Almost a year and a half after the romance between Bethany and Mark began, it came to a halt. Bethany put a stop to it once she realized that she couldn't find a balance of being a mother, career woman and Mark's girlfriend.
He was the only one of those three that was expendable. She had to be a mother to Eve, and she also had to make money- but she didn't have to be with Mark.
He was upset and disappointed, but Mark could understand. Their relationship wasn't going anywhere, but at least they had some good times.
"He was a good guy." Bethany said.
She had put Eve down for the night and went outside to the porch swing to clear her head, and drink a glass of wine. Bethany could feel Metatron nearby-a sort of tingle she felt up and down the beck of her neck- but he hadn't said anything yet.
"He was, but perhaps this is for the best." Metatron finally said, materializing out of the shadows cast by the trees in her front yard.
He came forward and sat down beside her on the swing. Bethany noticed his suit had changed again, forest green with a white hoodie underneath. He had his wings hidden away. Metatron looked like a simple, normal man. For a second she was fooled, but she knew what he really was. Regrettably.
"Why? Were you jealous?" she asked teasingly, poking him in the thigh with her bare foot.
"Yes. How could you tell?" he asked back, capturing her foot and giving it a little tickle.
"The eye rolling, sighing and grumbling was a dead giveaway."
"I didn't mean to ruin your fun."
"You didn't, I just didn't have enough time for him, you know? Between work and Eve there isn't that much time for a boyfriend. It wouldn't have been fair to him if I'd stayed, knowing we weren't right for each other."
"You're right of course, I've had to deal with that myself."
"What? You're telling me you were dumped?" Bethany asked, shocked and interested.
"I'd call it a mutual breakup, but yes, I'm afraid you haven't been the only woman in my life." He said, releasing her foot.
"I didn't know angels were able to have relationships like that. Tell me everything,"
"Of course we can! What, you think we're made of stone? And I'm not telling you. No."
"Tell me,"
"No!"
"Come on, I told you about mine, be fair, tell me."
"Oh, all right!" Metatron relented. "You humans can be so nosy! Fine. God had created around 30 angels so far, all of us with a different purpose. This was around the time of the pyramids, if that's any indication, all right? A long time ago. I was one of the oldest-still am, by the way- and She had instructed me to teach the new ones a few ground rules."
"Like what?"
"Like when we visit earth, don't harm anyone and don't let them see our wings, things like that. Anyway, She introduces me to the Sirens and a few Muses. There was this one Siren...I know it sounds cliché, but she had long blonde hair and blue eyes, I just about fell in love with her right there. It was like being hit over the head with a sledgehammer! I claimed her as mine, and things went well for the first few centuries, but then there were the Crusades and holy wars and all this other nonsense that humans used as an excuse to kill each other."
Bethany nodded, "You dated for centuries?"
Metatron shrugged, "Well yeah. Try to remember; when you're immortal, time goes by differently. A single minute can seem to stretch for years and years, while a century can pass in an instant."
Bethany gulped down a sip of wine. "Wow. I can't even imagine what that could be like. Go on, what happened?"
Metatron nodded, "Oh, well, with me down on earth the whole time trying to lead the religious leaders away from killing and declarations of war-as usual, you humans found a way to twist God's decree to your own benefit. Somehow, 'spread the religion, but do not harm or kill' was turned into 'spread the religion and kill anyone who gets in the way.' I was down here for a solid 250 years trying to sort the whole mess out before I decided to come home and let you humans deal with the mess yourselves. We can only help you so much, you know. It's our job to lead, not force you to follow."
"But what about your angel girlfriend?" Bethany asked.
"I'm getting to that. I returned home from the mess on earth to find Amora with Velkan, the Head Grigori."
"Oh, Metatron, I'm sorry."
"Oh, it's alright, that was awhile ago, nearly a thousand years past. And it's not like she didn't have a good reason to move on. I was away too long; like you, I simply couldn't find the time for her, so she found someone who could."
Bethany sighed and poured him a glass of wine and then handed him an empty glass. "Relationships suck." She said glumly.
Metatron clinked glasses with her. "I'll drink to that."
A few weeks after Bethany's breakup with Mark came Eve's second birthday. Bethany had a little celebration thrown together for Eve, with a cake and invited a few of her friends over for the party. The mothers came too, all of them cooing over Eve's party dress and the cake that Bethany spent the morning slaving over.
"Oh, pink and white icing, and it matches Eve's dress, how adorable!" gushed Tina, a mother from across the street. Her son was a friend of Eve's; they'd met in the park where Bethany took Eve to play on Saturdays.
Eve and the other kids were playing in the backyard while the mothers kept an eye on them and Bethany caught up on the usual soccer-mom gossip.
Jay and Silent Bob were even at the party, but only because Bethany had made them swear up and down that they'd behave themselves around the other guests.
"Man, you'd think she expects us to burn the house down the way she acts." Jay said as he and Bob sat down at the patio table.
Eve caught sight of them and ran over. "Jay! Bob!" she cried happily, her wild hair all over the place.
Jay smiled. "What's up, Eve? Having a good time?"
Bob smiled too and gestured to Jay's coat pocket.
