CHAPTER 2

The ski station restaurant was crowded with tourists at that time of the day. From entire families who were spending the holidays together to couples enjoying their honeymoon trip, everybody was clearly having some good time in the resorts up in the mountain. The day was cold, yet beautiful, with no clouds up in the sky, and Andrew picked the table next to the window so that his Monica could enjoy the view. For him, however, there was no better picture than his beloved angel girl's face and her warm smile at him.

Lunch time was the best time in weeks for Andrew, and although his permanent concern still lingered in his heart, Monica's presence was like a breath of fresh air to him. Maybe a present from the Father to alleviate some of the pain the blond angel was feeling inside.

"The mountains are amazing! Look at them all covered with snow... So grand... so powerful..."

Andrew managed a short smile and covered her hand with his, "They're very beautiful, yes..." he said, with a low voice.

"Andrew?" she eyed him questioningly.

"Well... I... I think the mountains are beautiful but some of God's creations are... just so gorgeous that I'm unable to look at some place else..." he replied, looking deep inside her brown pools.

Monica enlaced her fingers with his own, aware that there was something else going on inside his heart. "I'm here for you... all the time, and whenever you feel like talking."

He took her hand to his lips. "I know, baby. Just the fact that you are here is enough to cheer my heart up."

Andrew knew that sooner or later he would tell her about what was troubling him: death was surrounding those mountains, making them less beautiful than she could ever imagine. But it had to be later, right now he planned to enjoy the rest of the day with the little Irish angel. They were soon engaged in a light conversation and before they realized it, Andrew was already asking for the bill.

Hand in hand, the couple of angels left the restaurant and strolled around up to an area with a frozen lake, where many children and teenagers were practising ice skating. "We have to try it again, Andrew! Maybe when your assignment here is over?"

"I promise you that, angel!" He said, placing his hands on her both shoulders and kissing the top of her head. There was a coffee shop nearby and he knew that Monica had spotted it at the moment they'd arrived there. "I guess someone here would like a cup of coffee..."

Monica turned her head to look up at him, "Isn't it wonderful to have someone who knows exactly what we like?"

Chuckling, he kissed her cheek. "I'll be right back, sweetie."

Monica watched as he left the ice skating area with her eyes filled with tenderness. There was something bothering him deeply, and she would find out what it was. She would do anything for him, and when he was hurting inside, she could feel it too, as now their hearts were forever connected, beating in the same rhythm.

As she turned her eyes back to the ice skating rink, a slight smile broke on her face. Children were having a real fun with their parents and friends, and the little angel enjoyed to see those moments of happiness between humans. Yet, some moments later, Monica spotted a lonely little girl sitting a bit away from the other children. She was around seven, had curly blond hair and was wearing pink clothes.

Frowning with concern, Monica took a look at the coffee shop, trying to spot Andrew, but as she didn't see him, the angel decided to come closer to the child and check what was going on.

"Hullo?" She offered, looking at the little girl with curiosity. It didn't take her too long to realize she was crying.

"Hi..." came the whispered answer.

Monica kneeled in front of her, so that the two could be in the same level. "What happened, sweetie? Why are you crying?"

"I got lost..." she said.

"You got lost from your parents?"

The girl bit her lip and nodded her head.

Moved with the situation, the Irish angel reached out and caressed her hair, "But you don't need to cry, sweetie. You'll find your mom and dad, they're here at this resort, aren't they?"

"Yes... But I kinda moved away from them cuz I wanted to see the frozen lake."

"Oh, I understand... Well, where did you see your mom and dad for the last time?"

"Over there..." she pointed to the resorts, which were far from the ice skating rink. That's when Andrew came along towards them.

"Angel?" he spoke, with a questioning face.

"I'm afraid I found an unexpected wee assignment here, Andrew..." Monica quickly informed, and then turned to the girl, "What's your name, sweetie?"

"Sarah..."

"That's a lovely name... I'm Monica, and this is my friend, Andrew..."

"Hey, Sarah! It's nice to meet you!"

"Will you help me to find my mom and dad?" she wanted to know, with hopeful eyes, and not missing the monogram of the ski patrollers on Andrew's coat.

"Of course we will, sweetie!" he replied, patting her head, and feeling sorry for her. "What about going back to the hotel?"

Monica thought for a few moments. "Well... I guess that her parents are looking for her right now, so if we move from here, maybe they'll take more time to find us." She said, "But maybe if you phone the resorts and inform that we found wee Sarah they can get here faster..."

