A greater purpose
Quietly, Andrew came closer to the bed, never moving his shining green eyes from the sleeping little angel lying in there. The sun was rising and its first rays were shining inside their bedroom, allowing him to appreciate her beautiful face and the lovely image right before him. Monica was four months pregnant and now her belly was more and more distinguished as the days passed by. As a consequence, her clothes were beginning to get smaller over the days - her night-gowns didn’t fit her anymore and now she was wearing one of Andrew’s tee-shirts, which she had kindly “stolen” from him while they were on Earth.
Overwhelmed with deep emotion, the blond angel sighed deeply and, sitting by the bed, he caressed her auburn hair tenderly. He spent long minutes there, just contemplating Monica’s sleeping form, thinking about all the wonderful moments they’d shared until that day. Even when they were only friends and were not aware of the true loving feelings in their hearts, he’d always felt that beautiful Irish angel, with gentile manners and lovely accent, was part of him. And now there she was, promising him eternal love and expecting a little angel created from this love.
Deeply moved, he bent his head and kissed her cheek softly, never stopping to caress her auburn locks. “I love you so much, Angel...”
He continued to lay soft kisses on her face until he noticed the rather mischievous smile forming in the corner of her lips, even though her eyes remained closed. Also smiling, and very amused, Andrew moved his hand down on her body, settling it over her waist. “Well, it seems I have a very sleepyhead little angel right here... How am I going to wake her up?” he whispered into her ear, enjoying to hear the small giggle that escaped her. Then it was him the one with a mischievous smile as he spoke again, “Well... I guess I already know a way...”
When his fingers tickled Monica’s waist, she immediately opened her eyes and let out an excited yelp, melting into giggles a second later. “Andrew!”
“Angel? You’re awake, huh?” he replied, tickling her even more, the sound of her laugher filling the room.
“I am!” she cried back, tears already falling from her eyes. Nothing seemed funnier to Andrew than watching as his sweet angel girl tried in vain to escape from him.
Deciding that she’d had enough for now, he stopped that sweet torture and just stood there, sitting on their bed and enjoying to see her so happy. As her laughter subsided and she caught her breath, Monica looked at her loving husband with amusement and a little indignation.
“Good morning, Angel!” he greeted her, and his warm smile and green eyes, bright with love were the best images she could have at that morning.
“That was not fair, Andrew!” she complained, with mock annoyance but always cheerfully.
Laughing, he climbed in bed next to her and gently removed a few strands of hair away from her meek face, “You have no idea how adorable you are when you’re all happy like this, sweetie...” he said, committing to memory each and every little detail of her beautiful features, and secretly wishing to see all of them reflected in the little angel she was expecting.
A second later, he was already brushing his lips against hers, in a sweet and loving good morning kiss. Totally lost in the moment, Monica wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him down a little more, so that this sweet caress lasted for long and pleasant instants. That kiss turned into smaller ones some time later and Andrew kissed way down up to her four month belly, caressing it with genuine father love.
“Good morning you too, little angel!” he whispered, picturing him and Monica a few months ahead, holding the little baby that rested in her womb.
“I’m sure he or she must be awake and eager to be in her daddy’s arms!” the angel replied, caressing his short blond hair. Andrew shot her a warm smile and, even though he’d been awake for a few hours, he lay down in bed next to her, pulling Monica into his arms a second later.
“What are you doing up so early?” she wanted to know, snuggling closer to him and resting her head on his chest. The little angel didn’t miss his half chuckle and the way he raised his eyebrows inquisitively looking at her.
“I’m afraid you’ve been sleeping way too much, Angel. It’s past 10 AM!”
“All that already?” the way she looked at him frowning in disbelief was rather funny and he couldn’t help giving a small laughter.
“Yes... You and this little angel here are quite sleepyheads!”
She giggled and closed her eyes, enjoying the comfortable feeling of being in his warm loving arms, “Well, we’re in human form and it’s our day-off, so I thought it would be okay if we slept a wee bit more...”
“It is okay, sweetie... You should rest as much as you can. If being in human form for a while has some drawbacks, I wonder what it’s like for you to be like that all the time.” He spoke, with a hint of worry about her condition.