"What? Oh, yeah. Here, Eve, happy birthday."
Jay pulled a dolphin Beanie baby out of his pocket and handed it to Eve. The girl squealed and smiled before running off to show her friends.
"Thanks Jay, Bob. That was really sweet." Bethany told them. "I was wrong about you guys.
"Hells yeah, what you think we're just a couple of skeevy stoner losers?" Jay asked, offended.
"Um, well..."
"I have news for you, Bethany, we're people too, ok? That really hurts." He said, clutching his hand over his chest where his heart was.
"Guys, I'm so sorry. How can I make it up to you?"
As soon as Bethany said the last words, she knew it was a mistake. Jay's expression went from pained to mischievous instantly.
"Well, I guess that a good blowjo-"
"Okay, thank you Jay! I'll see you tomorrow, Bob, you forgot your hat." Bethany broke in, escorting the two out of her backyard.
"Aw, come on," Jay whined as Bob punched him in the arm. Jay always found a way to ruin a good time! Bob waving goodbye to Eve and followed Bethany and Jay to the gate.
"Nope, I'll see you tomorrow, thanks for the doll, that was very sweet, I'll save you some cake." She said as she shut the fence gate behind them.
Bethany could hear Jay cursing on the other side.
"Goodness, who were those two?" asked Ruth, the mother of a little girl Eve had met at daycare.
Bethany shook her head, "Oh, just a few neighbors. They're great with Eve."
"I'd be great with you too, Bethany!" Jay shouted from the driveway.
"Go home!" Bethany shouted back. "Ignore them, they're harmless. Um...so who wants cake?"
"I'd love a piece...of that ass!" Jay yelled.
"Hold on just a second." Bethany told Ruth. Bethany was so irritated that she almost ripped the gate off its hinges, she was just happy that none of the other mothers or kids had been around.
"Alright, Jay, that's enough-Metatron?"
Jay and Bob were nowhere in sight, Metatron stood alone in her driveway, a gift bag by his feet.
"Serendipity isn't the only one that can imitate voices." He said slyly.
Bethany rolled her eyes. "That wasn't funny, what if the other mothers heard you?"
"Bethany, this is New Jersey, you'll be lucky if you can find a nun that doesn't curse as much as Jay. Now where should I put this?" he asked, holding up the bag.
"Just over there on the table is fine. Do you like cake?" Bethany asked as they reentered the backyard.
"Yeah, sure. How's the party been going?"
"Alright, except for the wonder twins' little appearance."
Eve saw Metatron come in and she screamed before coming over to him. "Hey, how's the birthday girl?" he asked her as he swept her up into his arms.
"Melaron!" she cried.
"Oh, she's learning fairly well, isn't she?" Metatron asked Bethany.
"Yeah, she can say a few things."
"Oh, Bethany, who is this?" asked Tina.
"Oh, this is...Matt, an old friend of mine from McHenry, Illinois. He just got here." Bethany explained.
"An old friend? How did you two meet?"
"I was her boss, I recruited her for a very special assignment." Metatron said, sharing the joke with Bethany.
Tina looked at Eve, who was still smiling and squirming in his arms, no doubt noting the features that she shared with "Matt". The pale skin, dark hair and dark eyes came from both Metatron and Bethany, but they could guess what Tina was thinking, and what the rest of the mothers would be thinking in the next few minutes.
Metatron didn't care. This was the last time that Eve could see him-her second birthday; he had to make it special for her.
He put her down and let her run to play with her friends again. Turning to Bethany, he said, "There's something important I need to tell you, but I'll wait till the end of the party."
Bethany was going to respond but was interrupted by a flurry of the other mothers, all wanting to meet him.
They ate cake and opened presents, and all too soon the party was over.
Metatron sat on the couch with Eve cuddled against his chest, sleeping. He liked her like this, peaceful and quiet. It reminded him of the first time he held her, in the hospital room with Bethany.
He realized that this was the last time he would hold her and the thought pained him greatly. Like so many ways of the world, he knew it was unfair and he was as angry as he was sad.
But there was nothing he could do; he was as helpless as she.
"So this is the last time?" Bethany asked quietly from a chair by the fireplace. She was as happy about this as he.
"Yes." Metatron whispered back, careful not to wake the girl.
"What should I tell her when she asks?" Bethany said, almost to herself.
It had always been a delicate subject for Bethany. What could she tell Eve about her father? Eve would no doubt start noticing that other kids had fathers, and one day she was just going to ask about hers.
Metatron stroked Eve's back. "Tell her that I'll come to her when she needs me the most. That's all she'll need to know."
"That won't be enough." Bethany sighed.
"It'll have to be."
The wall clock showed only 15 seconds till midnight-his deadline.
"Bethany, I'm sorry, but I must go now." He said as he stood up with Eve.
Bethany took the girl, who woke up.
Metatron touched Eve's hand. "Goodbye, Eve. I'll see you soon."
The clock hit midnight, and in a blink, Metatron was gone. It pained him to know that he wouldn't see Eve for another 13 years, but feeling bad wouldn't accomplish anything.
All he could do now is wait.