Chapter 10

        "...The slide show was beautiful, wasn't it, Tess?" Andrew whispered,

        leaning up against one of the food tables and taking a small sip of his

        Diet Coke. Moving his green eyes around the spacious room, the angel took

        in every area, every figure, every friend. Letting a small, sad grin play

        on his lips, Andrew blinked back tears as he spotted Monica talking to

        Taylor while drinking a hot cup of coffee.

        "That it was, Baby...that it was," the older angel agreed, leaning

        against the table beside her friend and taking a sip of her iced tea,

        "Sam did a beautiful job at it...although those songs really tugged at

        my heart. They sure do describe the three of us, don't they, Angel Boy?"

        Turning her brown eyes to her young charge, Tess watched as Andrew nodded

        his head slowly and lowered his eyes to the shiny floor, letting out a

        barely audible,

        "Yeah..."

        Tilting her head to the side, the supervisor gazed at her friend's

        handsome face and gently placed her arm around his shoulders, squeezing

        tightly,

        "You okay, Baby?"

        Quickly pulling his emotions together as he faced his older friend's

        loving, brown eyes, Andrew offered a small smile her way, but not before

        a few tears escaped from his green eyes,

        "I'm fine, Tess," he answered in a soft voice,

        "I guess...I guess my mind has been on everything that has occurred this

        afternoon...it's really going to happen, isn't it, Tess? After

        tonight..."

        Hearing her young friend's quiet words to her, Tess could no longer hold

        back her tears. Feeling them trickle down her chocolate-brown skin, the

        supervisor tightened her arm around Andrew and rested the side of her

        head against his, letting out a soft sigh,

        "Yes...it really will, Angel Baby. It will...and I want those last few

        hours with you and Monica to be special. Just like the last seven years

        have been special..."

        Resting his head on the top of his friend's head, the Angel of Death let

        out his own soft sigh and grew quiet as he listened intently to the start

        of a familiar, beautiful song playing through the ballroom. Allowing his

        tears to fall freely down his cheeks, Andrew lifted his head off of his

        supervisor's head and looked lovingly at her, holding his hand out.

        "Do you want to dance, Tess?"

        Her vision blurred as she stared up at the younger angel, Tess gave a

        quivering smile and softly grasped her friend's warm hand in both of

        hers, nodding,

        "I would love to, Angel Boy."

        Gently guiding the older angel out to the center of the spacious

        ballroom, Andrew turned around and took his friend in his arms, holding

        her as they swayed to the beautiful song. Tightening her strong arms

        around the Angel of Death's neck, Tess lightly patted her friend's soft

        shoulder as she raised her tear-filled eyes to the high ceiling, taking

        in every word of the familiar lyrics:

        "Remember Me This Way"

        Every now and then

        We find a special friend

        Who never lets us down.

        Who understands it all

        Reaches out each time we fall

        You're the best friend that I've found.

        I know you can't stay

        But part of you will never ever go away.

        Your heart will stay.

        (Chorus)

        I'll make a wish for you

        And hope it will come true.

        That life will just be kind

        To such a gentle mind.

        If you lose your way

        Think back on yesterday

        Remember me this way.

        Remember me this way.

        I don't need eyes to see

        The love you bring to me

        No matter where I go.

        And I know that you'll be there

        Forevermore, a part of me

        Wherever you are

        I'll always care.

        (Chorus)

        And I'll be right behind your shoulder watching you

        I'll be standing by your side in all you do.

        And I won't ever leave

        As long as you believe.

        Oh, just believe.

        (Chorus)

        Ooohh... This way.

        The song slowly coming to a close, Andrew stopped dancing and just stood

        holding onto his supervisor and friend, his mind taking in the lyrics

        that had just played around him and Tess. Burying his face into the

        angel's shoulder and gripping her waist tightly, Andrew let out a choked

        sob, like a young boy being separated from his mother.

        Gulping quietly, the young Angel of Death choked out,

        "I'm going to miss you, Tess...I'm really gonna miss you..."

        Ignoring everyone else around her, Tess rocked her friend in her arms,

        stroking his shiny, blonde hair as she sobbed herself,

        "I'll miss you, too, honey...and remember, Angel Boy. If you ever need me

        or a shoulder to lean or cry on, I'm always there for you, okay, Baby?"

        His shoulders shaking a bit, the angel whispered into his friend's soft

        shoulder, "I'll always remember, Tess...I'll never forget, I promise..."