CHAPTER 5

A new home

The apartment Andrew had called about was perfect; two bedrooms, a comfortable kitchen and cozy living room. It was just big enough, and just simple enough and what Andrew liked the best was the security man in the lobby. It made him feel better about keeping the little angel safe in the city.

The manager waited in the hallway while the two angels wandered through the apartment. It was furnished, which came as a great relief as money to buy furniture would take awhile. Yes, they would still need linens and sheets, pillows and blankets for the bed, as well as food for the kitchen, and though their funds were certainly not overflowing, Andrew knew there was enough to get them started.

The apartment was on the sixth floor, and he took Monica's hand and led her to one of the bedrooms and over to the window, "Look angel, right down there, the red brick building? That's the fire station." Pulling her gently in the direction of the second bedroom across the hall, he pointed again, "And that is the school where you have your interview tomorrow."

Her dark eyes danced as she looked up at him, "So close. Just a few blocks either way."

"I say we take it. What do you think?"

Monica frowned briefly, "But Andrew, I haven't gotten the job yet-."

A finger to her lips and a kiss upon her cheek silenced her, "You will."

She sighed. Andrew was always the one to reassure her; his gaze, either firm or tender, always managed to soothe her spirit and bring inner peace to her heart. With a slight smile, she finally nodded her head in agreement. "I guess we have to start thinking about the decor, then..."

Chuckling at that remark, he wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her closer to him. "Hum... and I guess I'll have to find a professional for this job!"

"Oh, well, I wouldn't charge you for that, you know..."

A mock pensive expression appeared on his face. "Hum... I'm not sure..."

Cheerful as always, and somewhat giving him the impression that she was really trying to convince him, she added. "I've got a wee bit of experience in that field, you see!"

Her hopeful gaze nearly undid him, and Andrew couldn't hold the "solemn" face any longer. "Okay, I guess I might give you a try!"

Standing on the tip of her toes, the Irish angel brushed a small kiss on his lips, making him more and more infatuated. "Thank you, Mr Andrew-" and then, before he could even reply, she frowned adorably. "What about your last name, Andrew?"

X

"Andrew Heaven!"

The man who worked in the personal department called out the name that was on the list, and one of the four man sitting on the waiting room rose to his feet. Andrew walked inside the small office and waited until the man who had called him took a seat behind the desk.

"G'morning, Andrew. I'm Gary Pryor."

"Nice to meet you, sir."

The chief of the fire department shook hands with him. Then, he indicated Andrew the other chair. "So I can see you've recently served in Salt Lake City, right?"

"Yes, sir, besides other places."

"This is good. We were in need of new people here as the number of emergency calls has increased lately."

The angel in human form nodded. He, more than anyone, knew that evil was always lurking around. "I can imagine."

"Sadly, the number of casualties increased too, and some of them are colleagues. Some of our best men have given their lives in order to save others and it's not easy to find people who are willing to risk themselves for those who they don't even know."

The man's words made him remember his beloved Monica, and Andrew was relieved that she wasn't there with him to hear such thing. The thought of losing each other had been haunting them for a long time, and now that they were in human form it was a much bigger threat.

"I'll sign in your admission after you go through the usual medical exams. As you're new here, you'll have to work some nights too."

Andrew's thoughts were again on Monica, and he could imagine the worried expression on her face when he told her she would have to spend the nights without him.

"You can work for ten hour days, and it will give you three days off." The man smiled for the first time. "You married?"

The question finally brought a slight smile to his face. "I'm... no, I'm not. But there is someone very special who I come home to every night."

"Yeah, I thought so just by the worried look in your face when I told you about the nights out!" the man joked. "Well, Andrew, if everything is alright with your exams you can start on Monday."

Two days. He and Monica had the weekend to start buying the necessary things for their new house, and in the mean time, he would have to put her heart at ease about his new job and its implications. After going through the medical exams, the blond angel left the fire station and walked for three blocks and waited outside the local nursery school, until one of its teachers came out of the building.

Her long auburn hair was tied up in a ponytail despite the fact that the wind had disarrayed some thin wisps, and she had a beautiful pair of sparkling brown eyes that would always capture his gaze and make his heart beat stronger. She was wearing a lavender dress with tiny flowers that went a bit bellow her knees and the smile upon her meek face told him that everything had gone just fine. Andrew didn't know how long he stood there, just admiring her in secret, but he was certain that it was a moment to keep in his mind like many others.

