A pretty gift
"Very well, little angel! I guess we're almost finishing here!"
The sound of Andrew's voice was one more reason for Angela to turn her sparkling green eyes and meet his equal ones and shoot him a broad smile. He replied by grinning back at her, before grabbing a hair brush and combing her short and delicate auburn strands, which she had inherited from her mother. They were still wet as her daddy had just given her a warm bath. Then, Andrew had carefully selected her clothes for her outing in the park: a lovely pink dress, with white flowers on its skirt. On her feet, comfortable tiny white sandals appropriate for the clumsy walks she would give once in a while, always under her parents' attentive eyes.
The blond angel finished his joyful task and gave a step back to admire the pretty little angel that was sitting on the nursery, happily playing with a small stuffed frog. Noticing that she was being observed, Angela raised her eyes again and smiled at her daddy for the second time. With his heart filled with tenderness, Andrew stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.
"You are the prettiest little angel I've ever seen, sweetie! And I know who you got all this beauty from!"
He kissed her small chubby hand and kept the hair brush inside the bag he, Monica or Tess used to carry whenever they took the little one to go on an outing.
"Now guess what you, daddy and your little friends are gonna do?" he spoke, taking her in his arms. "See? It's a beautiful day today so what do you think about us going to the park, huh?"
The way she moved her chubby little arms told him Angela had loved the idea. Laughing, he kissed her cheek and then carried her out of the bedroom and up to the living room, where her other little toys were. As Tess had explained them, their home would be that pretty apartment for the entire week, but only Monica was going to be on assignment. She was working for a rich family, taking care of their youngsters, and would spend the whole day out.
But Monica didn't complain. Much on the contrary: the Irish angel was happy that she, Andrew and Angela had been granted with some time together, and she was secretly enjoying the fact that her Andrew had the chance to watch over their little one, as she knew how much he missed those precious moments when he was away on assignment.
He carefully placed little Angela on the carpeted floor and sat down in front of her, chuckling at the way she tried to keep the balance while she was standing on her feet by herself. "Well, what do you think of taking all your little friends to the park with us, huh?"
Smiling, the little girl sat in front of her favourite and only toys and placed them on her lap: a frog, a caterpillar, a ladybird and a wide-eyed turtle. They were small and stuffed, and it was evident how much she enjoyed them.
All of a sudden, another familiar voice reached their ears and both angels turned their heads to see Tess standing by the entrance door. The oldest angel was smiling at them and felt her heart invaded with great joy at the vision of her favourite little angel girl smiling back at her, welcoming her presence with so much gladness.
"Aw, there you are, my pretty angel baby girl!"
Angela's giggles made the expression on her face soften a bit more, and Andrew chuckled, secretly amused at the way such a tiny little creature had the grumpy supervisor wrapped around her little finger. Tess was carrying a package in her hands but she placed it over the coffee table for a moment to sit down on the carpet. Then, she picked the little angel up and kissed her rosy cheek. "Aw, look at her! She's prettier and more adorable every day!"
"She sure is!" Andrew spoke, also caressing his daughter's soft hair.
"'tie Tess..." Angela's sweet voice and the way she was looking at them was the perfect expression of God's wonderful creations. She was sweet, innocent and certainly created to spread joy and affection wherever she went.
"How is my little angel girl doing? Auntie Tess has got something for you!" the supervisor spoke, replacing Angela on the carpet. Then, she grabbed the small box she had brought with her and, under the little girl's attentive eyes, shook it lightly. "Another little friend for you to play with!"
The older angel opened the box and took a small teddy bear from inside. It was possible to see it was antique, and very delicate. The cute little baby raised her chubby arms to grab the teddy bear that was being offered to her. And the permanent smile on her face, which always made two tiny dimples visible on each side of her cheek, enchanted the angel who was offering the toy to her. Tess sighed pleased when little Angela grabbed the small stuffed bear and examined it carefully.
But much to her distress, the little angel placed the toy next to the bag Andrew was taking with him and turned her attention back to the other toys. Tess frowned with concern. "What's wrong? How come she prefers to play with a worm, a bug and an animal that came from a swamp? Where in Heaven did she get that from?"
Not managing to hide his smile, Andrew shrugged his shoulders. "Well, Tess... remember that it's not only a worm... it's Bob!" he winked at her, clearing remembering the time when Angela's mother had named real worms while they were on an assignment.
Rolling her eyes, Tess let out a tired sigh. "How could I forget that?"
"Maybe Angela just needs some time to get used to another friend around..." Andrew was trying his best not to hurt the supervisor's heart.
"Yes, I think you're right. Are you two going out?"
