Christmas at the cabin - Part 1
Andrew closed the apartment door behind him and threw the keys over the coffee table. After one more day of hard work, his human form was extremely tired. In order to fulfil his assignment, the angel of death was working as a construction worker, and only the joy of another mission fulfilled made him ignore his exhaustion.
Besides the physical issue, he also missed two very special angels and couldn't wait for the moment he would hold them in his arms again. But that would have to wait for a while. His Monica was probably some other place, also taking hope and a loving message to the ones who needed them. His little Angela, for herself, was probably melting other angels' hearts in their heavenly Home.
And the fact that there were only two days for Christmas only made things more difficult and their absence more painful to him. Inside the small apartment, there was no decoration that reminded the special date, which caused Monica's absence to be even greater. A bittersweet smile appeared on Andrew's handsome face as he remembered her childlike excitement during the Christmas holidays, and how her soft brown eyes sparkled at the vision of the colourful ornaments hanging inside the houses.
It was past 9 in the night, and dreaming about the two loves of his existence, Andrew headed to his bedroom. He removed his shoes by the doorstep and pushed the door open, and was when he had the greatest surprise of the day. Lying on his bed, sleeping peacefully under the soft light coming from the bedside table, were his two "angel girls." Little Angela was wearing cute pink pyjamas, with tiny flowers on it, and Monica had covered her with a white blanket. The baby had fallen asleep with her little fingers wrapped around her mother's thumb. Monica's long auburn hair was spread over Andrew's pillow and she too had changed into a comfortable flannel nightgown.
Andrew's heart was immediately filled with tenderness at that image and for a few instants he remained there, by the bed, just admiring his precious treasure. With a happy smile on his handsome face, he came closer and knelt next to Angela, who indeed looked like an angel. Andrew leaned over and kissed her little head.
"Daddy is so happy to see you again, my little angel... So happy..." he whispered, caressing her pink cheek with the back of his fingers. "I love you, sweetie."
He rose to his feet and walked along the bed. And slowly and very carefully, he climbed up the bed to lie down right next to Monica. The blond angel gently caressed her delicate jaw with his fingertips and removed a strand of hair from her face. Then, he bent down and brushed a loving kiss on her cheek.
"I love you..." he whispered, close to her ear.
What he didn't expect was the slight smile that appeared on Monica's face and her quick reply, which also came as a whisper. "I love you too..." The Irish angel stirred and he couldn't hide his amusement at the sight of her eyes opening slowly. "Hullo, Andrew..." Her soothing voice and loving gaze only made her more adorable to him.
"Hello, my sweet angel..." He greeted her with a smile; fingers tenderly stroking her dishevelled auburn hair. "I thought you were sleeping..."
"I guess I took a little nap but I woke up as I felt your presence closer to me... And... I hope you don't mind that this wee one here and I broke into your apartment during your absence... But the accommodations are quite nice!"
Chuckling at those words, he narrowed his eyes. "I can see you two made yourselves quite comfortable!"
A small giggle escaped her and she pulled him down, "Yes, but the most important was missing... You!"
He bend down and kissed her lips softly and gently, caressing her jaw as if touching delicate porcelain, treasuring the tender contact. When the kiss ended, he pulled just a few inches away, looking deep inside those sweet brown eyes, and once again finding her pure and unconditional love for him.
"Is it some kind of early Christmas present?" He gently stroked Monica's face, still not believing they were actually there.
With a sleepy smile, she reached out to touch his face and his lips. "I guess it is... my Christmas present... after all, my heart is so full because I'm here with you again..." she looked at Angela, who was sleeping serene by her side, "And so is this wee one's."
They were soon locked up in each other's gaze and on the following second, Andrew captured her broad smile in a tender kiss, cupping her cheek with one hand as that loving caress continued. It eventually turned into tiny kisses and Monica pulled her beloved to lie down next to her. As he did so, she changed her pillow for his arm, and with their hands permanently entwined they observed as their little Angela slept.
"It'll be her first Christmas..." Monica spoke, enjoying his caresses.
"Yes. And our first Christmas together with our little angel!" He kissed her shoulder, "Do you have any idea of how much I love you two?"
"I guess we do, right, sweetie?" Monica whispered, once again turning to look at the little girl. "How was your assignment?" she wanted to know, a moment later.
"Everything turned out just fine, angel. I was so grateful..."
Monica took his hand to her lips. "If you're happy, then I'm happy!"
He smiled at her and kissed her lips lovingly again. "Will you two stay here for Christmas?"
