CHAPTER 15

When dinner time arrived, Monica felt an inch of relief as Sheila was no longer there to harass her. Truth to be told, she feared for her petite human form and was also afraid of the evil shining in the woman's eyes. Even so, the angel lifted her prayers asking God to send one of His messengers to bring some light to such a tormented soul.

Quietly as usual, Monica took a tray with food and went to sit at the last table in the row, hoping that soon Abby would join her. And it didn't take too long before the inmate showed up. However, when Monica looked at her she saw a worried frown over Abby's face, and somewhat she felt as if her assignment was staring at her with fear.

"Abby?" she spoke, as the young woman stood still in front of her, uncertain if it was alright to sit at the same table as the other inmate. "Is there something wrong?"

"N-no... nothing wrong, Monica..." she answered, and finally took a seat across from her. But the Irish angel was worried about the way she kept avoiding eye contact and her lack of words during dinner time. Once she was over, Abby took her tray and excused herself, but before she could leave, Monica lay a gentle hand over her arm.

"Abby? Did something happen today? I can see there is something that is clearly upsetting you, but I'm not sure what..." Monica spoke, trying to see past the invisible barrier that the woman managed to build between herself and the world. She thought she had broken through this barrier.

The young inmate stared at the angel standing before her with uncertainty. She didn't know what to think. She didn't even know what she had seen down in the patio a few hours earlier. But whatever it was, it was real. "No... I'm... I guess I'm just tired... that's all..."

"What did Andrew tell you?"

"He..." she was going to answer to that question, but then changed her mind."Don't you know?"

"No, he hasn't told me anything about it yet..."

After a few moments of silence, Abby finally asked the question that was troubling her. "I saw Andrew..."

"I know, you were telling me how hopeful you were that he could locate your young boy and-"

"I saw him in the patio, at the moment Sheila was beating you up... or at least trying to." She spoke, now staring at Monica as if trying to solve a mystery, and not missing the surprise at her friend's face. "Who are you, Monica? Who... is Andrew?"

The Irish angel was confused at first, but something inside her was telling her it was an important moment for her and her assignment. She let out a sigh and looked the young woman in the eye. "Please, don't be afraid..."

"Don't ask me that, Monica... I know what I saw today... Andrew was standing among us all and no one saw him, except you..."

"Andrew and I... and Tess... We're angels..."

The beautiful sparkle that surrounded Monica grew intense and she was suddenly no longer an inmate in a state prison. She was a messenger of God.

"Angels?" Abby whispered, more to herself than to Monica. She sat back at the worn wooden bench in shock, now having trouble believing what was going on there.

Her friend nodded her head, and the expression on her face didn't leave space for doubts about her angelic nature. Monica's smile was kind and the look in her eyes, a compassionate one. An atmosphere of peace filled the small space where the two were now sitting, and even the other inmates could feel it, even though they could not see what Abby could.

"And although it took me a while to realize it, I'm here with an assignment, Abigail Kopka. I was sent here because an innocent woman was paying for a crime she didn't commit."

Tears rolled down the woman's face, and she covered her mouth trying to stifle a sob. "God? He knows me?"

"Oh, yes. He saw your tears, and heard your prayers. And He is watching over you and your wee boy, so put your trust on Him. That's... that's what many forget, at the most difficult hour. Sometimes even angels."

"My boy? How is he? How is Corey?"

Monica reached over the table for her hand. "Let me tell you a little about what's been whispered into my heart..."

X

"Angel?"

Monica looked up from where her head rested against his chest and sighed. Two more months had dragged by and the little angel was certain this was the longest assignment she had ever endured. She didn't often think of "enduring" her assignments as she generally enjoyed them immensely, but this one had been different. Though her tears had dried, they had been replaced with an ache in her heart and soul that at times felt physical and there were moments when she was convinced if she had to make it through one more day in the prison, she would surely go and sit in a corner and scream.

Now, the day she had been waiting for was finally at hand; tomorrow morning was the trial and though she had longed for this day for weeks, now that it was nearly here, it was all she could do to keep from throwing up.

"You should be asleep by now, Angel," Andrew whispered, as his hand stroked her long auburn hair.

"I think I'm too nervous to sleep," Monica replied back softly, "Tomorrow we find out if this assignment is over or not and..."

"I know how much you want it to be over, baby," He squeezed her tightly as he felt a shudder go through her body, "I want that too and we have to believe that the Father does as well." Andrew had grown to hate seeing her in here and he missed the sparkle that was now lacking from her dark eyes. As the weeks had passed, he had only grown more concerned as Monica had seemed to retreat within herself at times, as if that was the only way she could exist here a moment longer.