He smiled joyfully. "Yes, I'm gonna take her to the park. You coming?"
"I'm afraid I can't. But..." she looked at the rejected teddy bear, "...it would be a good idea if you took it with you, she could get used to the new present today..."
"Oh, yeah, of course!" Not wanting to contradict her, Andrew picked up the toy and put it inside the bag. Then, he turned to his daughter and gently asked for her permission to put the other toys in the bag too, so that she would carry just one.
"Well, I guess we're all ready to go to the park now!" he said, picking her up in his arms.
"Pwack!" she repeated, holding the funny looking ladybird in her tiny hands.
"Oh, sweetie, you have a lot of fun in there, will ya?” Tess kissed her cheek and received a smile in return. Then, she bid Andrew goodbye and on the following moment, the supervisor was gone.
"Well, I guess it's our turn to leave now!" he spoke, gazing at her pretty face.
Giggling, she placed her chubby hand against his chin. "Daddy!"
Angela's sing song voice was like music to his ears and permanently chatting with her, Andrew left the apartment and headed to the park.
X
Under the gentle morning sunrays, Andrew spread a white towel over the green grass and sat with his precious little angel to play with her and her "little friends". And what amused him was the fact that she would keep the teddy bear that Tess had given her apart. No matter how many times he tried to insert it in the context, the chubby little hand insisted on placing it away, next to the bag.
"Well, little angel... I'm afraid your auntie Tess is not going to be pleased with that, you know?" he spoke, watching her.
"Mummy..." Angela suddenly spoke, and raised her head to look at her father, who had also felt what she felt.
"Yes..." his lips curved into a slight smile as he started to scan the park, amongst talkative children, couples in love and elderly grandparents who watched their descendants playing. And a heartbeat later, there she was. Monica walked towards them grinning at the vision of her two beloved ones waiting for her. Andrew and Angela were everything of the most precious she had in her entire existence; her miracle.
"Hey, look who's there, Angela!" The blond angel put Angela on her feet and showed her that her 'mummy' was coming closer. The little one opened a broad smile and let go of her toys for a while; giving short and clumsy steps towards the Irish angel.
Overwhelmed with tenderness, and feeling the presence of tears, Monica opened her arms to Angela and knelt on the grass, purposefully keeping some distance so that the little angel would have to walk a wee bit more to reach her. And once she did so, Monica held her baby daughter tightly in her arms.
"Mummy!"
"Oh, my wee one! Mommy is so happy to see you!"
She raised her in her arms and covered Angela's sweet face with lots of kisses as Andrew came closer to them, pleased to witness such an affectionate meeting between mother and daughter. He chuckled at the way his little one was smiling at her mom - two or three teeth could be seen. Monica touched Angela's nose with hers and happy to hear the little girl's giggling, she turned to the blond angel.
"Doesn't a smile like this make your heart beat a wee bit happier?"
Without breaking the eye contact with her and clearly enjoying to see her broad smile, he replied. "It sure does..."
And clearly enjoying his flirting, she bit her lower lip as her cheeks blushed a little. There were no other words spoken between them, as they were not necessary. Lost in her brown pools, Andrew brought his face closer to hers and on the following seconds, Monica's eyes closed slowly, in expectation for the sweet kiss that followed. He pressed his lips against hers even so gently that she felt pleasantly trapped in one of those perfect moments that would last a small eternity.
"And I finally got to do what I've been wanting to since I woke up and didn't see my wife!" he said, gently stroking her cheek, his eyes travelling all over her meek face, studying her Gaelic features he could now see reflected on Angela too.
Monica tilted her head adorably, returning his gaze while caressing her baby's soft hair. "I'm so sorry. I think I was a wee bit late already and..." she made a stop and her smile grew wider. "...you were so cute sleeping I didn't have the courage to wake you up!" As she said so, she stood on the tip of her toes and pecked his lips playfully.
Chuckling, he placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her up to the towel, where the beautiful family settled.
"How is your assignment doing? I didn't think I'd meet you here in the park, angel..." he wanted to know, both angels sharing the attention with little Angela's gibberish and funny giggling.
"Oh, well... The Gibson family seems to be just like a normal family, except for Mrs Gibson. She seems... a sad old woman, you see, Andrew. And I'm under the impression that it all started a long time ago, because of something that I still don't understand. My heart told me to come to the park and think about what I've seen and heard so far..." she looked at Angela and then back at him, and the concern on her face gave place to another smile. "I guess it was actually telling me that everything of the most precious to me was here and that I needed to have a break from my duties as a governess. Seeing you and our wee one renews my hopes."
"I do understand you, angel... How many times I was the one coping with a hard assignment and then you two came around and filled my soul with hope?"
