A nightingale sang - by Deyse

Carrying a basket with beautiful red roses, Monica walked over to the table where Andrew had been sitting and placed one of the flowers over it. The blond angel looked up at her, aware that they were working on a very important assignment and there couldn’t be any distractions. But at the same time, he was fascinated with that Irish angel’s beauty on that special night and he couldn’t help looking at her brown depths, hearing the silent loving message from her heart to his.

”Like this rose, my heart is yours too, Andrew.”

He heard those words deep inside his soul and his eyes searched for hers: Andrew had a serious expression on his face but his love for her was evident in his deep green eyes.

”My heart is yours too, Monica.” Came his reply, and then he started to speak in a loud voice, “So I thought that... you’d be so busy tonight you’d need some extra help.”

“Usually the Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest times of the year.”

“And also supposed to be one of the most romantic...”

They looked at each other, exchanging a couple of more secret loving words before their assignment was due to start.

x

Some time later, on that same restaurant...

George signed to Andrew and the blond angel left his angelic friends and walked up to the counter, at the bar. He was the angel of death’s assignment and, a few minutes earlier, the angel had revealed to him and to his wife, bringing the sad news that one of them would be called Home before their 50^th anniversary.

“That’s not much thing you miss out here, isn’t there? Never have a drink, never get to swear, never get to fall in love...”

Hearing those last words, Andrew smiled, “Well... no sir. Not the way you do but angels experience a different kind of love.”

“I’m sure it’s a beautiful thing, but I wouldn’t trade what I have with Loretta for anything.”

“It’s good to hear it,” he said, truly pleased to see how much the old man loved his wife after so many years.

“I watched her give birth to our children, I shared my deepest fears with her, realising that she still thinks my jokes are funny...”

They smiled and then George got serious again, “Andrew... You said that one of us wasn’t gonna be around for our 50^th anniversary...”

The blond angel nodded his head, also serious, “That’s right...”

“Take me. Let it be me.”

“It’s not my decision...” he replied.

The old man told Andrew how his beloved wife would love to see their grandchildren grow up and how much they loved her and pleaded to be the one to die instead of her. The angel listened quietly and was greatly moved with such deep and true love. There was no doubt that George would do any sacrifice for Loretta, that he would die ten times more to spare her life, to allow her to have the joy to see her grandchildren – their grandchildren, growing up.

“I love Loretta so much... and I’d do anything for her, anything...”

Andrew sighed deeply, secretly feeling sorry for the man, as he could imagine how he was feeling. “I know exactly what it’s like...”

“Don’t... take this as an offence, Andrew, but how do you know? You’ve just said that angels experience a different kind of love...”

“Yes, but as I said, we do experience love... and I have those same feelings of protectiveness and deep care for someone too...” the blond angel’s face was a serious one, and so was the love he was carrying inside his heart. “For someone very special to me.”

“You do? But... you’re an angel...” the old man replied, really surprised with what he had just heard.

“Yes, I am, George. But love... true love, lies in all hearts... it reaches all creatures, humans or angels, because it comes from the Father Himself.”

“I’d never thought about it in that way, but now that you’re saying it makes perfect sense.”

“She’s so precious to me you can never imagine... I’d give my whole existence for her.”

The man nodded his head, “Now it’s my turn to say that I know exactly what you mean. But... where is she? Today is a day dedicated to celebrate love and, well, you should be together, shouldn’t you?”

Finally, a tiny smile appeared on Andrew’s face, “She’s right here...” he looked around but couldn’t find his beloved Irish angel. “... somewhere. She’s an angel too and is on assignment just like me. And, though we have to accomplish the Father’s work before anything else, I’m happy that we’re together.”

x

When all the three couples in the small restaurant had finally solved their problems and realised that love they had in their hearts was bigger than any small issue, Monica, Tess and Gloria stood together, smiling to see their work so perfectly accomplished. Andrew left the table where George and Loretta were sitting and also headed to where his angelic friends were standing. He stood right behind Monica and, with infinite tenderness,  placed his hands over her small shoulders, sliding them down her arms.

The old man looked at the blond angel and smiled, understanding what Andrew was telling him: that beautiful lady was his soul mate and, by the look in their eyes and the smile upon their faces, it was possible to see how much and how deeply they loved each other.

The four angels stood there, observing the couples dancing and listening to the beautiful songs Tess had chosen for that Valentine’s night for some more time. But Andrew couldn’t resist any longer and, still caressing Monica’s arms, he moved even closer to her and whispered into her ear. “May I have this dance?”

She turned her head to look at his handsome face, smiling lovingly at him. “Always.”

Andrew took her hand into his and they walked over to the room. Then, the blond angel wrapped his arm around her small waist, bringing her closer to him, and kept on holding her other hand, putting it over his heart. Monica, for herself, placed her free hand over his shoulder and rested her head over his chest, and the feeling of his arms around her brought her an incredible sensation of protection, peace and, most importantly, of the deepest love.

“Happy Valentine’s day, angel.” He whispered again, kissing her forehead, his warm breath tickling her delicate skin.

The Irish angel smiled, not moving a single muscle from where she was – and secretly wanting to spend the rest of eternity in those strong arms. “With you holding me like this, it couldn’t be happier, Andrew...”

With their hearts filled with deep contentment, they continued swaying with the slow rhythm of the love songs and ended up losing the track of the time. When Andrew finally looked around them, he realised that the couples had already left the small restaurant, and so had Tess and Gloria. A few lights had been left lit up, and the atmosphere inside the small building was a cosy one.

“Angel?”

“Yes?” she spoke, savouring those precious moments with her eyes closed.

“I guess we’re the only living creatures in this restaurant... the other angels and human beings have already left...”

Only then did she open her eyes and look around them. “Oh... I... I didn’t realise it was their time to go...” she said, a little worried. But her beloved friend grabbed her face with both hands and kissed the tip of her nose. “Yes, you’re right... it was their time to go, not ours...”

Watching with his heart swelling with love as she tilted her head and looked at him questioningly, he kept on talking, “Did you think we wouldn’t be granted some time together in a day like today?”

Sighing lightly, she lowered her eyes for a few moments, “Well... as a matter of fact, in the beginning of this assignment I thought that I wouldn't even have the opportunity to see you.” Then, she raised her eyes again, a spark of happiness already reflected in them, “But now... tell me that we can stay a bit longer, Andrew, please?”

He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand, “Yes, we can...” feeling a lump forming on his throat at the memory of George’s words, he smiled, “...in fact, I want to spend the rest of my eternity at your side, angel...”

“Me too...”

For a few moments, their eyes were locked with each other in a hypnotising gaze, silently exchanging thousands of loving words. Then, Andrew’s green pools moved to her rosy lips, studying the beauty of their shape and longing to kiss them for as long as he could before that night was over. And that beautiful Irish angel in his arms wished nothing less. With her eyes sparkling with love for him, she too looked at his mouth, her heart pleading for that sweet caress that only Andrew could give her.

He just had to move his face a few inches, pressing his lips firmly on hers a second later and gently and tenderly stroking her cheek. Gratefully, she wrapped her arms around his neck, never wanting to let him go, doubting if there could be anything sweeter than being loved by that one angel who had become her valentine forever.

The end.