"Oh I miss the girls, but this is so very relaxing!"
Monica and Andrew were lying in their hotel room doing absolutely nothing and drifting in and out of a light sleep. They really weren't even thinking about anything. Neither of them could remember the last time that it had been that quiet or that relaxing. Suddenly the presence of someone else in the room caused them to jump off of the bed. It was Adam. Neither of them knew what to say. They were too taken a back by his appearance and by the look on his face.
"Hi. Having a nice vacation?" Andrew and Monica nodded. "Good, because it is over. I know, I know... you were promised a week without an assignment. But, I'm afraid that being a parent comes before a vacation. Tessa was kidnapped, by of course,.. who else, Monique." Monica began to cry and she ran into the bathroom. Andrew merely gazed at his friend.
"I'm sorry Andrew."
"What are we supposed to do?"
"As far as I am told, you are to at least go to where Tess is and help find her."
"What about Zoë and Gloria?"
"They are on there way too."
"You don't know what its like to have your own child, do you?"
"No, I'm afraid that I don't."
"It's so overwhelmingly painful when you have a child, and you can't always protect them."
"You having fun Zoë?" She asked as she and Zoë were feeding the sheep.
"Yeah! Aren't you?"
"Yes I am."
"Hi Gloria. Hi Zoë!"
"Hi Raphael!"
"Hey, I am glad to see you too sweetie, but could I talk to your Auntie Gloria alone?"
"Sure, I'll go find Mary." Zoë said before went back in the house.
"You really scared me! What are you doing here? Anyway, what's wrong? I can tell that something is wrong."
"Well, it's hard to say, but Tessa was kidnapped."
"Oh no, seriously? By who?"
"Monique."
Gloria sighed and let her head fall into her hands as she remembered her own incident with Monique.
"What am I supposed to do, hide it from Zoë, while we work on our assignment?"
"No, actually the two of you are supposed to go to Napa tomorrow morning. Sam and I will be taking over your assignment from then on."
As soon as Monica and Andrew heard about Tessa's kidnapping they headed to Napa. They were trying as best as they could to hold themselves together. Andrew was really wondering what Monica would do to Tess. The normally calm Angel who accepted even the worst things which happened as some part of God's plan and to have some overall good, was clearly not believing that just then. He seriously hoped that she didn't strangle Tess when they got there. He wasn't about to do that, although he did hope that if anyone was strangled it would be Monique.
When they arrived in the lobby of the hotel they were surprised to see Sam sitting there. They thought that he may have been waiting for them.
"I'm here to tell you that I am so sorry. Tess feels really awful about the whole thing. I also wanted to let you know that she's going to be fine, I promise you. It's just a growing experience."
"I'll go talk to her." Monica's sad voice said as she went to find Tess.
She found her in the kitchen, making cookies, Tessa's favorite kind of cookies.
"Hi Tess."
"Hi Angel Girl, are you upset with me?"
"No."
"Are you sure?" She asked as they sat down at the kitchen table. "This is the second time that I have allowed, by accident of course, for your daughter to be kidnapped by Monique!"
"I know, I know, but if she was fine with Monique when she was eighteen months old I think she'll be more than fine now. Not to say that I'm not awfully worried. She is still my baby after all. I think of her and I can remember when she was so tiny like it was yesterday. I can remember her first everything. One of my fondest memories will always be the first time she walked." Monica laughed. "And when things like this happen to her, I get so scared, because I love her so much."
"I do to Angel baby." Tess smiled. "And you let her drink coffee!"
"Yes. Since she was about twelve."
"I knew you passed it on to her, I just knew it!" Monica laughed, and then started to cry again.
"It's alright Mrs. Wings."
"I'm just kind of scared. That's all. I miss her, I love her, I am scared for her. I don't think that we were ready to be a way from her or that she was ready to be a way from us. I don't know what I am supposed to do!"
By dinner that night, Gloria had explained to Mary their very difficult situation. Mary felt terrible about this and invited Gloria, Tess, Monica, Andrew, Zoë and Tess to her wedding the next month, (which she had planned to do anyway). Gloria had still not decided if she was going to tell Zoë or not. Maybe she would let Andrew and Monica tell her. Yet again, they were undoubtedly, horribly, bitterly distressed. Plus, what other logical explanation did she have for going back to America when their assignment had barely just began in Ireland. It was a tough decision to make, but ultimately she decided that had to tell Zoë. Besides, she had been instructed to do so, right?