“Well... there’s the morning sickness and I do feel a bit tired once in a while, you know...” she opened her eyes and looked up at him with so much love it made his heart ache, “... but knowing that I’m carrying a life inside me and that this little life was created from our love, Andrew, makes me feel nothing less than wonderful...”
Lost in those sweet brown pools, he gently cupped the side of her head and caressed her cheek, “I love you so much, Angel... So much it saddens me to think I’ve existed for so many years without knowing you...”
She covered his hand with hers, “We’ll have all eternity to make it up.”
Andrew crossed the small distance between them and their lips met in another loving kiss. And then, after receiving another round of tiny loving kisses on her face, she snuggled close to him and rested her head underneath his chin. “Are we going to keep up with our plans for today?”
“Well, if you want to rest a little, Angel, it’s okay with me, we could do it some other day...” he replied, still with concern lingering in his eyes.
“But I’m fine, I really am, Andrew. Besides, I need new dresses, almost all my clothes don’t fit me anymore... And I have to steal your tee-shirts to sleep!” she joked, causing him to laugh openly.
“Okay, then, Angel. I made your breakfast and then we can go out and do some shopping.”
“You know what, Andrew? We can spend a typical human day! Do the things that humans usually do and go to the places where they use to do whenever they have some time off. That could help us with our assignments, we could understand them better, you know?”
Chuckling, he nodded his head obediently, “Now that you’ve mentioned it, Monica, you’re perfectly right!”
She gently disentangled from his loving embrace and sat down in bed with an excited expression on her face, “So what are we waiting for? Let’s get going, otherwise we’ll be late!”
Highly amused, he helped her to get out of bed and once she’d had a shower and a big breakfast, they left the apartment where they were staying at and Andrew drove them downtown.
***
Hand in hand, Monica and Andrew walked along the nearest shopping mall, observing with angelic eyes, the many different people passing by. As much as they tried to understand the human mind, sometimes it seemed to be a task too difficult to accomplish.
“Have you noticed that most human beings are always in a hurry even when there’s no need to arrive that early at their destination?” the Irish angel spoke, with her usual inquisitiveness.
“It’s the ‘modern life,’ as they call it, Angel,” her dear Andrew replied, “there are so many things to do and so little time to do them that it became natural to leave in a hurry; it gives them the illusion that they’re saving time.”
She stopped looking at the shops around them and gazed at him with a pleased smile, “Because they don’t know their own timing lies in God’s hands.”
Equally pleased, he nodded his head and took her hand to his lips, “You’re such a wise little angel, you know that?”
Monica wrapped her arms around his right arm, “I wish they could spend a day off with someone they love more often. It would certainly bring more joy than hurry to their life!”
Chatting happily they entered the first store as Monica was enchanted with a lilac cardigan, which Andrew thought was perfect for her. They were warmly welcomed by a lady who was probably in her late sixties. “Good morning, may I help you?”
“Good morning. Yes, please, I’d like to see that cardigan on the display. It’s so beautiful and I love the colour,” Monica replied.
“Yes, it’s beautiful indeed. I’d suggest you to buy it along with that blouse and jeans but I can see I’ll have to postpone the suggestion for a few months!” the saleswoman joked, looking at Monica’s belly and causing the couple to laugh.
“Well, in fact my clothes are getting a little ‘out sized’ and that’s why we came here.”
“We’re also looking for a shop of pregnant women’s clothes,” Andrew added, standing right next to Monica, with the permanent protectiveness all over his face.
“Oh, there’s one on the third floor.” She replied, handing Monica the lilac cardigan.
“Look, Andrew. Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Yes, Angel. It sure is.”
The saleswoman looked at them and smiled, “A husband who goes shopping with his wife and is in such good mood is rare nowadays!”
They laughed again and the blond angel nodded, “Actually it’s the first time we do that... But I treasure all the time I spent by her side,” he said, as Monica squeezed his hand in reply.
“How many months have you been pregnant?”
“Five. And this little one is growing up fast!” the Irish angel looked at her beloved Andrew and they exchanged a loving gaze.
