Angelica Marries an Angel

19

I was at the kitchen table trying to go back over the wedding plans. It had been a week, but I still hadn’t found anything knew. I still wanted blue, silver and chocolate. Cas had been off looking for God, and the boys were doing as they do. Dad was dealing with depression beyond my understanding. He had told me that he wasn’t happy with the wedding, but I could tell he was lying. He just sat there and watched me as I talked out loud about my ideas. It was at a time like this that I wished I had someone who was excited about weddings. A best friend, a mom, an aunt.

Then came a knock at the door. I went to answer and a woman in a fancy dress stood in the door. She looked a bit pale, and had dirt on her face in smudges. I blinked, she felt wrong. Her aura was old and almost stale.

“Can I help you?” I asked warily. She blinked and looked at me in confusion.

“You look familiar. Have we met?” she asked. My heart stopped in my throat.

“You’re dead.” I said in a hoarse voice.

“Ange, who’s at the door girl?” Dad said wheeling into the hall. He froze and stared in shock. The woman smiled and moved around me and to dad.

“Hello, Bobby.” She said in a soft voice. Dad just stared and then looked at me. I shrugged and he looked at her. He swallowed nervously.

“Karen. How are you alive?” He said in a shaking voice. She shook her head and shrugged. I stared at her back in confusion. Karen? “You can’t be alive. I-I-”

“Never mind that Dad! She’s back.” I said loudly. Karen looked at me.

“I remember you.” She said suddenly. I paled as she stepped forward. She looked at me carefully, and suddenly smiled. She pulled me into a hug and I froze up. I didn’t feel her soul. She wasn’t dead, but he wasn’t alive either. She pulled back. “Angelica, wasn’t it? The miracle child? I’m afraid I was rather rude to you. I won’t say I was wrong, but I am sorry. My husband having a child with another woman when I couldn’t give him any…I was upset. I’m going to fix that this time. Now, how about some tea?” She smiled, taking my hand and leading me to the kitchen.

Where she flipped one. “What on earth happened in here!? This place is a wreck!” She span around in horror and then stared at Dad in shock. “Please tell me you’ve cleaned since I left!” Dad mouthed soundlessly at her and I stepped in again. All the men I knew were always struggling for words.

“He doesn’t really clean. I cleaned up once, when I lost my mind, but it didn’t really stay that way.” I said guiltily. She tutted and shook her head. She moved to a cabinet and pulled out an apron, starting to wash dishes and organize the pantry. I grabbed dad’s chair and wheeled him to the other room. I walked around and he pointed to the kitchen mouthing. “I know, I know. But it’s not anything dangerous. She isn’t a wraith, or a ghost, or a vamp, or a zombie, or werewolf, or a demon, or anything. Dad, it’s really her. She’s for real.” I said softly. He stared at me and rubbed his face.

“Ange, I killed Karen myself. She was cremated. How could she be back?” He said hoarsely. I shook my head and before I could answer Karen called me into the kitchen.

“Angelica? Could you come help me, dear?” Karen called. I looked up.

“Coming, Karen!” I called. Dad looked at me. I shrugged. I ran in and she smiled at me. She handed me an apron and pointed at the pile of dishes. I smiled and moved to the sink.

“Shouldn’t you take off your jacket?” She said. I blinked. I looked at the leather sleeves. I bit my lip and sighed.

“Just don’t scream.” I said, sliding it off. My wings unfolded and ruffled up and settled. She put a hand over her mouth and blinked. “I’ll just get started, yeah?” I said starting the water. She nodded and turned to the counter she was clearing. We spent the afternoon cleaning the kitchen and the dining room. Dad watched us quietly, eyes wide and staring. Karen told me about this and that thing and asked about what was going on. I told her Dad had been mugged and that he was in the chair until further notice, and that he was still scrapping with some help from the Winchester boys.