After dinner Zoë was in bed and was waiting for Gloria to tuck her in. Gloria figured that this was not the best time to tell her about Tessa, but she also figured that telling her at bedtime would give her mind time to work it all out.
"Why do I have to go to bed?"
"Because you're a cherub."
"I'm not either!"
"Well, I suppose that you aren't any more. But you're not a big angel either. Ok then, you're a little angel girl, and little girls need their sleep."
"But, Angels don't need to sleep."
"Yes, but growing Angels do. So, do you like Ireland?"
"Oh yes, it is so fun! I love it!"
"Do you miss America?" Zoë nodded.
"What would you do if I told you we were going back to the United States tomorrow?"
"I'd like that very much."
"Good, because...." It was then that Gloria realized that Zoë was fast asleep, and now, she was just going to wait and have Monica break the news to her. She laughed as she sat there watching Zoë sleep, yes, she was still a cherub. A cherub was a child angel of any age, or at least that is what Gloria thought anyway. She kissed Zoë goodnight and then retired to her own quarters.
Tessa lie in a boat, her feet and hands now free, although she was still a prisoner. She stared at the stars and she had been praying consistently since she was kidnapped. And every second that went by when she wasn't saying a prayer, she was hoping to see someone that she knew. She was especially hoping for her parents, but they were on vacation. Why hadn't Tess come looking for her anyway? She certainly hoped that she was still an angel; after all they were periodically holding a gun to her head. Then there was the thought of why they were still just in a boat. All they had done was go to the other side of the lake and anchor there. She was so tired, but she was afraid to go to sleep. She prayed for protection, and tried to make herself stay a wake. But she soon fell to sleep.
"What are we to do anyway?" Monica asked. "I mean, it isn't like we can just go find her, is it? She could be anywhere!"
"Well, you killed my plan." Andrew replied.
"What, just going to find her?"
"Yeah, just like last time." He smiled.
"I think that it's our best shot Angel babies."
"Tomorrow morning, we'll go looking for her."
That night, Monica spent an hour praying for Tessa, if not more than that. But at this drastic hour, prayer didn't seem enough for her. Andrew however convinced her that it was and so she went to bed to try and get just a little bit of rest. But not before handing her problem and her daughter's care completely over to the father, at least for the time being. A short time after Monica fell asleep Andrew climbed into bed next to her, he did not want to admit it, be he was just as scared as she was. The thing was, that he had a lot more anger in him than she did, in addition, he also had a lot less emotion in him, making it easier for him to just get mad, and not just start crying. He kissed his wife goodnight before he to fell asleep.
Gloria felt awful. Tessa was missing she had been instructed to tell Zoë about it, but she hadn't been able to. Zoë had never even given her the chance. First, the night before, she had fallen asleep. Then she had rushed through her breakfast to bid a farewell to the sheep, who she felt that she hand become quite well acquainted with in the past day or so. And Gloria felt that she couldn't tell her in the airports, or on the plane. So when they were driving to Napa, Gloria thought that it was the best opportunity. Zoë was sitting in the backseat, singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," and almost every single Patriotic song which one might think of. Gloria smiled, but she knew it was time to tell her.
"Zoë, do you and your sister get along very well?"
"We don't sometimes, but on the whole, she is my very best friend!"
"Zoë, I have to tell you something, and it'll be hard for you to hear, but do you know why we are back in the United States?"
"No."
"Tessa was kidnapped by Monique. Do you know who Monique is?"
"Yes. She's that creepy demon who looks just like my Mommy!"
"That is right. She once kidnapped your sister when she was a toddler as well."
"Do you think she'll be okay?"
"Yes, sweetie, she'll be fine."
"Do I get to see my Mommy?"
"Yes you do, very soon."
Zoë practically flew out of the car the minute they got there. She was anxious to see her Mother. She was scared for her sister and she was afraid of what Monique and her friends might try to do to her as well. Although Zoë had never been to the hotel before, she ran directly into the lobby and, just by chance she ran directly into her Mother's arms. Monica felt a huge sense of comfort in having her youngest child in her arms. She kissed her.
