(By Deyse Magalhães)
“Very good, wee one!” Monica exclaimed, when a friendly and cute black spaniel puppy ran towards her with a yellow tennis ball in her mouth, depositing it in the angel’s hands a second later, “You’re such a smart little dog!”
Sitting on the soft green grass that surrounded the cabin up in the mountains, the Irish angel giggled as the little dog barked and wagged her tiny tail, as if pleading her to continue playing that game. Monica had a very happy expression on her face and it wasn't just because of the adorable little animal that she and her friends had "adopted" a while ago. Andrew and Tess would soon be there too and the three angels would spend the Easter Sunday together, and if there was something that would always fill her heart with happiness it was spending time with her dearest friends.
She was exactly wondering where the two other angels were when Joy’s barks took her out of her thoughts. “Okay... here it goes again!” Monica threw the little ball again so that the puppy would go and take it. The toy fell behind a bush and Joy soon disappeared through the vegetation.
A couple of minutes passed by and frowning a little, as the animal was taking too long to return, Monica stood up and called for her. “Joy? Come back here!”
She started to head towards the bush when the little dog reappeared and ran clumsily to her "mom" with a little paper in her mouth instead of the toy.
“Hey, sweetie! What were you doing there, huh?” Monica scooped the puppy in her arms and kissed her little head, noticing the small sheet of paper, “What’s it?”
She unfolded the small note and a smile broke on her face when she recognised the handwriting on it.
[i]This Easter a certain little angel’s existence will become even sweeter if she follows the following instructions![/i]
Excited to know that her dearest friend was somewhere near, the Irish angel raised her head and scanned her surroundings, in an attempt to find him. “Andrew?” she called, but soon realised he wouldn’t show up before she solved the little riddle in the note. Amused, Monica turned her attention back to the paper and read the first clue:
[i]Now look inside your poems book.[/i]
“Hum... well, wee one, it seems your daddy has a surprise for me!” she spoke, “Want to help me to find that out?”
A little bark was her reply and the giggling angel entered the cabin to look for the first clue. Monica headed straight to her bedroom in search of her poem book – Andrew’s latest Christmas present for her. It was on the bedside table and a tiny chocolate egg was lying on the top of it. The expression on her face softened as she took the small candy in her hands, “Oh, Andrew...”
She also noticed that, hidden in between its pages was a second clue:
[i] Have you had your mocha fix today, angel?[/i]
Blushing, she lowered her head and smiled sheepishly, “... you know I have...”
The Irish angel climbed down the stairs of the cabin and headed to the kitchen. Once there, Monica quickly looked for the thermos flask (now empty) and found it over the table: there was another chocolate egg next to it and a small note under it. Giggling, she read the new message:
[i]Remember when you made me drag a pine cone up to the cabin?[/i]
“... yes, I do!” she ran out of the house and walked a few minutes, until she found a series of pine trees not far from the cabin and started to look for something in their trunks. It didn’t take her too long to find a 4th note lying under the shadow of one of them, along with another miniature of a chocolate egg.
[i]“...and when you insisted that I should take you to see the first sunrise of the new year?[/i]
“... how could I ever forget that, huh?” she whispered, and now headed to the cliff from where she and Andrew had watched the first sunrays of the new year touching the Earth and brightening up the sky – one of the most beautiful images she’d seen in her whole existence.
Always followed by little Joy, who watched the angel’s chocolate hunt with curious eyes, Monica walked a little bit further, up to the cliff and there she found another small note, along with a new tiny egg.
[i]If you run, you can have one more coffee cup before Tess arrives.[/i]
With a broad smile on her face, Monica rushed back to the cabin, already feeling a loving presence somewhere nearby, the strong connection she shared with her dearest friend was growing stronger each and every minute. As she crossed the kitchen door, the little angel found another note on the table, with a small basket where there were many other bonbons and where she deposited the little chocolate eggs collected during her journey. Written on the paper, a tiny message.
[i]Congratulations, angel. You’ve accomplished your assignment! These chocolates are just a way to thank you for your sweet friendship.
Happy Easter!
Love,
Andrew.[/i]
Then, she was greeted by a familiar, dear voice from behind her. “Happy Easter, angel...”
Monica turned around and saw Andrew holding a small bouquet with tiny daisies and smiling at her. Reflected in his bright green eyes, she saw all the love and affection he felt for her and his happiness to see her again after some days of separation. He was going to say something else, but the look of surprise and happiness that was present on her face was such that words died in his mouth. A moment later, he was holding her tightly, his heart filled with joy to be able to do it again.
“You’re finally here,” she spoke against his chest, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist, “I missed you.”
“I missed you too, angel,” Andrew replied, kissing the top of her head, lifting a prayer of thanks for one more sweet moment. “Did you have fun during your egg hunt, huh?” he asked, gently running his hand on her smooth auburn hair.
The Irish angel raised her head and looked at him with tenderness, “You’re always doing the sweetest things to surprise me, Andrew...”
