CHAPTER 28
The next few days passed with both busyness and peace for Monica as she worked with Grace. She was up early as the days were getting a bit warmer and down at the track with the mare by 6:00 to get her warmed up before breakfast. As much as she wanted Grace to win, she more wanted Grace to win pain-free. For the angel, there was simply no other option. She worked hard enough that she fell into bed exhausted at the end of the day, and slightly annoyed with the limitations of her human body.
The sun was shining brightly one afternoon as Monica urged Grace around the track. She was purposefully holding the horse back, even though Grace seemed to want to run faster, but the angel was in no hurry for the horse to run at full force yet.
As she slowed her to the trot, Monica felt eyes upon her that she knew did not belong to Andrew. She could instantly sense his presence in her heart when he was nearby unless she was thoroughly absorbed in what she was doing. Glancing over, she noticed Caroline leaning over the fence, watching.
Smiling, Monica directed Grace in the direction of her assignment, "Hullo, Caroline."
"Hey, Monica. She's looking good, isn't she?"
"She is. I was holding her back as she wanted to run faster but there is plenty of time for that."
"So you think she will be ready?"
"I have no reason yet to believe she won't be." Reaching down, Monica patted the horse's neck affectionately. Noticing how Caroline did not immediately say anything else, she turned her eyes back to the human, "Is there something else other than Grace on your mind?"
Caroline was silent another moment before she spoke carefully, "I have been thinking a lot about what you have told me in the past, Monica...and I'm considering breaking things off with Ian."
Unable to hide the surprise on her face, Monica dismounted Grace so she could face Caroline directly, "What finally changed your mind?"
Sighing, Caroline avoided the angel's gaze, "Watching the relationship between you and Andrew. I can see how much he loves you and how he treats you. I'm ashamed of how I referred to it before when I said that not everyone treats their girlfriends like a princess. What I think I have come to realize is that maybe the way Andrew treats you is just the right way to treat someone you love."
"Well, you know, Andrew and I are just friends, but we have always been very close. I know he would never hurt me and I think that is an important thing to know about anyone you love. God created his children to care for one another; not hurt each other."
A tiny smile crossed her lips, "You are right about so many things, Monica. Why won't you be honest about your 'friendship' with Andrew? The guy is gorgeous and it is obvious he adores you."
Blushing profusely, the little angel laughed, "Honestly, Caroline, it isn't like that between us, but I am glad that my friendship with Andrew helped you realize that you deserve better. Much better."
"When you say it, Monica, I actually believe it," With a little wave, Caroline turned her back and started the walk up to the house.
X
Andrew sighed and ran a hand through his short, blond hair. With each passing day, the numbers on the paper seemed to get worse and worse. Without the win they had been hoping for at the last race, the farm was in dire straits financially. The bills were piling up and there was not enough money in the bank to pay them all. It was frustrating to say the least.
"Knock, knock."
That sweet Irish lilt was exactly what he needed to hear and he raised his head with a smile, "Come in, Angel Girl."
Walking into the office, her brow knitted in confusion as she surveyed the clutter on his desk, "Are you winning the battle, Andrew?"
Her serious expression endeared her to him all the more, "Doing the best I can, Angel, but things are not looking good at the moment."
"I know," She sighed as she moved to the front of the desk and began tidying up the mounds of papers, "But Grace is doing very well. I would even say I am cautiously optimistic. Oh and Caroline was down earlier and she told me she was thinking of breaking up with Ian," Saying his name seemed to leave a bitter taste in her mouth and her nose crinkled up as she began gathering pencils from all over the desk to place into the holder that had been designed for them, "That worries me a wee bit, you know. Ian doesn't strike me as the kind of person who takes very kindly to people doing things he doesn't want," Another sigh as she knelt down to pick up several balled up papers that had missed the garbage can, "But I know the Father has it all under control and that is why I believe that in the end, all of this will work out just fine. I'm a wee bit nervous about riding Grace in the competition, Andrew. I don't want to do anything wrong or anything to cause her to lose. She wants to run, faster and harder than I will allow her to right now, so she is feeling much better..."
He had watched and listened to her with great affection, fascinated as always with her flurry of activity and chatter, that was both thoughtful and still a little bit nervous. Reaching out, Andrew grabbed her hand to stop her movement and pulled her close to him. Her questioning brown eyes met with his as he stood up and placed a tender hand against her face, "And what about you, Angel? How have you been feeling?"
The warm feeling of his hand on her face instantly calmed her restlessness and a sweet smile crossed her face, "Better," She replied softly, "Mostly because of the great care a very special angel has taken of me...and I love him very much for it."
Her earnest expression and affectionate words touched his heart and Andrew was unable to help but to pull her into his arms for a tight hug, even as he wondered where the great emotion he suddenly felt was coming from, "Just so happens, he loves you too," Came the soft reply as his fingers worked into her auburn locks, "and is so relieved that you are getting better."
Pulling away slightly, Monica smiled up at him, "How could I not with you beside me through all of it?"
"That blessing is purely mine, baby. And it seems I am doubly blessed as I now have a tidy office!" Her little giggle was pure music to his heart especially given the recent dark days of her existence.
"Well, it was the least I could do. Besides, even angels think better when things are not so cluttered." With a playful wink, the little angel stood up on tiptoe and brushed a sweet kiss against his cheek, "See you at dinner."
As she disappeared through the office door, the blond angel was simply left to ponder the emptiness of the room without her and to pray that his existence never experienced the same feeling as the office.