"I missed you Mommy!"
"Oh, I missed you to darling. How did you like Ireland?"
"I wish I could have stayed a little longer." But then she began to whisper, "But I began to get homesick for America!"
"I can understand why you would."
"Is Tessa going to be okay?"
"Yes my little cherub, she is going to be just fine?"
"What if they get me?"
"They won't, stay with me and Daddy and you'll be fine. You'll be even finer, because God will protect you." Zoë smiled.
"Where is Daddy anyway?"
"He and Uncle Adam are out looking for your sister, so are Auntie Tess and Uncle Sam. Mommy waited for the two of you."
"Hi Monica." Gloria said as she came into the lobby.
"Hi." She replied as she got up to hug Gloria. "Thanks for keeping Zoë." She whispered.
"Your welcome, it was my pleasure."
"Oy vey, I don't even know where to begin looking!"
"I don't believe that any of us do."
"Well, we have to find her, after all, this was my fault."
"What have I been trying to tell you all along? This was God's plan for her! She will be fine!"
"Is that all you know?"
"That is all I know. If I knew more I would break down and tell you in this case, even if I were not allowed to. do such."
"Well, thanks for that Sam."
Tessa awoke to the sun blaring in her eyes and the cool sea wind brushing across her face. She was not quite what you would call happy, but she was relieved and maybe she was slightly more content than she had been in resent hours. She sat up from the floor of the boat. Where were her kidnappers? Did they leave her out there all alone? If so, they were even bigger cowards than she originally though. She decided not to go looking for them in the interior of the boat. She just wanted to stay alone outside where it was quiet and peaceful. She was so hungry, at that moment and her back hurt from sleeping on the ground. But she was thankful to be alone. She then wondered if they were even looking for her. If her parents even knew. If Zoë knew. She sighed and sat back on the floor of the boat, so as to wait patiently for someone to help her. Meanwhile, she would have jumped off the boat and into the water due to the fact that land was a only a few feet a way at that point, but she was too afraid of what they would do to her upon catching her on those such circumstances. Tessa sat there for a few minutes, and ultimately, she decided that it was best for her to just jump. Which she did very quietly.
Monica and Andrew were lying in their hotel room doing absolutely nothing and drifting in and out of a light sleep. They really weren't even thinking about anything. Neither of them could remember the last time that it had been that quiet or that relaxing. Suddenly the presence of someone else in the room caused them to jump off of the bed. It was Adam. Neither of them knew what to say. They were too taken a back by his appearance and by the look on his face.
"Hi. Having a nice vacation?" Andrew and Monica nodded. "Good, because it is over. I know, I know... you were promised a week without an assignment. But, I'm afraid that being a parent comes before a vacation. Tessa was kidnapped, by of course,.. who else, Monique." Monica began to cry and she ran into the bathroom. Andrew merely gazed at his friend.
"I'm sorry Andrew."
"What are we supposed to do?"
"As far as I am told, you are to at least go to where Tess is and help find her."
"What about Zoë and Gloria?"
"They are on there way too."
"You don't know what its like to have your own child, do you?"
"No, I'm afraid that I don't."
"It's so overwhelmingly painful when you have a child, and you can't always protect them."
"You having fun Zoë?" She asked as she and Zoë were feeding the sheep.
"Yeah! Aren't you?"
"Yes I am."
"Hi Gloria. Hi Zoë!"
"Hi Raphael!"
"Hey, I am glad to see you too sweetie, but could I talk to your Auntie Gloria alone?"
"Sure, I'll go find Mary." Zoë said before went back in the house.
"You really scared me! What are you doing here? Anyway, what's wrong? I can tell that something is wrong."
"Well, it's hard to say, but Tessa was kidnapped."
"Oh no, seriously? By who?"
"Monique."
Gloria sighed and let her head fall into her hands as she remembered her own incident with Monique.
"What am I supposed to do, hide it from Zoë, while we work on our assignment?"
"No, actually the two of you are supposed to go to Napa tomorrow morning. Sam and I will be taking over your assignment from then on."
