"I know, Tess, but I'm sure she saw them." Andrew sat heavily on the couch, watching Amy push Christopher in the baby swing outside. "I just—there's something about her. Maybe she can see angels."

"Why do you think?" Monica asked their supervisor.

"Sometimes the Father gives humans special gifts. Amy has been truly blessed."

"I wonder if she can see that." Monica mused.

"Amazingly, she can, baby." Tess said. "She knows that she has poor hearing, and she knows that there is pain ahead for her in giving up basketball completely, and she doesn't feel as much love from her parents as she could, but she knows she has her music, and her little brother, and her friends. She has singing. She has a wonderful home and school. And she has faith. That's all she needs."

Andrew looked out the window, watching her play with her brother. "That's incredible."

Monica walked over, putting a hand on his arm. "It's very good. I wish all humans were like Amy."

"With the exception of her stubbornness." Tess groused.

"I think Tess has finally met her match." Andrew said, looking down at Monica. She laughed softly and leaned on his arm as they continued to watch their assignment outside.



A few days later, when it was late Saturday night at Amy's house and mid-morning Sunday in Florida, the angels went to the church that Amy's parents and grandmother now frequented every weekend. Monica leaned back against the wall, watching as Amy's parents spoke to the people around them, watching as friends came up to sit with her grandmother, watching as the church slowly emptied until only the old woman was sitting in the pew, her children waiting outside at the car.

Without knowing it, Monica had stepped forward until she could see Mrs. White's face. Then she felt Andrew come up behind her, his comforting warmth bringing her back to earth. They had a job to do here. Amy's parents had to see reason before they alienated their daughter for good. After a few minutes, Tess moved away and Andrew put a hand on Monica's shoulder.

"Hey. You ok? You looked kind of out of it for a while, there."

Monica smiled and looked back at him, reaching up over her right shoulder to cover the hand she knew was coming to rest there with her own. She knew Andrew better than she knew herself sometimes. What she didn't know was that even now, Andrew's mind was racing, and all of a sudden the simple touch that he had administered thousands of times before seemed like so much more. But he pushed the thought back into the far reaches of his brain. Not… now.

"Beth?" Tess was saying to the woman as Monica and Andrew followed her. Amy's grandmother looked up in astonishment at her new company.

"Well, I thought I knew everyone in this church. Are you visiting?"

"Sort of." Tess said. "We're friends of your granddaughter's."

"You know Amy?" Beth stood up. "Oh, I miss her. I was so disappointed that she couldn't come down here."

"We're concerned that her parents haven't been in contact with Amy lately." Tess continued. Monica and Andrew just listened while their superior handled matters.

"Oh, don't think I haven't been on their backs about that. They keep forgetting and putting it off. Nothing's wrong, is it?"

"Actually—"

"No, nothing is wrong." Tess interrupted. Andrew stopped, stunned, and looked at Monica. She looked as confused as he was. "Amy was just wondering if they'd be home soon."

"I'm afraid I've been monopolizing them, yes." Beth admitted. "But I never see them anymore, and I'm still a bit of a mess… they've been such a help."

"I can understand that." Monica said, stepping forward. "But perhaps you should talk to them, get them to understand that they need to at least speak with their daughter. Just to catch up."

"I will do that." Beth said, getting up. "And it was a pleasure meeting you—all of you—but I really must be going. Tina and George are waiting outside." The angels stepped aside and let her pass. After she left, Andrew sighed.

"Tess…"

"Not a word, Angel Boy. That's as much as we can do. Let's go back. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be big."