"I don't know. I was told to come to meet you here and wait, and I... I just couldn't come without our wee one. Staying away from her, especially at this time of the year, would be..."
"So painful..." Andrew concluded, as he too thought he would be apart from this little family.
"Yes."
She was serious now and the angel of death took her hand and placed it against his heart. "But we're here now and all the three of us, baby, so let's enjoy what we have and give thanks. You two are blessings I'll treasure for the rest of my existence!"
He kissed her again and some time later, Monica fell into a pleasant sleep. Like a loyal guardian and feeling his heart full with joy, Andrew remained awake for long hours, just admiring his two precious blessings. All day long, he wondered if they would be together again for Christmas, and now his silent prayers had been answered in the most wonderful way. The angel of death fell asleep eventually, with a happy contented expression on his face.
X
When Andrew woke up on the following morning he was the only one in bed. But a pleasant sound soon reached his ears and drew his green eyes to the armchair next to the window. There, Monica was holding little Angela in her arms and speaking gibberish to her, causing the little one to emit happy sounds that resembled a little laughter. The gentle sun that was coming through the window bathed both mother and child in a way that they were both glowing with God's love. As the Irish angel saw he was awake, she turned Angela to sit on her lap so that she could see the blond angel. "Oh, look who is up, wee one!"
Andrew was speechless for a moment. "You two are positively the most beautiful of God's creations." He said, rising to his feet and walking up to them, a happy grin playing on his lips. "Good morning, sweetie!" Andrew kissed Monica's cheek and then knelt by the sofa, "Hey, my little angel!"
Both angels chuckled as Angela followed her daddy's fingers with curious green eyes until the moment they gently poked her tummy. As they did so, she turned to look at him again and let out another baby laughter at the ticklish sensation.
"Hum... Looks like we got a rather ticklish little one here!" Amused, he kissed her chubby hand and added, "I wonder where she got that from!"
Andrew shot Monica an accusing glance and slightly embarrassed, she tilted her head, blushing and smiling at the same time. "I guess that would be from me..."
It was in those moments that she looked even more adorable to him. Chuckling, he stopped tickling the little ones belly and grabbed her face with both hands, kissing her lips lovingly a second later. "There's something else she got from her mom, you know..." the expression on his face was full of complete adoration as he moved his hand to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear, "Loveliness!"
The angel of death kissed her one more time, her giggling almost matching her daughter's.
He moved to kiss the top of Angela's little head and then rose to his feet. "I'll prepare our breakfast..."
But before he left the room, Monica reached for his hand. "Andrew, we have an assignment..."
"An assignment?" he spoke, already fearing they would have to go through separate ways after so little time together.
But Monica's words seemed to put his heart at ease. "Yes. I received the message a bit before you woke up... We should head to the cabin with Tess' car. It should be parked outside."
Andrew frowned. "By car? So we should really leave soon because I've heard it on the radio yesterday: the weather will change. We'll have a very cold Christmas."
X
After breakfast, which included porridge for the six-month wee Angela, they got ready and left the small apartment. Andrew drove along the road that led to the mountains, his attentive eyes were twice careful as he was carrying the two most precious gifts of his existence in that car.
Despite the cold weather, the road was in good condition and it wasn't snowing yet. Andrew and Monica chatted happily and their little baby's giggles and sounds amused them deeply. Chuckling, the blond angel shook his head and held his laughter when Monica decided to sing to Angela. Fortunately for him the Irish angel was on the back seat next to Angela's chair, and didn't realise how much fun he was having.
"Look, Andrew! She's smiling! I guess she likes it!" the Irish angel exclaimed, enthusiastically.
"Of course she likes it, Monica. Why wouldn't she?"
The angel turned her eyes to the rear view mirror, meeting his green ones. "Well..."
"This little angel loves everything that comes from you, angel! And she's not the only one!" he replied, with a wink at her.
Monica inched forward and bent her head, brushing a kiss on his cheek.
The trip went on uneventfully in its first two hours and around midday Andrew realised that his beloved companion was a bit quieter than usual. Angela had fallen asleep and he soon understood the reason to Monica's silence, as he too felt exactly like her.
"Hungry, angel?"
"I... I confess that I am..." she said, secretly feeling her stomach churn.
Aware of that fact, the blond angel nodded his head and, with a smile, he started to reduce the speed. He stopped at a small restaurant along the road.