"I'll do that right now, angel. You stay here, ok?"

"Okay..."

He pecked Monica's lips and left the ice skating rink in a hurry. The Irish angel, for herself, sat down next to Sarah and wrapped her arm around her little shoulders, "Shh... don't cry, wee one... We'll find your parents..."

X

It didn't take less than ten minutes for Andrew to get in touch with all the nearby resorts and inform what was going on. Yet, when he returned to the same spot where he'd left Monica, a happy image of a little girl playing with a beautiful Siberian husky was what he saw. Sarah's parents were watching closely as their daughter played with the animal, and so was his beloved Monica.

"I talked with three different resorts and managed to find Sarah's parents in the last one, and left a message with the hotel attendants, but now I'm glad to see things solved faster than we thought!" the blond angel said, joining the group.

With a cheerful smile, Monica reached for his hand and turned to the couple, "Mr and Mrs Cooper, this is my friend Andrew."

"It's very nice to meet you, Andrew," the little girl's father said, he and his wife shaking hands with him.

"We'll be eternally grateful for what you and Monica did for our Sarah." Mrs Cooper added.

"Please don't thank us. We're glad you both found her."

"Oh, actually, it was somebody else who did it, Andrew!" Monica spoke, with slight amusement. Then, watching the questioning expression on her face, she looked away, at the little girl and her dog, "Bailey brought Mr and Mrs Cooper to her!"

A small laughter escaped him, "Bailey?"

"I'd say he'd make a very good ski patroller!"

"Bailey always finds me, since he was a puppy!" Sarah intervened, "He's my best friend!"

Giggling, Monica reached out and petted the animals head, who immediately wagged his tail, "He is such a good boy!"

The animal barked friendly, as if agreeing with the Irish angel's words, and causing them to laugh. Some time later, the couple of angels bid the Coopers farewell and, always holding hands, went back to the resort where Andrew was staying at.

The rest of the day flowed easily and with no other incidents. They chatted for hours or merely stared at each other's eyes, exchanging some loving kisses when nobody was looking. In a loving embrace, Monica and Andrew watched the sunset behind those impressive mountains, with their tops permanently covered with a white layer of snow.

When the night fell, the angelic couple ordered a romantic dinner, but this time they stayed in his own room, and together with the food came a beautiful red rose.

"To my beautiful angel. I love you," said the small card that came along with the flower.

The way she looked at him once he gave her the rose made his heart ache with so much love. But the little Irish angel had this unique ability to speak volumes to his heart with that simple gesture. "I love you so much, Andrew..." she spoke, gently caressing his handsome face after the hotel service had left, "... that sometimes I'm scared, you know..."

"Scared?" he covered her hand with his and kissed her palm.

"Yes... this love is so part of me right now that... if someday I lose it, I'm afraid I won't have the strength to exist..."

Deeply moved, he pulled her in his arms and held her tightly, "Angel... My beautiful Monica... You'll never ever lose me, baby. This is what we were meant to be since our Father created us: together. And nothing can put us away because what brought us together was the most noble and beautiful feeling... I love you, Monica. And this love is forever."

"I know..." she let out a small sob, while a lonely tear rolled down her cheek, "... but I'm always happy that you're here to tell me that."

Smiling, he pulled away and gently framed her face with both hands, "I have no intention to leave for the next thousand years... And for the ones after these!"

Andrew bent his head and his lips brushed on hers very lightly at first, and then a soulful kiss sealed those loving promises.

X

"... what time do you have to start work tomorrow, Andrew?" Monica asked, clearly almost falling asleep, lulled by the soft caressed Andrew was performing in her long auburn hair. She was comfortably lying in his arms, with just the bedside lamp on, creating a cozy atmosphere for both angels.

Never ceasing the soft movement, he kissed her temple, "At seven."

"Any special mission early in the morning?"

"I don't think so, angel..." he spoke, not really wanting to talk about that issue, "But you should sleep right now, okay? You're off to a new assignment tomorrow too, and need to rest as much as you can."

"I'll carry you in my heart, Andrew..." came the sleepy reply, and it caused him to chuckle: she was certainly asleep already, but it didn't stop her from thinking about him.

"Me too, angel... Always..."

He brushed a loving kiss on her forehead, and spent long hours just contemplating her pretty face resting on his chest. "Thank you, Father, for this day. Whenever I feel tired and sadness starts to take my heart, You send me my best blessing to remind me of what love is... and that my assignment is a labor of love..."