Prologue

"Monica's Promotion" - Part 1 of a series

        Written by: Erin

        Prologue

        Not a cloud was in sight as the large, red convertible drove quickly

        through the beautiful California town. The sun shone brightly down on the

        three friends gathered, chatting away, in the car as a gorgeous, snow

        white dove flew through the air and landed, cooing, on a high tree

        branch.

        Laughter was noticeably heard through the warm, summer air as the large

        car stopped at a red light, its driver shooting a sideways, teasing

        glance at the auburn-haired female beside her. A blindfold was wrapped

        securely around her eyes to prevent her from seeing what was going on

        around her.

        Shaking her head slightly and giving a roll of her large, brown eyes, the

        driver stepped on the gas as the light turned green and laughingly

        replied,

        "Angel Girl, are you ever going to stop squirming here? Geez, Monica,

        calm down...we're almost there, Baby."

        "Tess, I'm not known for my patience, you know?" the angel sighed

        impatiently as she planted her palms on the blindfold and softly patting

        it,

        "What do you and Andrew expect me to be after you two appeared out of

        nowhere, order that I get dressed very nicely, place a blindfold on me,

        plant me in the car and drive for nearly an hour? Wouldn't you be losing

        a wee bit of your patience, too?"

        His handsome face nearly red from laughing so hard, Andrew shook his

        blonde head and lightly patted his friend on the shoulder.

        "But, Monica, I thought by now you would have developed SOME patience,"

        he chuckled, removing his hand and folding his arms across the back of

        the Irish angel's seat and resting his chin on them,

        "Wouldn't you, sweetie? I mean...after seven years of casework, I would

        have thought you'd have some patience with us!"

        His green eyes twinkling, he watched as Tess once more shook her dark

        head, her beautifully curled brown-gray hair swinging about her

        shoulders.

        "You know, Angel Boy's got a point there, Miss Wings," she teasingly

        replied, pulling the red car into a parking space at the entrance to the

        Country Club, making sure to park in a shady spot, but with a beautiful

        view of the mountains and lush, green lawn that spread out far before

        them. Grinning mischievously, the supervisor shut the engine off and

        turned to face her squirming charge.

        "And speaking of patience, Angel Girl...we're here..." she began,

        unbuckling her seat belt and motioned for Andrew to help Monica out of

        the car. Opening the driver's side door, the angel climbed out of her

        cherished vehicle and headed toward her friends.

        Giggling, she reached a hand out and grabbed hold of Monica's right hand,

        while Andrew supported her with an arm wrapped tightly around her thin

        waist and the other holding her left hand gently.

        "Girl, you're shaking like a leaf!" Andrew burst out, chuckling slightly,

        "Monica...everything's okay. I've got you; you know that, right?"

        Pulling his friend closer to himself, Andrew rested his cheek on the

        crown of her head and kissed it lightly, glancing down at her.

        Without turning her head completely, the Irish angel allowed her face to

        spread into a wide smile and let out a giggle herself. "I know you do, my

        friend," she softly answered, squeezing her friend's hand tightly,

        "There's no doubt in my mind about that."

        "I'm glad, honey," he gently replied as Tess reached for the front door

        of the main lobby and opened it wide for her two charges. Carefully

        ushering his friend into the large, beautiful lobby, Andrew walked down

        the hall, with Tess on their heels, and immediately took a right,

        stopping in front of large, brass double doors.

        Still gripping the angel supportively and protectively, the Angel of

        Death gave a slight nod of his head to his supervisor, who immediately

        walked over to the doors and swung them open wide. Guiding the caseworker

        into the middle of the dark, silent room, Andrew suddenly stopped in his

        tracks and gently laid a hand on Monica's shoulder.

        "You ready?" he whispered in her ear, moving behind her to untie the dark

        blindfold from her eyes.

        "I've been ready for almost an hour, Andrew," the angel teased, giggling

        as she felt the blindfold come down from her brown eyes.

        As soon as she faced the room, though, several lights turned on all at

        once, gentle jazz music filled the air and dozens of familiar faces

        appeared before her...and a banner that hung in the very back of the room

        that read, "CONGRATULATIONS, MONICA!"

        Before she could take in all of her surroundings at once, a loud shout

        rang in her ears that nearly knocked her off her feet.

        "SURPRISE!!"