Andrew followed her until the nearest street in silence, with a permanent smile upon his face. She was waiting for the traffic light to turn green so that she could make the crossing and he stood right behind her, his voice reaching her ears a second later. "I guess I've seen a very cheerful little angel passing by just now!"

A broad smile appeared on her face as she quickly turned around to face him.

"Andrew!" the way she pronounced his name was always a joy to hear. A second later, she was wrapping her arms around his waist and receiving a loving embrace in return.

"I was told that there's a very beautiful teacher working at that school, and I came here to see if it's true!" he joked, kissing the top of her head, enjoying the sound of her giggling. He pulled away just a few inches to look at her and added. "But I guess the word 'beautiful' just doesn't do justice!"

"Did you speak to the chief of the fire department?" curiosity and anxiety were written on her face.

"Yep. And I'll start on Monday!" Andrew was smiling and tried to look the most confident as possible.

"Oh... I guess this is wonderful news then!" she too was trying hard to accept that, and had promised herself to trust that whatever happened to them, they would be in their Father's hands. "Actually, I guess I have some good news to give you too, you know?"

Chuckling at her sweet manners, he tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "Really?"

"I too start working on Monday!"

"I had no doubt you'd get this job, angel..." he stroked her cheek. "And I guess it leaves us with just a weekend to work on our new house!"

x

"I guess it's a wee bit to the left, Andrew..."

"Are you sure?"

"Y-yes..."

Monica and Andrew had spent two very busy days buying the necessary things for their new home and then tidying them up. Despite the fact that their apartment was already furnished, there were many other items to consider, including food and some small electrical appliances. Saturday had been busy and dedicated to shopping while the following Sunday was reserved to putting the things in their proper place.

And for the last twenty minutes, Andrew had patiently waited for his beloved angel girl to decide where she wanted to hang the beautiful picture they had just bought. The first time she laid her eyes on that vast field, covered with colourful flowers and under the blue sky and with the pond with crystalline waters, she insisted they should have it. She hadn't told him anything, but deep inside, Andrew knew why that view had enchanted her so much: it was the perfect portrait of their Home.

Even though patience to deal with such a complicated and yet fascinating little creature had never been a problem to him, Andrew was under the impression that he should intervene someway, as she had made him change the position of the picture for three times already.

"So I'll get the nails to hang it..."

"Wait!" she said, biting her lower lip and frowning.

"Erm... Monica..."

"Oh second thought... I think it looked better on the other wall, facing the door..."

Sighing deeply, he carefully placed the picture on the floor and against a third wall that hadn't been an option so far. Then, he walked over up to her and took her hands. Monica looked incredibly adorable to him, wearing blue jeans overalls and a white tank. Her hair was tied up in a haphazard ponytail and a few auburn whips were framing her meek Gaelic features, and Andrew wondered if he had just fallen in love again.

"I'm sorry..." the little angel quickly apologised, slightly embarrassed and aware that Andrew was being extremely patient with her. "I guess I'm a wee bit excited about our new home, perhaps because I never had a house of my own, you know..."

Chuckling, Andrew forgot how tired he was as her words amused him dearly. He took her hands to his lips. "Well, we do have a house of our own now, and I promise I'll put you in charge of the decoration, but right now, what do you think of us giving ourselves a break?"

Monica nodded her head in agreement. "I guess you're perfectly right, Andrew. And... to be honest, I'm quite hungry right now..."

"Good! Because I happen to have a little surprise for dinner and I guess it's time to call it a day."

"You're right again... I confess I'm tired and could use a shower right now. I'm afraid I'm not presentable..."

Andrew let go of her hands and pulled her closer to him by the waist. "You look just adorable to me, angel!"

"You would say that because you're a wee bit biased!" she replied, smiling at him, their faces only inches from each other.

"You can replace 'biased' for 'deeply in love', but still, it would be incorrect as anyone who looks at you can see how beautiful you are..."

He tucked the few loosen strands of hair behind her ear and their eyes slowly closed as a loving and languid kiss followed, silencing the two angels in human form for the next couple of minutes.