As soon as Monica and Andrew heard about Tessa's kidnapping they headed to Napa. They were trying as best as they could to hold themselves together. Andrew was really wondering what Monica would do to Tess. The normally calm Angel who accepted even the worst things which happened as some part of God's plan and to have some overall good, was clearly not believing that just then. He seriously hoped that she didn't strangle Tess when they got there. He wasn't about to do that, although he did hope that if anyone was strangled it would be Monique.
When they arrived in the lobby of the hotel they were surprised to see Sam sitting there. They thought that he may have been waiting for them.
"I'm here to tell you that I am so sorry. Tess feels really awful about the whole thing. I also wanted to let you know that she's going to be fine, I promise you. It's just a growing experience."
"I'll go talk to her." Monica's sad voice said as she went to find Tess.
She found her in the kitchen, making cookies, Tessa's favorite kind of cookies.
"Hi Tess."
"Hi Angel Girl, are you upset with me?"
"No."
"Are you sure?" She asked as they sat down at the kitchen table. "This is the second time that I have allowed, by accident of course, for your daughter to be kidnapped by Monique!"
"I know, I know, but if she was fine with Monique when she was eighteen months old I think she'll be more than fine now. Not to say that I'm not awfully worried. She is still my baby after all. I think of her and I can remember when she was so tiny like it was yesterday. I can remember her first everything. One of my fondest memories will always be the first time she walked." Monica laughed. "And when things like this happen to her, I get so scared, because I love her so much."
"I do to Angel baby." Tess smiled. "And you let her drink coffee!"
"Yes. Since she was about twelve."
"I knew you passed it on to her, I just knew it!" Monica laughed, and then started to cry again.
"It's alright Mrs. Wings."
"I'm just kind of scared. That's all. I miss her, I love her, I am scared for her. I don't think that we were ready to be a way from her or that she was ready to be a way from us. I don't know what I am supposed to do!"
By dinner that night, Gloria had explained to Mary their very difficult situation. Mary felt terrible about this and invited Gloria, Tess, Monica, Andrew, Zoë and Tess to her wedding the next month, (which she had planned to do anyway). Gloria had still not decided if she was going to tell Zoë or not. Maybe she would let Andrew and Monica tell her. Yet again, they were undoubtedly, horribly, bitterly distressed. Plus, what other logical explanation did she have for going back to America when their assignment had barely just began in Ireland. It was a tough decision to make, but ultimately she decided that had to tell Zoë. Besides, she had been instructed to do so, right?
After dinner Zoë was in bed and was waiting for Gloria to tuck her in. Gloria figured that this was not the best time to tell her about Tessa, but she also figured that telling her at bedtime would give her mind time to work it all out.
"Why do I have to go to bed?"
"Because you're a cherub."
"I'm not either!"
"Well, I suppose that you aren't any more. But you're not a big angel either. Ok then, you're a little angel girl, and little girls need their sleep."
"But, Angels don't need to sleep."
"Yes, but growing Angels do. So, do you like Ireland?"
"Oh yes, it is so fun! I love it!"
"Do you miss America?" Zoë nodded.
"What would you do if I told you we were going back to the United States tomorrow?"
"I'd like that very much."
"Good, because...." It was then that Gloria realized that Zoë was fast asleep, and now, she was just going to wait and have Monica break the news to her. She laughed as she sat there watching Zoë sleep, yes, she was still a cherub. A cherub was a child angel of any age, or at least that is what Gloria thought anyway. She kissed Zoë goodnight and then retired to her own quarters.
Tessa lie in a boat, her feet and hands now free, although she was still a prisoner. She stared at the stars and she had been praying consistently since she was kidnapped. And every second that went by when she wasn't saying a prayer, she was hoping to see someone that she knew. She was especially hoping for her parents, but they were on vacation. Why hadn't Tess come looking for her anyway? She certainly hoped that she was still an angel; after all they were periodically holding a gun to her head. Then there was the thought of why they were still just in a boat. All they had done was go to the other side of the lake and anchor there. She was so tired, but she was afraid to go to sleep. She prayed for protection, and tried to make herself stay a wake. But she soon fell to sleep.
"What are we to do anyway?" Monica asked. "I mean, it isn't like we can just go find her, is it? She could be anywhere!"
"Well, you killed my plan." Andrew replied.
"What, just going to find her?"
"Yeah, just like last time." He smiled.
"I think that it's our best shot Angel babies."
"Tomorrow morning, we'll go looking for her."