“Well, you’re the sweetest little angel I’ve ever met, you sure deserve them all!” he pulled away just an inch, so that he could cup her face with his hand, “And the truth is that I love watching the surprised expression on this pretty face of yours!”
Monica’s adorable smile practically melted his heart for the hundredth time since they’d met. “I have a wee surprise for you too, ya know?”
He raised his eyebrows, “Oh, for me?”
“Yes!” happy to see the surprise in his eyes, and not really aware that he was exaggerating on it, she gently pulled away from his embrace. “You wait here, ok?”
“Yes, ma’am!”
She rushed upstairs, to her bedroom, and quickly opened her wardrobe, grabbing the package that was hidden inside of it. Then, the angel returned to the kitchen and found her dearest friend on the exact same place, caressing little Joy’s head.
“Happy Easter, Andrew! I hope you like them...” she said, handling him a small basket, wrapped in a beautiful brilliant paper. Inside of it, there were painted chocolate eggs.
She was looking at his face with expectation, paying attention to every little feature on it, as if trying to guess his reaction. A warm smile filled with tenderness was her reward, “Angel... you didn’t have to...”
“Do... do you like it?”
“Like it? I love it, Monica! It’s... everything is so beautiful... Thank you, baby. Happy Easter for you too!”
She could easily detect the sincerity in his words and heaved a sigh of relief, “I made them all myself, you know, the basket, the painting on the eggs, the wrapping...” she then bit her lower lip, “... except for the chocolate eggs... I know I’m not good at making them and you and Tess deserve all the best I can do for you... even if it’s a wee chocolate egg...”
Overwhelmed with tenderness, Andrew gave a step forward and wrapped his arms around his sweet angelic friend, in another loving embrace, “I wonder if one day I’ll be able to repay all this love and affection...”
“Oh, but you don’t have to repay me for anything, Andrew!” she frowned and raised her head, staring at him with an upset (and rather funny) expression on her face, as if she had heard something absurd, “And even if you don’t have to do it, you do repay! Otherwise why would I be so happy to have you here with me?!”
Laughing, the blond angel bent his head and brushed a kiss on her forehead, “Angel... I love you. And I love everything that comes from you!”
Monica couldn’t hold the upset face any longer and her lips curved in another broad smile, “I love you too, Andrew. And I’m happy you like my Easter surprise. I just hope Tess likes hers!” she said, returning the embrace with the same affection. It was then that they heard another familiar voice, “Have I heard my name and the words ‘Easter surprise’?”
The two angels pulled away and moved to hug their dear supervisor, “Oh, Tess... I’m so glad you’re here! That we’re all here! That’s the best blessing I could ever get! Happy Easter!” the Irish angel spoke, as Andrew stretched his arms and held his both angelic friends.
“Happy Easter for you too, babies!”
*
Easter lunch was a happy one, with the angels and a very excited little dog. Monica, Andrew and Tess chatted for hours and the youngest angel was overjoyed to see that her dearest friends loved not only the little Easter gift she had prepared for them but also the taste of the chocolate eggs.
Afternoon fell slowly and sunny, with very few clouds in the sky, and Andrew took the opportunity to invite Monica for a walk, which she gladly accepted. Hand in hand, the two heavenly creatures walked in between the old tall trees, chatting happily and appreciating their surroundings and the blond angel was sure he would never get tired of hearing each and every word she had to say. Her philosophical remarks about the world around them, her witty jokes and her cheerful personality did make his Easter Sunday a great, pleasant one and once again, he lifted a prayer of thanks for having his sweet angelic friend by his side.
They were talking about her latest assignment when, at a certain point of the woods, Monica stopped walking and a shadow covered her meek features. Frowning, Andrew turned to look at her face and could easily understand her fear. Some time ago, during a painful and difficult assignment, an evil man tried to hurt them both in that very spot and memories of that terrible day still haunted her dreams whenever she was in human form.
“I’m sorry... I... could we go back, Andrew? Please?”
He squeezed her hand reassuringly and nodded, “Sure, angel... I’m sorry, I didn’t notice...”
“It’s alright, I didn’t notice it either... I guess we were too distracted talking...”
They were about to leave when some voices echoed through the vegetation and reached their ears. The angels looked at each other with intrigued faces, “It’s coming that way...” Andrew said and, with a firm hold in her hand, he guided her ahead, feeling deep inside his soul all the apprehension in his dearest friend’s heart. The more they walked, the louder the voices were and the angels also realised the sound of laughter. A few steps later, they finally found a clearing and saw that an entire family was camping there.
All the tension both Monica and Andrew were feeling quickly disappeared and a smile broke on their faces at the vision of the 4 children, aged from around 8 to only 3 years old. They were conducting an egg hunt and having a lot of fun while their mother prepared a little snack and their father encouraged them to look for the eggs. A camping van was parked not far from them, showing they had spent the day there.
