CHAPTER 2

Hand in hand, but invisible to the human eye, the couple of angels walked along the small town streets, located 50 miles from Utah. Its pretty and cozy houses, surrounded by green and colorful gardens, and the bucolic atmosphere of the place somewhat made them feel comfortable on Earth despite the latest events.

They spent some time in contemplative silence, watching as humans of all ages passed by, each with their own personal life story, probably yet to be touched by an angel someday. Their walk was eventually interrupted as they passed by a house with beautiful lilacs hanging over the white fences that surrounded its garden. Monica's eyes shone like a child's and with delicate fingertips, the angel touched the flowers petals while Andrew watched her; her love for God's creations had always charmed him. On the following second, the pretty little flower was in her hands and she was gently caressing it. And when Monica looked up at him, she was glad to see a slight smile on his face.

"I never gave you one of these," she spoke, offering him the delicate flower, and finally eliciting a full smile from him.

"It's almost as beautiful and graceful as you are, angel." With tenderness, he stroked her cheek and accepted the small gift.

"I know how hurt you are, my love… I can feel it and it hurts in me too. And I wish I could heal it but I don't have this power." She placed her hand over his heart. "But what I can do is pray with you… be with you whenever you need me, Andrew, so we can share this burden, the two of us."

Andrew stroked her cheek with tenderness. "You're wrong, my sweet angel. You do have this power. Don't you know that it's on the certainty of seeing you again that I hold on to when I have to face moments like these?"

Monica gave one step closer and held his hand in both of hers. "You were praying for the Father to show you a way to help stop those horrible crimes. I have faith He'll grant you this wish. And I'll pray to be able to help you."

He always knew that his Monica had a generous and loving heart, but still, he could not help loving her a bit more when those qualities were exposed. Andrew bent down and kissed her lips softly; it was a tender caress to replace the three loving words that he had spoken to her so many times before.

"Thank you, my angel." He whispered afterwards, resting his forehead against hers.

That sweet moment was only interrupted by some excited children's voices. The angels turned their eyes to the school bus to observe a group of three youngsters getting off the vehicle and rushing towards the gate of the house whose garden they had been admiring. Two boys and a little girl passed by Monica and Andrew and to their surprise, the blond five-year-old stopped before them, while her brothers called their mother from the gate.

"Hello…" she greeted, smiling at the two astonished angels that glowed in front of her.

Monica knelt before her so that they could be at the same level. "Hullo, wee one! Did you have fun at school today?"

The girl nodded her head, returning Monica's smile. "Yes!" then, she looked at Andrew and pointed at the small lilac in his hand. "It's my favorite flower!"

This time it was Andrew who stood on his knee and smiled at her. "Oh, yes? So I can tell you have really good taste!" Saying that, he deposited the flower in her hand.

"Thank you!"

Her brothers' voices called her attention and she looked back at her two new friends.

"You should go inside with your brothers, sweetheart." Monica spoke, caressing her cheek.

"And don't ever talk to strangers, okay?" Andrew added, the memories of the previous day still torturing his heart. It saddened Monica and she was thinking about the best way to comfort him. But the little girl standing before them, in her sweet innocence, surprised them once again.

"Oh, but you're not strangers. You're angels!"

Before they could reply, she rushed towards her brothers, who waited impatiently by the gate so that she could enter.

"Who were you talking to, Jane?" The older boy wanted to know, not very pleased with her little pause on the way home.

"To the angels, they like our garden!" she gladly informed.

"She was probably talking to the plants!" the other brother, who a little older than she was, spoke, shaking his head in disapproval.

"Isn't it amazing, Andrew?" Monica was happy to see that he was enchanted by that small incident.

"It is. And so was the fact that she had no doubt about who we are…" he said, nodding his head.

A sudden voice, quite familiar to them, was heard on the following second. "It's just a pity that it happens only at such a tender age."

Tess was standing next to them, also watching as the family went inside the house, now guided by their mother. The little girl still stopped by the door and looked at them, waving a joyful goodbye at the trio she could now see.

The angels waved back and when the door was closed, the supervisor spoke again. "But they soon start losing this ability, surrounded by a world of technology and individuality…"

"I'm afraid you are perfectly right, Tess. But one of my favorite free time activities is to visit small children and glow before them or whisper some loving words into their ears. Sometimes they think it's all a dream, but it always cheers them up!" The Irish angel spoke, not managing to hide her joy at that sweet memory.