If she was set free tomorrow, he was going to make sure that tomorrow night she slept with him under the stars to awake to the sunshine on her face. Maybe then, he would see the spark in her brown pools return.

The little angel was quiet for a long moment and when she finally did speak again, Andrew had to strain to hear her, "What if that isn't what the Father wants? What if I still have to stay here? Andrew, I know there are other women here who could probably use an angel, but I'm just not sure I can do it. Maybe He wants me to be here until I can be here with a grateful heart, but I don't know if I can do that here, Andrew. You know I usually am able to, but here..."

A tender finger to her lips silenced her anxiety, "Angel, don't borrow trouble. Tomorrow will take care of itself, but I want you only thinking good thoughts tonight."

As she nodded her head, Andrew watched with just a touch of amusement as she closed her eyes and tried to relax. A moment later, a look of panic flitted across her face and she closed her eyes even more tightly and then took a deep breath. A second later, she opened her eyes again on a tiny pout, "I can't, Andrew. I'm too afraid."

He understood all too well as he was battling his own demons about tomorrow. As far as he knew Gwen Matthews would still be testifying against the little angel tomorrow and he didn't know if he would be able to catch the woman in any of her lies. Andrew just kept praying that something good would happen tomorrow as he didn't know how on earth Monica or himself for that matter, could handle the jury finding Monica guilty.

"All right then," Brushing his lips against her forehead, Andrew became her distraction, "Where do you think you'd like to go first tomorrow once you are released? Wait, let me rephrase that. Where would you like me to take you first tomorrow after you are released?"

A little smile crossed her delicate though weary features as she closed her eyes, "The cabin. I want to lie in your arms outside on the hammock and watch the sunset and then I want you to teach me more about the stars, while we listen to the crickets sing. I want to sleep out there, Andrew, and then right before the sun rises, I'd like to go to the ocean, to watch the sun rise over the sea..." Her voice trailed off for a moment and it was obvious she was fighting to keep control of her emotions, "Do you suppose that would be all right?"

As he watched a lonely tear run across her cheek, he closed his own eyes, feeling her pain deep in his heart, "Yes, my angel, I think that would be more than all right. What would be your favourite part of all of that, baby?" Andrew wanted to keep her talking; wanted to keep her thoughts away from the trial.

"My favourite? Sharing it all with you."

His heart ached pleasantly with her sweet words, as he cupped her chin to look into her eyes, "Have I told you tonight just how much I love you? Have I told you that to me, you are every sunset, every sunrise, every star in the sky, Monica?" Inching down, he touched his lips to hers briefly, "For though all those things are beautiful and some of God's greatest creations, they can't hold a candle to you, my angel."

Her soft, brown eyes met with his, and though there was so much sadness in them, he could so clearly see her deep love for him, "Andrew, I don't think I could have survived these last four months had you not been here every night and you've been so patient with me. I know I haven't made your job easy for you because I've been upset a lot, but still you were here every night on top of performing your other duties."

"Monica, you have been my most special assignment of all assignments in my existence, and it has nothing to do with patience. It has to do with loving you so much, and understanding how terrible this has all been for you. Baby, I've been here every night because it is impossible for me to stay away from you."

Her eyes welled up with tears at his words, knowing she would never grow tired of hearing them, "I love you so deeply, Andrew. Do you suppose...do you suppose that if for some reason, I don't get out of here anytime soon...do you think the Father would still let us get married...here?"

Her words made him want to laugh and cry simultaneously as he cupped her cheek in his hand, "Baby, nothing will keep that from happening."

"Do you promise? I feel like I've waited an eternity for tomorrow, so that you and I can begin our forever and if something goes wrong, I still want our forever, even if it isn't going to be exactly the way I've imagined it. I just want to be joined with you as one, because you are already such a part of me."

"I do promise, sweetheart and don't you stop imagining it exactly the way it is supposed to be, okay? Because I am going to make sure it is perfect."

Snuggling down into his arms again, the little angel rested her ear over his heart, the steady beat soothing her, "Tell me."

As she drifted off to sleep, all Monica was aware of was Andrew's voice in her ear, tenderly telling her all about the day they would be wed, and how perfect it would be. Her last waking thought was that surely he was able to see inside of her heart, because his words were exactly the way she had been imagining that special day.