The café was simple and there were few people in there at that time. The lady who took care of it was immediately enchanted with Angela's cheerfulness, as the little one woke up right after they entered and much to everybody's surprise, she didn't cry. Much on the contrary: the little baby kept on distributing toothless smiles while her parents ate, and later on she enjoyed the bottle of milk that Monica was offering her.
The happy trio soon called an old lady's attention. She was sitting at the table next to theirs and couldn't help smiling at the tender scene.
"She's a very beautiful and sweet little girl..." she said, with eyes full of admiration.
Monica and Andrew exchanged a pleased glance and then looked at her. "Thank you!" said the Irish angel.
"She took it after her mom!" Andrew added, causing Monica to smile at him.
"You're not from here, are you? I never seen you before..."
"Oh, no, we're not... We're heading to the mountains, we'll spend Christmas there." The blond angel replied.
"Oh, I see. Bet you have some other relatives waiting for you; you're such a beautiful family!"
"Thank you, but well... we'll spend it with a dear friend, Tess. She's like a real mother to us and she always stays with us on special days."
Hearing the Irish angel's reply, the woman nodded her head. "I hope you have a wonderful holiday."
"Thank you. The same to you, madam!" Andrew spoke, and as the woman rose to her feet to leave the restaurant, they noticed she was carrying two bags with groceries. It wasn't such a heavy load for someone younger, but it certainly demanded some effort on a sixty-two woman.
The blond angel was quick to offer help. "I could take those for you..."
"Oh, but I don't mean to interrupt your lunch..." she said, a little embarrassed.
Monica kept the empty bottle inside her bag and stood up, holding little Angela in her arms. "Andrew is right, and we've already finished."
"Well, in that case, thank you so much."
The angels and the old lady paid their bill and left the small café together, and chatting about the weather. Monica had draped a small blanket over Angela's tiny shoulders and the little girl kept on gazing at everything around her with curious wide eyes.
"Is your house far from here? We could give you a ride so that you don't have to carry it." Andrew gently offered, once they were by their car.
"I really don't want to be a bother..."
"Oh, but you're certainly not a bother. Your family must be waiting for you and this way you'll get home faster."
The woman smiled and then nodded her head in agreement. "Well, in that case I'll accept your offer. But no, there isn't anybody waiting for me..." she said, with a slightly bitter tone in her voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry..." Monica's smile faded away and the woman placed a gentle hand over her shoulder. "Don't worry, it's alright. My husband passed away a few years ago and my only daughter lives far from me."
"So you do have a family."
"Yes, I do. But we're better off away from each other. It's good for everybody."
They stopped walking right in front of the car and while Andrew placed the bags with her groceries in the trunk she took the passenger's seat. They talked for a while and following her instructions, Andrew managed to get at her house in only a few minutes. It was simple, but cozy, located in a small village by the foot of the mountain. While Andrew took her bags to the kitchen, the old woman showed Monica and Angela her small Christmas tree, adorned with objects that soon enchanted mother and daughter.
"I keep the tradition, even though there's nobody to see it."
"Please, forgive me to ask, Mrs Kelly, but your daughter... how long..."
"Six years."
Andrew returned from the kitchen and placed his hands over his wife's shoulders. "Everything set!"
"I don't know how to thank you both... You've been so kind... a real beautiful family."
"Thank you, but I guess we're not the ones who deserve this... You're entitled to have a beautiful family too, Mrs Kelly..." the Irish angel spoke, and she and Andrew noticed as she lowered her head.
"Too late, I'd say."
The two angels exchanged a look of complicity and Andrew nodded. Smiling, he reached out to take Angela from Monica's arms. "Hey, little one, what about you and I head to the car, huh? Would you like to drive a little?" he spoke, receiving a baby's giggle as a reply. The blond angel took her tiny hand and made her wave at the old lady, who was looking at her with eyes filled with emotion. "Say bye to Mrs Kelly..."
"Oh, sweetie, goodbye... You're a very beautiful little angel!" she said, caressing her pink cheek and not aware of Monica and Andrew's second glance.
He kissed Monica's cheek and left. It was then that the Irish angel reached for the old lady's hand and squeezed it. "Mrs Kelly, whatever it is that happened between you and your daughter, remember that forgiveness is always an option..."
"A terrible argument... And then she left..." a lonely tear rolled down her face as she looked at the small Christmas tree on the corner of the living room. "Every year I build that up hoping that... she... she might come around..."
"Why don't you contact her?"
"I guess I... I'm too proud for that... and too afraid she refuses to talk to me..."
