CHAPTER 17

The little angel did not turn the corner until the following evening when her fever finally broke and she spent most of the time before that sleeping with Andrew rarely more than a heartbeat away from her.  When Monica was awake, he coaxed her to eat and once she had taken more medication, she would fall asleep in his arms and he would occupy himself with a book or more often he would simply contemplate her sweet features as she slept.

The air conditioning was installed in their little apartment but Allie would not allow Andrew to move her until the fever broke and once it did and Monica was sleeping peacefully, it seemed wrong to move her until the next morning.

The walk to her own apartment felt exhausting and Monica sighed as she sat down on the sofa when they arrived at long last, “I can’t believe how tired I am after such a short walk,” She marveled, looking up at her husband before he sat down next to her.

“The flu can do that, Angel.  You just need a few more days to recover and get your strength back is all.  Which means no work for a day or two yet.”

His expression was stern as he knew she would try to argue and he was right, “Andrew, but I feel so much better already.”  She hated staying home alone; it was too quiet and too lonely and she missed him desperately. 

“I know you do but you have to be careful, baby.  I want you completely recovered so you and our baby remain happy and healthy.”

A little sigh and then, “I know.  You’re right.  I just wish you weren’t.” Most of her discontentment dissolved as Andrew pulled her into his arms, “I’m sorry.  I just don’t like being away from you.”

“For the record, it is not my favorite thing either, but you really do need to rest,” This was one of those frustrating times.  In the past, if Monica had needed to take off time for some human ailment or some incredibly difficult assignment, if he had to work, Tess would be there to help stay with the little angel.  The three of them had looked out for each other, and now that the trio was a duo, it was much more difficult. He knew Monica was more than capable of being alone; she simply didn’t like it and with her being pregnant and recovering from a nasty flu, Andrew also wished she didn’t have to stay alone, but it was now their reality.

“I know and I’ll be fine.”  As always, she seemed to know what he was thinking and she had an innate need to calm his concerns, “I’m actually still feeling rather tired and a nap would be nice.”

Kissing her forehead, he hugged her a bit tighter, “I put that pot of soup on the stove, so all you have to do is heat it up if…when you get hungry.  Please eat something this afternoon, Angel.”

“I will.  I promise.  Just hurry home, all right?”

Her dark, expressive eyes were so hopeful, he couldn’t help but to kiss her softly on the lips, “I will.  You have my word.”

“And you have my heart.”

XX

By the following afternoon, Monica was stir crazy as she wandered around the little apartment, paging through books and flipping through television stations, but nothing held her attention for long.  As an angel, she was quite accustomed to being busy and even in this new human life, she was often at work with plenty to do.  She had no trouble being idle for a time if Andrew were around to talk to as she lay curled up in his loving arms, but alone and left to her own devices was proving to be a huge challenge.

Monica had pleaded to be able to go to the diner today but not only Andrew, but Allie as well, was not having any part of it.  She was still a little on the pale side apparently and her husband and friend were insistent no risks were taken.  So now, she sat on her knees on the couch, longing eyes gazing outside, willing the time to pass until Andrew got home.

Her dark eyes gazed over at Allie’s house and her mind went back to a few short days ago when she had been there looking at the photos in the living room of Ryan and Jonah…and the girl who looked so much like Ryan.  Turning around the little angel rested her hands on her stomach, willing her baby to kick.  She had yet to feel it and Monica was sure it should be happening soon.  Sighing, she looked over at the bookcase and was again reminded of the mysterious “Em” the books were made out to and she wondered if Em could possibly be the same person in the pictures.

“Father, what is the answer here?  I feel as if I am missing something.  Surely I still have some angelic ability left.”

As soon as the little prayer escaped her lips, her eyes were drawn, almost against her will, to the closet.  The box.  She had forgotten about the box.  Jumping up, Monica walked over to the closet and opened the door.  Standing on tiptoe, she was just able to make out the box in the far corner of the closet shelf.  With Andrew’s ban on chairs that she could not bring herself to break, her eyes scanned the room for another option.  A broom was perfect.

With the broom handle, she coaxed the box closer to the edge until she could reach up and grab it.  With a triumphant child-like grin, she carefully sat down on the floor with the box and still feeling somewhat guilty, she gazed at the top of it. For a fleeting moment, Monica contemplated putting it back on the shelf and never looking at its contents.  It wasn’t that she was being nosy; not really.  She simply wanted to find a way to help Allie and she had a suspicion that whatever was in the box would allow her to do just that. 