As she received a slight caress on her cheek from her beloved Andrew, the supervisor kept on speaking.

"Oh, well, I'm glad you mentioned that, miss wings!" she made a short pause, not missing Andrew's affectionate gaze at her. "Hum… I think I cannot call you that anymore…"

Monica tilted her head and looked back at her dear friend with curiosity. "What do you mean, Tess?"

"The Clarks are your assignment, angel girl!" she finally announced. "The mom returned to work now that little Jane Clark, who you have just met, turned five last week. And she desperately needs someone to watch over them part time."

"Oh… it seems a lovely mission to accomplish then!"

"It does, doesn't it?" Tess placed her hand over her shoulder. "And the Father hasn't forgotten about what you've been through in your latest assignments, baby. Everyone deserves a break, even an angel."

Moved, the younger angel nodded her head with gratitude. "I won't forget to thank Him in my prayers, Tess."

"Neither will I." Andrew spoke, drawing her attention back at him. "So I know that while I'm away, you'll be safe."

Her heart melted at the sad but relieved way he said that and on the following instant, she wrapped her arms around his waist and feeling his own strong arms holding her tightly.

"You have to go, don't you?"

"I do. But the Father is so wonderful to me that he sent you Tess so I know I won't leave you alone."

"I don't think you ever would, Andrew." She closed her eyes for a moment, her heart sending his one another loving message through silence.

They soon pulled away and, now holding her face with both hands, the angel of death brought his lips to hers, in a brief loving kiss that would never be enough to demonstrate the grandiosity of the feelings that brought them together.

"I'll be with you soon, angel." He spoke, once they pulled away, and kissed her both hands.

"I will count every minute." She said, her eyes falling once again at the image of him walking away from her until he disappeared completely around the corner.

"You know that what he says is true, baby."

She turned two tearful eyes at her dear friend. "I know that, Tess. But it doesn't make it any less painful to watch him go. Especially now that I know how much suffering his heart is carrying. And not being able to comfort him is equally painful."

"I understand. But I can tell you that you'll be able to do it very soon, baby." Then she tried to cheer her friend up. "You two are not to be kept apart for a long time!"

A bittersweet smile finally graced Monica's face. "Thank you, Tess."

"Not for that, baby. Now come with me, I'll show you to your apartment!"

"My apartment?"

In only a matter of seconds, the two angels faded away from the city streets and reappeared inside a beautifully decorated living room, with windows open to a quiet street and curtains that danced slowly with the soft spring breeze. The sun was still shining inside and there were some plants benefiting from its rays.

"Here we are. I took the liberty to arrange things in here as you were away with Andrew."

A slight smile appeared on Monica's face as she slowly analyzed her surroundings. "Oh, Tess… It's lovely. Everything is just perfect."

Pleased to hear it, the supervisor kept on talking. "You'll stay here for the night while you are in your human form. And baby…" she placed a supportive hand over Monica's shoulder. "I can guarantee you that you'll be safe while you fulfill your assignment here on Earth."

Biting her lower lip, the Irish angel nodded her head. "Thank you, Tess. I'm… trying hard to let go all those terrible moments at the state prison. I know it'll take some time."

"It will, baby, and you've been doing a great job."

"Andrew… he's responsible for that."

"I have no doubt that he has helped you a lot, angel girl. But there's a great power inside this loving heart of yours that makes you strong too. And right now, your beloved angel is the one who needs you."

"I want so much to be able to help him, Tess. I love him so much."

The supervisor tried to smile. "Well, I have no doubt that you want to help, as well as I have no doubt you love that angel boy with all your heart! And it already gives him more strength that you can imagine to face this difficult mission."

Monica tilted her head and eyed the supervisor with tenderness. "Oh, Tess. I wish you could stay here."

"Oh, I'll show up once in a while, baby, don't worry!"

The smile on the Irish angel's face turned into a mischievous one. "I was thinking, you know… You are the first guest in my temporary home… Can I offer you some coffee?"

Rolling her eyes, Tess made a mock upset face. "Oh, Father, give me some patience!