Chapter 3

“Do what, Denise?” Monica asked softly, trying her best to be patient with her caseworker, the same way that Tess had always been patient with her.

“He DIED, Monica!  Stevie died!” There was no remorse in Denise’s eyes, only anger as she continued glaring at her supervisor.

“What?” Monica cried out, unable to believe what she was hearing.  Though this kind of information coming from Denise was nothing new, the Irish-tongued angel was still horrified every time it happened,

“What do you mean, he died?  There was nothing the matter with him!” Noticing that Andrew had slid carefully out of the booth, Monica rose to her feet to face her charge.

“He ran out in front of a car!  I was trying to reveal myself to him and he got scared and ran!  Why do you keep doing this to me?” Denise demanded, stomping her foot to make her point.

“You weren’t supposed to reveal yourself to him yet, Denise!  You knew that!  He was only 8 years old; of course it could frighten him if an angel suddenly appeared!  Did the Father instruct you to do that, because He never told me?” Monica’s heart was pounding so loudly, she was sure everyone in the diner could hear it, as she continued to face the hatred that was in Denise’s eyes.

“Beings your way and God’s way hasn’t worked any other time, I thought I’d try it my way for a change!” Denise snapped back at her,

“You want me to fail, Monica!  Why else would this keep happening to me?”

“Denise, that isn’t true,” Monica replied, trying to lower her voice to make it more soothing,

“You know that isn’t true.”

“Don’t you talk to me about truth!  The Father had no idea of what he was doing when he made you a supervisor!  I’m not even sure I can imagine you as a very good caseworker!  You’re a horrible supervisor and I’m stuck with you because they won’t allow me to transfer to another one!  I know because I’ve already asked!”

Andrew watched the exchange before him, now feeling truly afraid for his friend.  It was all he could do to keep his mouth shut while this young, belligerent caseworker berated his best friend, but he didn’t want to step on Monica’s toes with this.  In all his years of being an angel, he had never heard one angel speak to their supervisor the way Denise was speaking to Monica now.  As that thought crossed his mind, Andrew sucked in a deep breath…oh yes, there had been one other time that he had been aware of…

“Denise, please,” Monica once again tried to calm her charge, but her attempts were futile as Denise cut her off again.

“Save it, Monica!  I’m taking the rest of the day off,” Denise informed her, as she turned on her heel,

“I’ll see you later.”

Monica hung her head as Denise left the diner.  She had wished that the floor had opened up and swallowed her while her charge was saying all of those horrible things about her in front of Andrew.  Her cheeks were warm with shame as tears once again filled her brown eyes.

Andrew regarded her in silence for a moment.  He could tell this was tearing her up inside as he moved around to stand in front of her.

“I’m sorry you had to hear all of that,” She offered, not looking at him.

Andrew gently took her face into his hands and raised her head so that their eyes met.  He could see the shame and confusion her dark eyes and he longed to take it all way from her,

“Monica, what is going on?” He asked softly, watching as she struggled with her emotions.

The gentle, loving look in Andrew’s eyes caused tears to slip onto her cheeks,

“I don’t know, Andrew,” She whispered, her voice barely audible,

“All I know right now is that I have to go and talk to Stevie’s parents and try to make them understand…” Her voice trailed off, having no idea how she could do this again.

“How long has this been going on, sweetheart?” Andrew asked as he swiped at the tears on her cheeks with this thumbs, his eyes never leaving hers.

“Too long,” She replied, her voice catching in a sob that she tried to choke back.

He was quiet for a moment, considering his options in this,

“I’m not leaving.” He said finally, his heart telling him that this situation was getting dangerous and that his friend’s emotional well being as well as her safety was in jeopardy.

Monica shook her head as she pulled away from him, catching his hands up in her own,

“Yes, Andrew, you are.  I love you for wanting to stay, but this is my problem and I have to find a way to fix it.  You have your own work to do and I can’t go running to you for help every time something goes wrong.  Tess never did that with me.”

“Monica, you never acted that way,” Andrew argued gently,

“I’m afraid for you, sweetie.  I don’t like what I just saw happen here and I don’t like what I see happening to you.”

“I’ll be alright, my friend.  I promise I will be.  Please Andrew, just go.” Tears threatened her eyes once more, wishing with all her heart that things were different-that it was still his place to stay here with her, but she knew that it was not,

“This is something that I have to do without you.  Please, please understand.”

Andrew pulled her into his arms once more and held her tightly, almost afraid if he let her go, he may never see her again,

“Are you sure?” He whispered tearfully,

“Because if you need me-“

“I’m sure.  I have to do this.” She answered, though her mind cried out for him to not leave her again.

After a minute, he pulled away, his green eyes filled with sorrow as he leaned to kiss her forehead,

“If you need me, you just say my name and I will be there.  I promise you that, Angel Girl.”

“I know,” She uttered, a single tear trickling down her cheek.

Feeling as if he was deserting her, but knowing it was what she wanted, he nodded his head, moving to touch her cheek once more, before he vanished as if he had never been there to begin with.

The tears Monica had been holding back now fell freely as she sank into the booth that she had just shared with her best friend, already missing his gentle, calming presence,

“What am I going to do?” She wept softly,

“What am I going to do?”