She caressed his handsome face and he covered her hand with his own, kissing her palm. "I miss you two terribly during the days, you know? When I return to our temporary home, wee Angela is already sleeping and my human form is also so tired I end up falling asleep..."
"You look cute when you're sleeping!" he joked, kissing her cheek as her lips curved into a smile.
The small teddy bear Angela had been given a while before caught her eye. "It was 'auntie Tess' present but I sense our little angel didn't like it as much as she likes her other friends, you see..." Andrew explained, quite amused at how the little girl ignored the cute toy.
"And I can imagine auntie Tess isn't very happy with it..."
"No, she's not!" he said. "Are you coming with us or do you still have to go to the Gibson's?" Andrew wanted to know, aware that his beloved Monica was fulfilling God's assignment but also wanting her to stay with him and their beautiful daughter. Angela was sitting on her mom's lap and entertained with her little toys, and Monica turned her eyes from her to look at him with a broad smile.
"Mrs Gibson gave me the rest of the day off." She happily announced. "And the Father gave a little hand by telling me you two were here!"
Extremely pleased to hear that, Andrew tightened the hold around her shoulders and kissed her cheek. "So it means we'll have a special dinner tonight!"
"Oh, yes, a special dinner sounds wonderful!"
Smiling, the three angels spent some more time at the park, enjoying the gentle sunrays and each other's company. When it was time to go, Monica collected Angela's toys and only then she examined the teddy bear closely.
"Hum... It's cute and it seems to be antique..."
"It is... I'm just not sure if our little one is a fan of antique as much as her auntie Tess is!"
They were both laughing when Angela raised her chubby little arms and took the teddy bear from her mother's hands.
"Oh! Looks like she's getting used to the idea!" Andrew said, and to their surprise, she continued to hold it in her hands. She didn't play with it, though. It seemed that Angela wanted to keep it with her for some reason yet to be discovered by her parents, leaving them to exchange a look of curiosity.
Half an hour later they were leaving the park and heading to their temporary home, and Monica and Andrew decided to let Angela walk a little. While Monica held her tiny hand in hers, Andrew followed by her side, and both were highly amused at her clumsy steps and at how she kept the teddy bear close to her. There was an old gentleman sitting on the bench not far from where they were, and when they passed by the man, Angela unexpectedly stopped. To her parents' surprise, she walked towards him and gave him the teddy bear.
While Monica and Andrew were staring at each other with intrigued faces, the man smiled at the little girl. "Oh, little one, a present for me?" he spoke, finding it funny how she had interrupted his lonely thoughts.
Angela was gazing up at him with a slight smile upon her meek face and with some expectation too.
"She's a very sociable little one!" Monica spoke, she and Andrew also approaching the old man.
He looked at the couple and smiled. "Oh, I'm sure she is!" Then, he turned his eyes to Angela once again. She continued to gaze at him, fidgeting with the brim of her skirt. "Thank you, sweetheart, it's really a beautiful present but I think it'll be more beautiful in your bedroom!" he returned the toy to Angela. But the little one gave it back to him once again.
The old man looked at Angela's parents with curiosity and Monica and Andrew shrugged their shoulders, as intrigued as she was. "Looks like this wee one doesn't accept 'no' as an answer!"
The man looked at the teddy bear, now paying close attention to its details. A bittersweet smile appeared on his old face as he spoke again. "It reminds me of my childhood."
Moved to hear that, Monica sat on the bench next to him and placed Angela on her lap. "It's a precious memory, sir."
" It is. I had an older brother and a younger sister and... well... Times were hard in those days. The world was haunted by the nazi. My sister had a teddy bear just like this and when my father and I had to go on separate ways she gave it to me, so I wouldn't feel so lonely. And right now when I look at this toy I have a clear memory of Mary telling me that she would be waiting for me and dad..." he kept on speaking. "Pity that it never happened and we were never able to see each other again. The nazi plague was soon over us and our belongings were taken from us. I was sent to an orphanage and my dad... he wasn't that fortunate."
"We... we're sorry to hear that, sir." Andrew spoke, the scene the old man described was still vivid in his memory.
"It was such a long time ago... I just hope Mary had a better destiny..." There was melancholy in his eyes and in his words.
But in Monica's eyes there was shock and amazement, for the story that the old gentleman had just told them she had already heard.
"I'm sorry, sir... what did you say your sister's name was?"
"Mary Stein... We all received our grandparents' names. Isaac, Abraham and Mary. But I'm not sure if she kept her name... I don't even know if she's alive now..."
Andrew noticed that there was emotion on the angel's face but didn't know why. Yet, he observed as she went on asking questions as if trying to solve a puzzle that he himself couldn't understand.