"Mrs Kelly, each day of anger and hate is one day less in a person's life. Each day of love and compassion is one more day in our existence."
The power of the angel's gaze was so intense that the woman felt the presence of tears and the strange sensation that there was something different about the young lady who was holding her hand.
"You... seem to have a sort of... glow around you..." she said, staring back at Monica in disbelief. "I must be imagining things!"
The warm smile upon the angel's face seemed to soothe her troubled heart and, amazingly, it gave even more certainty to the words that followed. "Remember what we are celebrating tonight, Mrs Kelly... There shouldn't be any room for anger."
"Sometimes I wonder if God knows me..."
"Oh, yes, He knows you because He made you. And like an understanding and forgiving Father, He knows how much you want to try again..."
"I do. But... there were so many mistakes... on her part... and on mine too..."
Monica placed a hand over her shoulder, "Everybody makes mistakes, Mrs Kelly. But if you're truly willing to change and start all over again, then open your heart to God's love. There won't be any place for fear then."
"I don't think I deserve it..."
"You're his child. And what parent doesn't think their child deserves a new chance?"
The woman cried openly and Monica offered her a warm embrace. To Mrs Kelly, it was as if God Himself was holding her and speaking to her heart words of encouragement and reassurance through the little angel's small form.
The family of strangers left her house some minutes later and once their car disappeared in the corner, the old lady stared at the phone on the end table.
X
"... I wish I had done more for her, you know, Andrew..." Monica spoke, a pensive look in her eyes while she and Angela played with a stuffed little turtle. The little angel was sitting on her chair and looked really happy with her favourite toy.
"You did what you had to do, angel. I can see now why we were told to go to the cabin in this form. We've been in that woman's life for just a few minutes, but I'm sure that our presence and especially what you told her might have touched her heart exactly the way the Father intended it to be."
The Irish angel sighed deeply, and then nodded her head. "You're right. I just hope she finds peace... she seemed to be such a sad woman..."
A baby's giggle draw their attention and placed a smile back on their faces. "Looks like somebody is having a lot of fun during her little trip!"
"You know how much wee ones get excited at this time of the year!"
Andrew chuckled under his breath: it wasn't only the youngest ones who were thrilled at Christmas time. He knew a beautiful angel, with a warm heart and childlike manners, whose beautiful brown eyes sparkled with joy at Christmas time.
They chatted a little more and at a certain point, they saw a car standing in the middle of the road not to far ahead. And its driver, a young woman, was standing next to it with a very worried expression on her face.
"Oh, dear... she seems she could use some help, Andrew..." the Irish angel spoke, immediately feeling sorry for the stranger.
Andrew nodded his head and pulled over right behind the other car. "You stay here with Angela. It's pretty cold outside." He said, opening the driver's door. As he approached the young woman he could see she looked rather apprehensive about him and the fact that it was a deserted road. It was obvious that her vehicle didn't work and she seemed ready to run away from any stranger who came closer to her.
But the young lady let out a sigh of relief when she saw that that tall blond man coming towards her was not alone, and inside his car there were a woman and a little baby. A family had stopped to help her.
"Hey, something wrong with your car?" Andrew offered, with his always so kind smile.
"Yes... it just stopped and I really don't understand anything about engines..." she said, rubbing her own arms as it was quite cold outside.
Andrew came closer to the car and, as she had already opened the hood, he checked its motor. "Hum... I think I can fix it for you..."
Her eyes shone with hope. "Really?"
"Yes. It'll take just a few minutes."
"Oh, thank you so much, sir! I've been here for over an hour and the few cars that passed by me didn't stop..." she explained, "... and I'm feeling so hungry!"
"My name is Andrew. And my wife Monica is in our car with our daughter. You can wait there, and we have some food for the trip."
"Thank you very much, Andrew..."
The young lady was in her early twenties and on her face it was still possible to see a hint of fear and insecurity. She walked towards the red Cadillac with quick steps but as she approached the car, the stranger felt a little ashamed. Nevertheless, Monica's friendly smile and her soothing voice inviting her to come inside for a while seemed to send her shyness away.
"Hullo, I'm Monica!" the angel greeted as she opened up the door. "Please, do come in!"
The girl sat at the passenger's seat and smiled shyly. "Nice to meet you Monica, I'm Jasmine. I'm sorry I have made you guys stop..."
"Andrew and I are glad we could help you." The auburn-haired lady said, holding a cute smiling baby in her lap. "And this is wee Angela."
