The Cries of the Children
Chapter 3
Twenty minutes later the doorbell rang and Monica went to answer it. Holding it open, she saw Liz and Steven with Abby in his arms. "Come on in," she invited.
"I hope we didn't interrupt anything. But Tess said that we could call her anytime," Steven explained.
"No, you didn't interrupt. Give me the wee one and I'll take her to Gloria," Monica assured him.
"She just needs a story read and she'll go right to sleep," Steven explained, handing over Abby.
"She likes to hear 'Goodnight, Moon'," Liz spoke up. "But be very careful with the book. It used to be Chelsi's." Her eyes filled up with tears.
"We'll be very careful," Monica promised. She smiled down at the sleepy child who clutched a battered pink teddy bear.
"I've got her," Gloria said as she came down the stairs. "She can lie down on my bed."
"We'll let you know when we're ready to leave," Steven said, placing a kiss on his daughter's forehead. "See you later, Abby Baby."
"G'night, Daddy," she said.
"I'll take you to see Tess," Monica, said, leading them down the hall.
Gloria balanced the girl in her arms and took the book. "I see you have a special story," she commented as she headed up the stairs.
"G'night, Moon," Abby said, thumb in her mouth.
"Well, I don't really know that story. But I do have a special friend who can read it to you. Let's see if he wants to do just that," Gloria told her. Still holding onto the child, she knocked on Andrew's door.
Andrew was sitting cross legged on the bed, a book on his lap although he wasn't actually reading it. When he heard the knock on hid door, he called out, "Monica, I said I wasn't coming downstairs. So just leave me alone!"
Gloria paused at his uncharacteristically sharp tone of voice but knocked again. "Andrew? It's Gloria. Can I come in for a moment?" she asked.
"Uh, okay. Just give me a minute," Andrew replied. Setting aside the book, he got up and walked over to the door, throwing it open.
Gloria looked at the sweat pants and T-shirt he wore. "I didn't wake you up, did I?"
"No. I was just reading. Who do you have with you?" he asked his eyes on the sleepy child. With her curly hair and blue eyes, he reminded her a bit like the paintings he'd seen of Sam Butcher's somewhat whimsical view of Heaven.
"This is Abby and she's really a smart little girl but right now she wants a story," Gloria said.
"Hi, Abby. I'm Andrew," the Angel of Death said, reaching to take her from Gloria. "What story do you want to hear?"
"G'night, Moon," she said, snuggling against him trustingly.
"Here's the book," Gloria said, handing it over. "I remember the assignment when we were at the day care center in Missouri and you telling the children stories to keep them calm during the tornado."
"That was a good assignment," Andrew recalled. "Any place in particular you want me to carry her?"
"I told Monica that I'd let Abby go to sleep on my bed," the younger angel answered. "You know, you don't have to this if you don't want to."
"It's all right, Gloria. I like doing this," Andrew said softly, brushing back a few of the child's blonde curls. "She's a beautiful child, looks a lot like her sister." His green eyes filled with unshed tears.
Inside the larger bedroom, Gloria led the way over to one of the twin beds. "Right here is okay," she said, taking Abby while Andrew made himself comfortable. As soon as the child was placed back on the bed, she immediately snuggled up against Andrew again.
Andrew took the book and flipping it open, began reading 'Goodnight, Moon' in his soft voice, growing softer and softer as the story progressed and Abby grew sleepier and sleepier. By the time he finished the story, she was sound asleep and he soon followed her, letting the book fall from his hand.
Gloria bent down to pick up the book and carefully laid it o the nightstand. Then sitting cross legged on Monica's bed, she regarded both sleeping child and angel and she waited.
Liz was looking resigned and calm, a little too calm when they finally left Tess's office. "Let's go home, Steven."
"I'll go get Abby," Monica said and headed for the stairs. Once upstairs, she entered the bedroom without knocking. "Everything okay up here?"
Gloria put a finger to her lips to motion her to be quiet. "Yes," she whispered. "Abby is sleeping like a little angel. And so is Andrew. The story put them both to sleep."
"I'll get Abby and you get the book," Monica whispered, being careful as not to disturb Andrew when she picked up the sleeping child.
"What about my bed?' Gloria asked.
"You can sleep in Andrew's room for tonight," Monica replied. "Right now just let him sleep."
"I thought he might enjoy reading the story. I just didn't think it would put him to sleep," Gloria said.
Steven was waiting downstairs with Liz. "She wasn't any trouble, was she?" he asked taking his daughter.
"No, no trouble at all. Bring her around next time you need a baby sitter," Gloria answered.
"Thank you very much," Liz said, eyes on her child.
"How much do I owe you?" Steven asked
"Nothing. We do this out of the Father's love," Tess replied, watching the young family leave. Once, the angels were alone, she turned to the younger ones. "That poor baby is suddenly a little too calm about everything."
"Liz? You aren't thinking she might kill herself?" Monica asked.
"I don't know. But I don't see any Angels of Death around. Speaking of which, maybe I should go check on Andrew," Tess answered.
"He was sound asleep a few minutes ago," Gloria spoke up. I, uh, had him read the story to Abby and it put them both to sleep."
"Probably, it's for the best. Well, goodnight, Babies. I'll see you at breakfast," Tess said and headed for the stairs.
"Goodnight, Tess," Monica said, following her up the stairs. Inside the bedroom, she covered Andrew with a quilt and then lay down on her bed to watch him sleep.
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