"And this toy... you said it's similar to the one you had as a child..."
He turned his eyes back to the teddy bear and rearranged his glasses. "Y-yes... Actually, it's rather similar, except that this one was reformed. I remember that one of his arms was tore..."
Monica looked at an invisible point ahead of her, now finally aware of the full circle that she had accomplished. Even her little daughter, so innocent and absentmindedly entertained with a lock of her auburn hair, had also been part of it. "Thank You, Father, for guiding my steps and showing me the truth..."
X
On the following afternoon, at the same park...
"Oh, my goodness, it's Isaac!"
The 76-year-old woman's voice was filled with emotion as Monica led her to the old gentleman who had been patiently waiting for them in Andrew's company.
"Mary!" he exclaimed, as he rose to his feet once he saw them approaching.
When the two siblings were face to face, all doubt about their real identity that still could remain was shattered: to confirm what documents had already proved, they started talking about the past and childhood memories and the teddy bear that had played an important part in that series of events was back again at their owners' hands.
"Oh, I prayed so much... I prayed for your safety night after night, Isaac... my brother... Sometimes, I even prayed for your soul..." she said, taking his hand in both of hers.
"Oh, Mary... dear little sister... I thought that our paths would never cross again and all this time I hoped that God had taken care of you, Abraham and mom..."
"Oh, He did... And gave us beautiful families! I spoke to Abraham, he's coming to see you!"
Monica and Andrew exchanged a look of contentment and saw it as the other members of Isaac and Mary's families approached, all of them amazed at the "coincidence" that had brought them together.
"And we have to thank Monica for that... if it wasn't for her, we would have never met!" Mrs Gibson - former Mary Stein, said, looking at her governess with gratitude.
"Please, don't thank me, Mrs Gibson. You and Mr Stein should thank the God you've been praying to for all of your life... Be certain that He heard your prayers and saw your tears."
"And He sent you and your beautiful family to help us meet again, young lady." Isaac spoke, also grateful and surprised that a total stranger could change his life so suddenly and in such a wonderful way.
Monica and Andrew soon bid them goodbye and, hand in hand, left the park back to their temporary apartment - the Irish angel's assignment as a governess was already over, even though they hadn't received the orders to leave yet. So for a while, Monica was planning to spend the free time together with those she loved dearly. One of these angels was standing right next to her and Angela and Tess were waiting for them at their "home."
X
The first sunrays started to shine through the window of an apartment located in a residential area of the Salt Lake City. But what was special about that cosy little building was not its beautiful and antique architecture, or its decoration, seeming to have been taken from a fairy tale, but an apartment's temporary inhabitants. Three angels in human form had been sent to that neighbourhood with assignments to fulfil, and one of them had been accomplished on the night they arrived there - Andrew taking his neighbour to the hospital and the consequent discovery that his illness had been wrongly diagnosed.
It was still early but the blond angel was the first one to wake up. Lying in his bed, he watched as his beloved Monica still slept, comfortably snuggled in his arms. Smiling, he studied the meekness of her Gaelic features, the way her long auburn hair cascaded over her shoulders and spread over his arm. The blond angel also noticed the small freckles she had over her shoulders and gently touched them with his fingertips, as if he was touching fine porcelain. A mischievous smile appeared on his handsome face as he bent down and started to kiss her shoulder, making sure he would capture each freckle with his lips.
And that soothing tickling ended up waking up his beloved Monica, who smiled even if her eyes remained closed.
"What are you doing, Andrew?" she asked in between giggles as he kept on kissing her shoulder.
"Falling in love with you a bit more..." he whispered to her ear, kissing her earlobe and then pushing away a few strands of her long hair so that he could explore more of her perfumed skin.
She felt butterflies in her stomach just by the way he was holding her and by listening to his voice, to his words. "You see..." she was trying to find the right words but the power of his gaze only made her feel more and more infatuated with him. "... I guess I'm falling in love with you a wee bit more right now..." she said, and after a small laughter, Andrew finally captured her lips with a long, languid kiss that he had been waiting to give her since the moment he woke up.
But a sound coming from the other bedroom interrupted that moment and the couple pulled away rather amused. Angela's cries broke the silence of the house, announcing it was time for her breakfast.
"Our wee one has a beautiful voice..." Monica spoke, leaning her forehead against his.
Chuckling, Andrew pecked her lips. "Oh, yeah she does. And judging by her high notes we can tell she's hungry!"
Giggling, she gently disentangled from his loving arms to give attention to the little angel who had just woken up from a peaceful night sleep. Experiencing temporary human life was indeed a unique experience.
X
To be continued