“Well, I admire somebody who has the courage to raise a child in a world like this!” It was then that the Irish angel could detect a certain bitterness in the woman’s voice. “Although it's hard to live in it sometimes, this world can also bring some good surprises.”
“I’d say it can bring many unexpected events. 95% of them are unpleasant things.” She replied, but then she changed the tone of voice again and forced a smile, “Oh, you don’t have to listen to this silly old woman anyway! I guess I watch the six o’clock news way too much! Besides, you’re lucky to have such a beautiful family!”
Monica and Andrew exchanged a second glance and the little angel gave the cardigan back to the woman so she could wrap it up, “I’d say I’ve been blessed with a beautiful family.”
“And there was a day when we thought it would be impossible to have everything we have today...” Andrew added.
The woman was going to say something else but she seemed to change her mind. Trying not to go on talking, she just gave a short smile and nodded, “And I’m happy for that! You two make a very beautiful couple and I’m sure your baby will be just as beautiful!”
They left the shop a minute later and Monica couldn’t stop thinking about the sadness she could detect in the lady’s eyes.
“Didn’t she seem rather depressed to you, Andrew?” she wanted to know, wrapping her arms around his one and looking at him intently searching for an answer.
“Yes, I’ve noticed that too, Angel... Unfortunately, most humans seem to be a bit bitter in their life... And forget to look around them and see the world is still worth it.”
*
They also visited other clothes shops for pregnant women where the Irish angel bought a few dresses and some other items, and Monica seemed to so enthusiastic about her little excursion to the mall that she didn’t notice time passing by. By midday, however, a slightly tired Andrew checked his pocket watch and decided to make a stop even if his sweet angel girl wasn’t willing to do so.
“Angel... Aren’t you tired?” he asked, as she observed the display of a baby’s shop with curious eyes. His voice seemed to take her back to the world again and she looked at him with a gentle smile, “Well... I’m not exactly tired, Andrew, but I can say I’m a bit hungry...”
“Good! Then we'll have a break from this shopping thing and you’re coming with me, Mrs! We’ll have a typical human lunch, are we understood?” he said gently guiding her to the nearest restaurant.
“Yes, sir!” her amused giggling was definitely the best reply he could ever get. “In fact... I guess things are really starting to become way too human around her!” she joked, looking purposefully at the bags full of lady’s clothes he was carrying.
Laughing, he cupped her chin and placed a tiny kiss on the tip of her nose, “Human or angelic life style, I wouldn’t change I for anything if I have you by my side!”
Lunch time was a pleasant, joyful one with the couple of angels chatting happily for over an hour. Andrew treasured every moment in his sweet angel’s company, committing to memory her gentle, delicate manners, secretly wishing those happy moments spent with her would never end.
When the waiter brought the bill Monica looked at their surrounds observing the people around them with inquisitive, curious eyes. One of them called her attention: in a corner, the old lady from the first shop they visited had just finished her lunch and now was staring at an invisible point right ahead of her. The expression on her face was a heavy, sad one and when the waiter approached her, she paid the bill and left the place with slow, heavy steps. Monica remembered her early comment about how humans were always in a hurry for everything and frowned a little at the realisation that that old lady was an exception.
Andrew’s voice, however, made her avert her eyes from the stranger and when she looked again the woman was gone.
“Angel?” Andrew’s questioning gaze mad her sigh deeply, not wanting to worry him, “I’m sorry, Andrew. I got a bit distracted.”
“Are you alright?” he wanted to know, taking her hand. She squeezed his own hand and gave him a slight smile, “I am, I promise. It’s just that... Well, I saw the old lady from the first store we visited and she seemed... so distant, so incredibly miserable...”
“Would you like to talk to her?” he said, offering her his hand so that she could stand up.
“I’d be happy to, actually.”
They left the restaurant quickly but once there were outside, there was no trace of the sales woman.
“Oh, we’ve lost her... maybe if we went back at the shop we could find her there,” the blond angel suggested, and then Monica looked at the many bags h was carrying, “Why don’t you take these to the car, Andrew? I’ll go up at the shop and look fore her, it’s not far from here.”