Removing the lid, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion as she slowly removed a large stack of unopened letters, each of them stamped “Return to Sender.  No forwarding address.”  Each letter was addressed to “R. Emily Hamel”.

“Em.” Monica whispered aloud as she read that the return address was Allie’s and Allie’s last name was Hamil.  Emily was her daughter, the other girl in the photo and she had moved away and her mother had no idea where she was.  But why?  Why would a daughter lose all contact with her mother?  Monica’s hand went instinctively her to protruding belly.  She could not imagine such heartache.

“What are you doing?”

The sound of Allie’s angry voice, caused the little angel to rise to her feet, the box still in her hands. She had never seen her friend upset but now the woman’s face was flushed bright red and her blue eyes sparked with anger, “A-Allie.  I didn’t mean-.”

“Those don’t belong to you,” She continued and in two strides she had the box ripped from the angel’s hands, “I have been good to you, Monica and this is how you repay me?  By snooping through my things?”

Monica face flushed pink with shame, “No…I didn’t mean to snoop…I was just trying to find out who the girl was…who Em was….in the books…in the photos…” Monica was desperate to make things right again, “I wanted to help you-.”

“Help me?  By prying into my business?”

“Allie. Please.  I’m so sorry,” Monica’s hands were opened and her face was imploring forgiveness.

“Stay out of my business!” Allie ordered before she turned around, the letters in hand, and slammed out of the little apartment.

XX

Two hours later, Andrew was shocked to find a very tearful little angelic wife when he returned home at the end of his shift.  Holding her tightly in his arms, he listened to her confession and though she was terribly upset, Andrew had to hold back a chuckle at his beloved angel girl’s insatiable curiosity.  He knew there was no maliciousness in Monica’s actions; only her need to help combined with a little boredom.

“Just give her a little time to cool off, Angel.  She’ll forgive you and even understand your motives.  I’m sure of it.”

Resting her head against his chest, Monica gave a teary sigh, “Do you really think so?

“I do, baby.  Allie knows you well enough to know you meant no harm.”

“I shouldn’t have done it,” She murmured, shaking her head in obvious self reproach.

Andrew sighed and caressed her cheek tenderly, “Maybe not, but you can’t change what has already happened.  Angel, Allie loves you and she won’t stay angry.  I’m sure of it.”

The little angel fell silent for a few moments and when she spoke again, her words surprised him, “Do you ever feel lost, Andrew?  With not performing your angelic duties?  With wondering what your purpose is now?”

He pondered her words for a moment, though he already knew the answer, but he wanted to be careful with her delicate state of mind at the moment.  Pulling away gently, he took her tear streaked face into his hands.  His loving green eyes penetrated hers as he swiped at the remainder of her tears, “No.  Though it feels odd at times to not be performing my duties as an angel of death, I have a much greater assignment now, you know.” Monica’s slightly confused expression simply endeared her to him all the more as he explained, “I have been assigned to love and protect the sweetest most beautiful little angel girl I have had the pleasure of falling completely in love with.  And if that is not enough for me, which it would be, because being in her presence is the best feeling I could ever ask for, this sweet, beautiful little angel girl is carrying my baby in her womb and the mere thought of that takes my breath away and makes me feel like the most undeserving creature on earth.  I realize that my most important assignment is these two amazing angels and nothing makes me feel more proud or more fulfilled.”

His words reduced her to new tears, “I love you so much, Andrew!  Just so incredibly much.  Sometimes I just feel as if I should be doing more….or being more.  That’s why I wanted to help Allie-.”

A finger to her lips silenced her, “I know, sweet angel, but you are wrong.  What you are doing is taking care of our precious baby,” His hands moved from her face to her protruding belly, “And that is so important, baby.”

“I know you’re right, “Monica whispered, swallowing another sob that rose to her throat, “I feel so useless sometimes and I hate that I have been sick and you always have to take care of me.”

“Angel, it is a privilege.  You are so precious to me; to me you are everything.  Please don’t cry.  This time together with you has been such a gift to me.”

“To me too.  Please don’t think it isn’t and maybe once our wee one is born I will feel more useful instead of just…big…”

The second the words were said a tiny flutter seemed to happen within Monica’s womb.  It caused her to gasp and Andrew removed his hands quickly from her belly, somewhat startled, but a heartbeat later, a grin spread across his face, seeing the awe and wonder on his wife’s beautiful face.

“Andrew!  Did you feel that?”

Nodding his head eagerly, Andrew laid his hands against her abdomen once more, just in time for the baby to give another mighty kick.

“Andrew!”

Looking up, the Angel of Death’s eyes shone with love as he saw the smile and great joy on Monica’s face