“Look at those wee ones, Andrew. They’re so cute!”
“Yes, and they’re sure having a great fun!”
The Irish angel looked at him with tenderness, “I can tell you they are!”
He gave her hand a light squeeze, “Wanna see them closer?”
She nodded her head enthusiastically, “Yes!”
Happy to see that the sad memories were forgotten and all her fear and apprehension of going back to that place were gone, Andrew guided her through the vegetation and, now in their angelic form, they came closer to the children and watched as they searched for the chocolate eggs hidden in the nearby bushes by the “Easter bunny”.
“I still didn’t find the biggest one!” the oldest boy, complained, checking behind a few rocks. The youngest sibling, a cute little girl wearing a white shirt and pink overalls, distractedly moved away from the group and came closer to the angels. And, although Monica and Andrew were in angelic form, the child looked at them and smiled, “Hi...”
“Hello, sweetheart!” Monica spoke, kneeling on the ground, so that she could stay at the same level of the child.
“Hey! Where is a pretty little girl like you going, huh?” Andrew asked, kneeling right next to Monica.
“I’m looking for chocolate eggs... My brothers and sisters got many but I didn’t find any...” she said, showing them her empty basket.
“Oh, how can that be?”
“I guess the Easter bunny put them there...” she pointed to a place far from the clearing where her family was and was decided to check it by herself, when Andrew spoke again. “Well... I guess he didn’t put the eggs so far. In my opinion they’re hidden here somewhere...”
“I agree!” Monica added, joining her friend in an attempt to stop the little girl from moving away from her parents.
“But where can they be?” she wanted to know, not all too convinced.
The Irish angel looked around them and smiled a second later, “Why don’t you check over there? In between those white flowers?”
“Okay... thanks!” With a pleased smile, the little girl rushed towards the direction indicated by Monica and, much to her surprise, she found a huge chocolate egg and shouted with excitement, calling her parents and siblings attention and showing them the “treasure” she had just found.
“Monica... that’s cheating!” Andrew gently reprimanded, although he himself was smiling with amusement.
“No, it’s not. She’s the youngest one, her brothers and sisters obviously have an advantage... Besides, there’s chocolate for everybody and the best part of the eggs hunt is finding them!”
Chuckling, the blond angel wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek, “Okay... you won!”
With their hearts filled with an amazing sensation of peace, the angels returned to the cabin.
*
“... angel? Are you still awake?” Andrew wanted to know, permanently running his fingers through Monica’s auburn hair. They had been sitting on the porch bench and together watched as the night fell down in the mountains, bringing a clear and starry sky. Feeling a bit tired, the Irish angel was now lying on this same bench and had pillowed her head over his leg.
“Yes... I am...” came a sleepy reply.
“You’ve been so quiet for the last... 5 minutes!” he said, hearing a small giggle in reply.
“I was thinking about what happened today... About us going to that place again, after what happened there...”
“I have to apologise to you again, angel. It wasn’t my intention to take you there, I...”
“Oh, no, don’t apologise, Andrew, it wasn’t your fault... I never returned there, fearing the bad memories of that place but today, something changed... I felt something completely different once we were there...” she moved her head to face him, “Do you understand what I mean?”
With a warm smile, he nodded, “Yes, I do, angel. To be honest, I felt the same... I was expecting to be sad and angry but then... when I saw that family so happy with their children... my heart was suddenly filled with peace.”
She looked deep inside his green pools, “God has truly blessed me with a friend who knows exactly what’s in my heart...”
With tenderness, he soothed her hair, “Well... I can say exactly the same!”
Monica looked at the stars in the sky and then back at his face, “I guess everybody should give themselves this chance to renewal their soul, you know, Andrew. The fear and sadness I felt about that place have gone... They disappeared at the moment I saw that beautiful scene...”
“I totally agree, sweetie...That’s how I feel right now too; with my spirit renewed.”
A meek smile appeared on her face, “Want to hear a little Easter poem I found in the book you gave me?”
He smiled in reply, gently placing a lock of her hair behind her ear, “I’ll be happy to, angel.”
“Renew your spirit, refresh
Your soul,
Rejoice with all humankind.
Celebrate life everlasting.
Peace and wonder are
Yours to find.”
“That’s lovely!” he said, overwhelmed with love for that warm hearted angel.
“Thanks, I love it too...” a yawn interrupted her for a second, “...Can we stay here a wee bit more?”
“Of course we can.” he said, chuckling and secretly guessing what would happen in a few minutes.
And he was right: Monica soon ended up falling asleep, lulled by the monotonous movement of his fingers caressing her hair and by the gentle breeze that blew from the silent woods. Very carefully, the blond angel held her in his arms – if his heart was already filled with great peace, her sleeping image helped to make it even softer and brought a wave of tenderness and other loving feelings to his soul. He brushed a gentle kiss on her forehead and quietly carried her to inside the cabin, closing the door behind him.
*
The end