“Monica...” it was evident he didn’t like the idea, but then she caressed his handsome face and looked deep inside his dark green pools, “I’m alright and I couldn’t feel better! Please, trust me.”
Sighing deeply, and knowing he’d just lost a batter, he nodded his head, “Alright. But this angel here will meet you at the shop in just a few minutes!”
Her smile grew wider and she stood on the tip of her feet to brush a loving kiss on his lips, “This angel here loves you very much!”
Her cheerfulness made his worries finally vanish, and he smiled down at her, “Funny I was going to say the same thing about you!”
He kissed her lips lovingly and then both angels went into different directions.
X
Looking around her and hoping to find the saleswoman, Monica walked along the shopping center corridors up to the shop where she’d bought the cardigan. But she didn’t have success in finding the old lady, and after being informed that “Mrs Carter” was still in her lunch time, the Irish angel left the store with disappointment all over her face. “I just felt I needed to help her, Father...” she whispered, sighing deeply with disappointment.
With no other option, she remained in front of the shop, waiting for Andrew and occasionally looking around her, still hoping to see the woman nearby. But then something totally unexpected happened: Monica suddenly started to feel a familiar sensation of sickness taking over her human form. “Oh, good Heavens...” she whispered, and quickly covered her mouth with both hands. She practically rushed to the nearest ladies’ room, thinking about how worried Andrew would be once he arrived at the arranged place and didn’t find her. But the situation was urgent and there was no time to warn the blond angel.
Monica soon bolted through the toilet door and, five minutes later, the Irish angel was already washing her face, a lot more relieved but frowning at how pale she looked. It was really curious that such a terrible sensation of sickness could make her feel so blessed. There was a little life growing inside her: every time she thought about it she couldn’t help but smile and thank God for that special present.
Monica was wiping her face and almost ready to leave the ladies' room when she heard a sob. It was almost unnoticeable but it allowed her to detect where it was coming from. One of the toilets door had been left ajar and Monica just had to push it a bit more to find the lady from the shop sitting on the toilet lead, holding a bottle of pills and crying non stop.
“Madam? Miss Carter? What... what happened? Are you in any pain?” she quickly wanted to know, though the woman desperately tried to hide the medicine away from her.
"Please, leave me alone..." she replied, averting her eyes from the young lady who had just arrived. But Monica soon realised what the woman was trying to do, and she swallowed hard, trying not to panic.
"Did... did you take those pills? Please, tell me if you did, madam, I can go and find help-"
"Didn't you hear what I said? Go away! Go back to your husband and to your wonderful little life! And if there's really a God, then pray that He doesn't do to you what He did to me!"
The Irish angel came closer and searched for her eyes, "What are you talking about? What happened to you?"
"I guess someone who has a wonderful, happy life like you do won't be interested in listening to me..."
"There's so much bitterness and anger in your voice..."
"Maybe that's all I have now... My husband is long gone... I lost him in the war, when I was about your age... When I received the news, I was pregnant just like you are, but the shock was such that I ended up losing our child..."
Monica's eyes were immediately filled with tears as she heard that sad story, and deep inside of her, she also felt a bit guilty that she and Andrew had been blessed with so much.
"I'm terribly sorry, madam..."
"My only sister passed away last month and now... now here I am, all alone in this mean, evil world! Why am I still here? What good can I do at this age and with not a single relative to talk to?"
"Mrs Carter, I completely understand all the suffering and loneliness you've been through during your life... But you're not alone..."
"Who is with me, then? God?"
"Yes!"
"Then why don't I feel His presence?"
"Because your heart is closed to Him... Because you've been so angry at the terrible things that happened to you that you never really paid attention to the world around you - not the ugly and sad world you described to me a couple of hours ago, but the world formed by other human beings; there are good people here, Mrs Carter! Wonderful people who are always ready to offer a kind word, a smile and their support... And there are also those who need help... Those who have lost as much as you have during their life."
"I've never met anyone who wanted to offer kindness and comforting words, young lady... And if there are other people suffering as much as I am, then it only proves that God has better things to do other than watching over a few human beings who make no difference to this world." She replied, eyeing Monica for the first time; a sad, nearly empty look.