That night, Monica spent an hour praying for Tessa, if not more than that. But at this drastic hour, prayer didn't seem enough for her. Andrew however convinced her that it was and so she went to bed to try and get just a little bit of rest. But not before handing her problem and her daughter's care completely over to the father, at least for the time being. A short time after Monica fell asleep Andrew climbed into bed next to her, he did not want to admit it, be he was just as scared as she was. The thing was, that he had a lot more anger in him than she did, in addition, he also had a lot less emotion in him, making it easier for him to just get mad, and not just start crying. He kissed his wife goodnight before he to fell asleep.
Gloria felt awful. Tessa was missing she had been instructed to tell Zoë about it, but she hadn't been able to. Zoë had never even given her the chance. First, the night before, she had fallen asleep. Then she had rushed through her breakfast to bid a farewell to the sheep, who she felt that she hand become quite well acquainted with in the past day or so. And Gloria felt that she couldn't tell her in the airports, or on the plane. So when they were driving to Napa, Gloria thought that it was the best opportunity. Zoë was sitting in the backseat, singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," and almost every single Patriotic song which one might think of. Gloria smiled, but she knew it was time to tell her.
"Zoë, do you and your sister get along very well?"
"We don't sometimes, but on the whole, she is my very best friend!"
"Zoë, I have to tell you something, and it'll be hard for you to hear, but do you know why we are back in the United States?"
"No."
"Tessa was kidnapped by Monique. Do you know who Monique is?"
"Yes. She's that creepy demon who looks just like my Mommy!"
"That is right. She once kidnapped your sister when she was a toddler as well."
"Do you think she'll be okay?"
"Yes, sweetie, she'll be fine."
"Do I get to see my Mommy?"
"Yes you do, very soon."
Zoë practically flew out of the car the minute they got there. She was anxious to see her Mother. She was scared for her sister and she was afraid of what Monique and her friends might try to do to her as well. Although Zoë had never been to the hotel before, she ran directly into the lobby and, just by chance she ran directly into her Mother's arms. Monica felt a huge sense of comfort in having her youngest child in her arms. She kissed her.
"I missed you Mommy!"
"Oh, I missed you to darling. How did you like Ireland?"
"I wish I could have stayed a little longer." But then she began to whisper, "But I began to get homesick for America!"
"I can understand why you would."
"Is Tessa going to be okay?"
"Yes my little cherub, she is going to be just fine?"
"What if they get me?"
"They won't, stay with me and Daddy and you'll be fine. You'll be even finer, because God will protect you." Zoë smiled.
"Where is Daddy anyway?"
"He and Uncle Adam are out looking for your sister, so are Auntie Tess and Uncle Sam. Mommy waited for the two of you."
"Hi Monica." Gloria said as she came into the lobby.
"Hi." She replied as she got up to hug Gloria. "Thanks for keeping Zoë." She whispered.
"Your welcome, it was my pleasure."
"Oy vey, I don't even know where to begin looking!"
"I don't believe that any of us do."
"Well, we have to find her, after all, this was my fault."
"What have I been trying to tell you all along? This was God's plan for her! She will be fine!"
"Is that all you know?"
"That is all I know. If I knew more I would break down and tell you in this case, even if I were not allowed to. do such."
"Well, thanks for that Sam."
Tessa awoke to the sun blaring in her eyes and the cool sea wind brushing across her face. She was not quite what you would call happy, but she was relieved and maybe she was slightly more content than she had been in resent hours. She sat up from the floor of the boat. Where were her kidnappers? Did they leave her out there all alone? If so, they were even bigger cowards than she originally though. She decided not to go looking for them in the interior of the boat. She just wanted to stay alone outside where it was quiet and peaceful. She was so hungry, at that moment and her back hurt from sleeping on the ground. But she was thankful to be alone. She then wondered if they were even looking for her. If her parents even knew. If Zoë knew. She sighed and sat back on the floor of the boat, so as to wait patiently for someone to help her. Meanwhile, she would have jumped off the boat and into the water due to the fact that land was a only a few feet a way at that point, but she was too afraid of what they would do to her upon catching her on those such circumstances. Tessa sat there for a few minutes, and ultimately, she decided that it was best for her to just jump. Which she did very quietly.