parents to Jenny, Kevin and Brian. They will grow up happy and will give you beautiful grandchildren..."

"You're always so optimist... You never ever give up, Andrew told me that once."

Monica's smile grew wider and she held her assignment's hand in both of hers. "This is not optimism... This, Carrie, is the message I have for you. The message sent by God Himself..."

As her glow turned more intense, the expression on the woman's face became a confused and surprised one. "W-what's happening?"

"I'm an angel..."

"An angel?" she whispered, amazed with the image before her eyes.

"Yes. And so are Andrew and Tess."

Tears filled her eyes as she felt the sudden change in her organism: the pain and exhaustion had ceased for a few moments, allowing her to sense the peaceful atmosphere that involved the bedroom. "... things... were never so clear as they are now... Your coming into my life and everything that's happened later... the way you three helped us despite all my anger..." She gulped as a sudden thought crossed her mind. "Oh, my... Does Jim know that you're..."

"Yes... Our paths crossed a while ago, and he did something very, very wrong... At the moment I didn't fully understand why he was doing that to me, but when God gave me this assignment, everything became clear."

"H-he did something to you? Jim?"

"Yes. But I forgave him. To be fully honest with you, I had done something wrong too..." a hint of sadness crossed her brown eyes for a moment, at the memory of her turning her back on Andrew when he admitted his feelings for her, one night before Jim made her captive in his truck.

"Oh, my God... I'm terribly sorry! What did he do to you, Monica? Did he hit you? Did he hurt you, I-" The woman's disappointment at thinking that her husband had done something to harm that kind and gentle soul was visible in her eyes.

"Oh, no..." Monica quickly replied. "One day, he'll tell you this story, Carrie. And you will understand that his reasons, even though they were wrong, were typical of a desperate father and husband. But all that should be in the past, once he redeemed before God. You made him change. Your courage to face this illness, to fight for your life made him a better man."

"I wouldn't have this courage or recovered my faith in the human being if it wasn't for you, Monica..."

"You had this strength inside you, Carrie. I just helped you realize it..."

Carrie swallowed hard, afraid to make the next question. "Y-you said that... Jim and I are going to see our grandchildren?"

With a smile back on her face, the angel nodded her head. "That's why I'm here. God sent us to you so that we could help you recover your faith... Without your faith, the transplant that will save your life wouldn't happen."

"Save my life? So... I'll... I'll live?"

"Oh, yes, Carrie. A long and happy life, filled with the Father's blessings!" she happily announced.

Carrie conjoined her hands and closed her eyes for a moment, tears falling freely from her eyes. "Oh, my God... Thank You! Thank You, so much!"

"He wants you to know that He loves you very, very much, Carrie. And He wants you to never lose your faith again... In Him and in His children."

"I promise I won't! I promise!" she said, and then reached out to hold Monica, "Thank you too, Monica... I'm so grateful God sent me an angel, and even more grateful that this angel is you!"

X

A few weeks later...

"... welcome back, Mrs Parker..."

Dr Fogarty's voice was the first sound Carrie heard after the transplant. Slowly, she opened her eyes and saw him standing by the hospital bed, in the surgery center. He was still wearing a mask, but it was possible to read in his eyes the smile behind it. "The transplant is over now, and I have to inform you it was a success!"

The woman's eyes were immediately filled with tears at hearing the good news, evidencing her great emotion.

In the same hospital bedroom, but invisible to the human eye, Monica, Andrew and Tess watched as the doctor kept on talking to the woman. With his hand permanently wrapped around Monica's shoulder, Andrew looked down at her and smiled, not missing the tears forming in the corner of her beautiful brown pools.

"She'll be just fine, angel." he said, kissing the top of her head as she leaned over him, returning his warm embrace.

"Yes, she will! I can see a long and happy life for this lady and her family!" Tess added, with an expression of pure satisfaction at seeing one more assignment fulfilled with success by her charge and dearest friend.

"I'm so happy..." the Irish angel finally spoke, with emotion in her voice. Andrew and Tess exchanged a secret glance, both smiling and proud of their beloved angel girl.

"Oh, we can tell you are, baby! Though I always knew you'd do it!" the supervisor spoke, with all the certainty in the world.

Chuckling, Andrew nodded his head and caressed Monica's cheek, "Tess is right, angel. We always had a lot of faith in you!"

The Irish angel pulled away from his embrace just enough to look at them, and now a shy and grateful smile emerged from her weeping face. "I wouldn't have done it if it wasn't for you... For the courage and support you two gave me... For your wisdom, Tess... And for your love, Andrew..."

The smile on Tess' face grew wider, "Oh, baby, you're more than welcome!" she replied, visibly proud.

The angel of death also smiled. "Tess is right, baby. We only return all the love and affection you've always given us. You're our most precious blessing!"

"So are you to me..." Shedding new tears, Monica raised her head and grinned at him. And Andrew didn't think twice before bending his head and pressing his lips against hers, in a tiny but loving kiss. Tess' smile faded a little and the supervisor rolled her eyes with mock impatience. "Oh, Father..."

The couple of angels pulled away and chuckled once they saw the supervisor's face. Andrew wrapped another arm around Tess' shoulder and leaned to give her a kiss on the cheek too. "We love you too, Tess!" he teased.

On the following second, they were inside a red Cadillac, which slowly left the hospital parking lot and followed the road that led to the mountains. A dove flew by as the car disappeared in the horizon.

To be continued.