A few tears rolled down the angel's cheeks as she shook her head, "That's not true... Everyone matters to God! He creates all the human beings that come to this world and all of them are here to make a difference!"
"I'm not one of them... And it's too late to try to convince me otherwise now..." the old lady spoke, finally showing the half-empty bottle of pills in her hand. Monica felt another presence in the ladies' room, and saw that Andrew was there in his angelic form.
"Oh, no... It can't be, Andrew..." she shook her head, not accepting that that afternoon would end up so tragically. The old lady looked at the same direction, but she saw nothing. Her eyes turned to the Irish angel again. "There's no one there..."
Monica was about to reply but suddenly, she placed her hand over her belly and a painful moan escaped her. Mrs Carter watched as the angel in human form knelt on the floor and now held her belly with both hands, "What's happening?" she wanted to know, feeling surprisingly nervous with what was happening to the young lady.
"It hurts..." she said, and to Andrew's despair, he didn't manage to return to his human form. Invisible to the human eye, he knelt right next to her, with despair taking control his soul, "Angel? Angel! What's wrong! Please, talk to me!"
"I feel... pain..." she muttered under her breath.
The old woman was paralysed with shock for a few instants, but then, taken by an unknown strength and will to help, she knelt right beside Monica and placed her hand over her shoulder, "Please, stay calm... Try to control your breath... I'll find help..."
She left the ladies room in a hurry, leaving two angels behind. Through his tears, Andrew lifted a silent prayer, asking for divine intervention.
X
One week later...
"Angel? Are you ready to go?" Andrew's words and his gentle touch over her shoulder took Monica out of her reverie. The Irish angel had been standing by the window, inside the hospital bedroom, and one week after she'd been admitted in there, the angel in human form had received permission to go. She was fully recovered now and apart from a healthy diet and healthy habits, such as resting and sleeping and going for walks - which she was already following, there were no special recommendations.
She looked up at him with the usual warm smile and nodded her head, "Yes."
Andrew was carrying a bouquet with colourful wild flowers and as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear he gave it to her. "For you..."
"They're lovely... Thank you." she held the delicate bouquet in her hands and smelled their sweet perfume.
"You're more than welcome, sweetie..." The blond angel kissed her forehead and then motioned to show her another bouquet, which he had left on the table, next to the suitcase with Monica's clothes. "I bought another one... I guess there's somewhere you want to go before we go to the cabin..."
"You're right, Andrew. Could you come with me, please?"
"Of course, Angel."
The couple left the bedroom on the second floor of the hospital and headed to the elevators, which led them to the forth floor of the same building. There, they walked along the corridor and stopped at the bedroom door number 402. After a soft knock on the door, they heard the permission to come inside the room and Monica turned the doorknob.
"Monica! Andrew!" Mrs. Carter exclaimed, with a smile on her face at seeing them there.
"Hullo, Mrs Carter!" the younger angel spoke, walking over up to bed and giving her the bouquet. "These are for you!"
"Oh, thank you, dear. They're so beautiful!" she gladly accepted the flowers. "Are you leaving already?"
"Yes. The doctor said that everything is fine again and that I'm fully recovered!"
"Oh, but that sounds like great news! To me, and especially to you, right, Andrew?"
"Yes, the best news in the world!" he happily agreed, tenderly caressing his wife's hair.
"How are you feeling, Mrs Carter?" Monica wanted to know, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"I'm recovering, dear. The doctors said I'll leave hospital in a week or two, though I insist I've never felt so happy!"
"It's so good to hear it, you know?" the little angel was so happy herself her eyes were shining with tears of joy.
The old lady took her hands and squeezed them. "I can't even begin to thank you enough, Monica..."
"Don't thank me... In fact, I'm the one who is grateful... To you and to God, for making our paths cross. If you weren't there with me... I don't want to think about what could've happened to me and to our baby..."
There was an expression of wonder on the woman's face, and she smiled and gently shook her head, "It's amazing that I was there trying to take my life away without realising how valuable it is... Only when I saw that you and your baby needed help did I understand the importance of being alive..." after a brief pause, she continued to speak, "You made me realise that I can make a difference, Monica. And for that, I'll be always grateful."
