Reclined against a tree trunk and taking advantage of its generous shadow, Andrew cradled his dearest friend in his arms with infinite tenderness, waiting patiently until she slowly came to her senses and opened her eyes for another one of those lovely dreams. But she was so relaxed and at ease, with her head leaning over his chest, that Andrew did not have any urgency to see her waking up.
Truth to be told, he was enjoying to hold her in that beautiful angelic form. Looking at her made up for all those days he had been at her side in that lifeless ICU room. The angel of death prayed for a sign that she would recover and that his services would not be necessary any longer. So far, however, he kept on waiting for a miracle.
"Hey, beautiful..." He spoke softly in Monica's ear as she slowly came to her senses.
A sleepy smile played on her lips at the moment she heard his voice and felt his fingers gently combing her hair. Monica blinked a few times and frowned at the sudden brightness that reached her eyes, finally lifting her head to look at him. "Hullo, Andrew..." Her sweet accent was like a soft melody to his ears. "Have I been here for too long?"
Andrew shook his head with a smile. "You were so pretty sleeping in my arms that I wouldn't mind keeping you here for as long as you wanted."
The Irish angel lowered her head slightly embarrassed with his flattering. "Sometimes I feel guilty, you see..."
"Guilty?"
"For demanding all your time and attention..." She said, eying him with tenderness and gratitude. "You could be somebody else's angel."
Andrew frowned at those words and his expression turned to be a serious one. With infinite care, he helped her to sit up straight and facing him so that he could give her a mild scold. "Monica, what you're saying isn't fair to yourself. You are a God's daughter too and right now I am your angel. I've been assigned to you and even if I hadn't, I'd still be here at your side!"
"I know. But even so, I can't bear to see so much sorrow in your eyes." She said, touching his handsome face with her fingertips.
Andrew took her hand up to his lips and kissed its palm. "I have no doubt that soon you and I will be sitting together in our human forms and I'll buy you a double mocha latte against Tess' will and that we'll spend a lovely day off, like many others we've already spent, angel."
Lost for words and moved with emotion, Monica nodded her head. Andrew decided to risen the mood, as watching Monica's sadness caused him immense suffering as well.
"Meanwhile, I brought 'someone' who was also specially assigned to be at your side and make you some company!"
Watching as a hint of curiosity appeared in her sad doe-like eyes, Andrew reached for the teddy bear hidden behind some flowers and gave it to her. "This is Charlie. And he was sent by one of your little students, Sarah!"
A crying smile broke on Monica's beautiful face as she took the teddy bear in her hands. "Oh, wee Sarah... She's such a sweet little girl..." The angel said, placing the small toy underneath her chin.
"I know, she and I had a little talk." He winked at her, eliciting Monica's curiosity a little more.
X
"Poor wee Sarah... Although she has always been such a cheerful and smart little girl I knew that something was just not right!" Monica spoke, sadness written on her face as Andrew dutifully reported all the details of his meeting with the little girl and her mother.
"There was much regret in Mrs Stevenson's eyes, Monica, you can be sure of that. Plus, Sarah's lending you her best friend only indicates she no longer needs him for now she has her mom back." He said, with an encouraging grin that finally elicited a tearful smile from her. "I shouldn't tell you this but I'm kinda jealous of this little buddy!" The blond angel added finally listening to her lovely giggling filling his ears.