The baby's cheerful expression soon melted the girl's heart, and she reached out to take her tiny hand. "Hey... hello, Angela! You're a very beautiful little lady!"
A baby sound was a reply to that compliment, amusing Jasmine even more. "She's lovely! You're a very blessed family, I can see!"
"Thank you, Jasmine." Monica reached out for the pack with sandwiches she and Andrew had bought at the café, and offered her. "Would you like one?"
"I... I hope I'm not bothering..."
"You're definitely not."
They spent the following minutes talking and Monica noticed that despite the smile on her face, there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. The Irish angel noticed she was also heading to the mountains judging by the way her car was going.
"I live in one of the few cabins that exist up in the mountains. My husband, my little daughter and me. It's a very small family, you see."
"Ah, a small and blessed family!" the Irish angel spoke, happy to know about it.
"Well, yes. My little Jade is six and looking at this little one I remembered the days when she was a baby!" her smile faded just a little, "They were... hard days for both my husband and me, but every time we saw her smile our hopes were renewed almost immediately."
"Babies have the power to inspire love wherever they go, as they are a blessing from God."
"I do believe that. I just wish..." now she was serious again and sighed.
"Is there something wrong?" Monica wanted to know.
"Well... I... I do have a family. A bigger family but... I guess my husband and I are not welcome..." she confessed, feeling surprisingly at ease to talk to that stranger.
"Please, forgive me for asking, but have you ever tried to make any contact with them?" Monica wanted to know.
"There... there were many harsh words spoken... they were too many and too painful..."
"And are those same hateful words taking away the courage to make the first attempt towards reconciliation?"
The young lady nodded, not aware of that fact until then. "I... I had never thought about it but I guess so..." Monica eyed at that young woman as if trying to solve a puzzle, as she kept on talking. "I got pregnant very soon and my boyfriend and I didn't expect it, but... the truth is that Jade made us realise how much we loved each other. More than we did." she said, and then her expression softened a little. "And to think that my mother even doubted Mike could make me happy..."
Monica noticed that Andrew was closing the hood of Jasmine's car and in a couple of minutes they would bid the young lady goodbye. She placed a gentle hand over the girl's shoulder. "Jasmine, each day of anger and hate is one day less in a person's life. Each day of love and compassion is one more day in our existence. If you truly want to try again, and give the first step to reconcile with your family, then trust the God's love that comes with your little daughter. Hold on to that instead of fear and uncertainty. They will not lead you anywhere."
"D-do you think so? D-do you think... my mother would be happy to know that..."
"That she's a grandmother? What mother wouldn't be?"
Andrew knocked at the window on the passenger's seat. "I guess it's all set!"
Jasmine smiled and nodded at him. Then, she turned to Monica and searched for the angel's hand. "Thank you so much, Monica... I guess it was God who put you and your family in my way..."
Monica returned the squeeze. "He's always watching over us all, Jasmine, because He loves His children very much."
The girl thanked both angels and after she started her car, Andrew returned to the red Cadillac, taking the driver's seat. Monica was now sitting by his side, as little Angela was back to her chair and had dozed off to a slight sleep. On the Irish angel's face, there was a contented smile and a distant look, as if her thoughts were miles away. He couldn't help chuckling.
The angel of death inched closer and leaned to the right, "You know there's a song called 'Beautiful dreamer'?" he spoke in her ear, and was glad when she turned to look at him, as their faces became only inches away from each other.
"Really?"
"Yep!" he was looking deep inside her brown eyes, flirting with her and enjoying to see how much she enjoyed that. "And 'someone' certainly reminds me of it!"
Monica tilted her head and felt her heart beat stronger at the power of his tender gaze. On the following second, their eyes closed and their lips met in a loving kiss. The blond angel cupped her cheek and caressed her soft skin as that loving caress went on, and it soon became tiny kisses.
"... this is better than a dream, though!" she said, giggling softly.
"Well, thank you, I'm glad to know it!"
"Isn't it wonderful when the Father uses his angels to fulfil such a perfect plan, Andrew?"
Smiling, he turned the car keys and looked back at her. "Well, it sure is, angel. But I guess your comment has a greater meaning, doesn't it?"
"Actually, yes!" she replied, smiling as if he had guessed a big secret.
"And I'm sure you'll tell me what's in this pretty little head of yours, right?" he said, highly amused.
Monica inched closer and brushed a loving kiss on his cheek. He knew there was at least one hour of endless chatter on the way, but he would never get tired of hearing her soothing voice and lovely accent. Actually, he could spend the rest of the eternity doing so.
X