"God loves you, Mrs Carter. Never forget that."
"I won't forget... I know He loves me, now I know that..."
They held each other for a long minute while Andrew lifted another silent prayer of thanks for that happy ending. He too held Mrs Carter and thanked her deeply for helping his beloved angel on that difficult moment, and smiled at the realisation that many years would pass until he met the woman again.
Monica and Andrew left the hospital ready to travel up to the cabin, where they would spend a few days off. But as the blond angel drove along the main street and near the park, his beloved companion turned to him with those pleading pretty eyes and shot him a look he knew from the start he was unable to resist.
"Andrew... Do you think we could stop here and have a walk in the park?"
"A walk? Monica, are you sure you..."
"We could just walk over up to the lake, it's not far from here... I spent so much time at the hospital I just need to breath fresh air again..."
"Wouldn't you like to do it up in the mountains, Angel?"
"It's very beautiful there, but a bit lonely too... I'd like to walk among the people, children and animals..." She covered his hand with hers, "Come with me, please?"
With no other option, he nodded his head and pulled the car over under the shadow of a tree. Then, they left the vehicle and he kept his hand on her back in a protective and reassuring manner, only letting go when she reached for it. The couple walked in silence for a while and when they stopped at the lake, Monica leaned on his embrace and sighed deeply. "Remember when you taught me how to throw pebbles on the water?"
Slightly amused, he kissed the top of her head before answering. "Yes... You were quite an attentive student!"
Giggling, she shook her head, remembering how she failed at all the attempts. "I guess you are in love with me, aren't ya?"
Now laughing openly, he tightened the hold on her a bit more and bent his head to kiss her cheek, "Well, how did you find that out, baby?"
She turned around in his arms so that they were facing each other, "Well, it was a slight impression, you know?"
He bent his head and kissed her lips softly, tenderly caressing her face. "You're right... I'll be in love with you for the rest of my existence..."
The broad smile on her face nearly melted his heart. "Have you considered that soon you will be teaching this wee one how to throw pebbles in the water?"
Andrew felt like the most emotional of the creatures as she mentioned that. One day his child would be there with him, and he would certainly take this little angel to play in the park, have ice cream and throw pebbles in the water, and just to think about it was enough to make his heart ache with so much love. With a few tears in the corner of his eyes and a lump in his throat, he moved his hand and covered her belly, caressing it gently.
"I just can't wait for this day to come..."
Monica moved her hand to cover his own and it was then that something totally unexpected happened: for the first time, the two angels felt the baby kicking. With amazement and perplexity, they looked at each other speechless.
"Andrew..."
"Monica..."
"Did... Did you feel it?"
"Yes..."
The baby kicked again and now harder than the first time, "Oh, Father!"
"It's kicking, Angel! Our little one is kicking!" Andrew exclaimed, with joy, excitement and a turmoil of emotions.
Also crying with happiness, Monica caressed her belly with tenderness. "I guess this wee one is saying that he or she can't wait for this day to come either, Andrew!"
The blond angel knelt on the ground and kissed her belly lovingly, delicately running his fingers over its roundish form. "I'll be here, my little angel... Mommy and daddy will be both here to hold you tight, sweetie... I love you so much..."
Monica caressed his blond hair as he kissed her belly once again, her own heart filled with sheer emotion as the little angel inside her continued to move as if greeting his parents and announcing that days filled with joy were about to come.
Andrew stood up and wrapped his arms around her, in a tight, warm embrace. "God, I love you so much, Monica... You're my entire world, baby... In a way... the reason why I exist..."
Tears rolled down her cheeks at those words and she tightened the hold on him. "I too think that the Father had a greater purpose when He created me, you know... I can't imagine existence without you, Andrew... because it's only with you that it's complete..."
She pulled away and looked deep inside his green pools, her own image was reflected in their spark as a silent love promise, that would remain forever. "I love you..."
Their lips collided again, in another loving caress, which only sealed the surge of emotions that took over their hearts - three hearts beating in the same rhythm, sharing a loving, eternal connection.
To be continued