Chapter 2- Stories on the open road

Olivia had been allowed into go with Tess. She sat in her car seat, studying her new doll, carefully.

"Who's your friend there?"

"Friend?"

"Yes, that little dolly your holding."

"She's a friend?"

"Yes, she's your friend."

"Really? I thought she was just plastic and stuffing."

"No; she's full of love."

"Oh. Grandma, why am I so smart? I'm too smart for my own good."

"That's a long story. Your mother used to ask me the same thing."

"She did?"

"Yes, you see, you got your genius from your Mommy."

"I know that, but why is mommy so smart?"

"You're mommy was created to be that smart, because the world is getting faster, and her mind, and your mind work very much like a computer."

"Oh. That makes sense now. But Daddy wants me to be like a little kid, right?"

"Right, and that's because, that's what you are."

"I know." She sighed.

………………..

"Daddy, have you ever been in a war?" Zoë called from the back seat.

"Yeah. What would make you ask that Zoë?"

"I was just wondering."

"Which one?" Sophie asked.

"Lots little angel. Since I've been an angel of death I've been in World War I and II, Vietnam, all of that."

"What about before?" Tessa asked, suddenly growing curious, as her dad had never told her about any war he had experienced.

"Well, before I was an angel of death I didn't have the opportunity to go to as many wars as I have since, but I had some civil war experiences and was in some revolutions too."

"Are we there yet?" Sophie asked.

"No." Her mother said gently. "Andrew, how about a story."

"A story?"

"Yes, for the girls."

"Yes, Daddy a story, please?"

"Please?"

"Please?"

"Ah, it would be my pleasure. Girls, what do you want to hear?"

"Have you ever been to Cape Cod before?"

"Yes. I have, and that, is a good story, now that I think of it. Let's see, where did it begin? When did it begin?"

"I was there too, actually, if I'm not mistaken, didn't happen the summer we were first married."

"I think it did Angel Girl, oh yes, I remember now. It was summer 1997. Your Mommy and I were just married. We were in horrible need of a vacation and unfortunately, we knew that we weren't going to get one. We were, however, excited when we discovered that our next assignment was to be in Cape Cod."

………………..

It was summer, and it had been an eventful year for Monica and Andrew. When the year began they were nothing more than great friends, and now they were husband and wife. They had been working very hard on their assignments for so long they couldn't even remember. Now they were hoping for a break, and they we're not about to have one, instead they were assigned to be vacationers, and they were to stay at a hotel in Cape Cod. It was a big, beautiful white Victorian mansion on a high cliff overlooking the sea. And while it seemed like a very pleasant place, the owner was in bad need of an angel; or in this case, two angels. Her name was Amelia James.

Amelia was in need of an angel not because of something she'd done, but because of something that was going to happen to her. She was a good woman, but not a particularly religious one. Ms. James was going to die, and she did. She was crushed to death by a chandelier. When Andrew came to take her home, however, she refused to go, and so she stayed in the house.

"And she's still there to this day." Andrew finished. His story, although short, had left his daughters shocked and wide-eyed.

"Wow Daddy!"

"That's amazing."

"Scary."

"Yeah, you're right Sophie, it is scary."

"Will we like Cape Cod?" Tessa changed the subject as she could clearly see the fear illuminated in Sophie's little eyes.

"You'll love it girls. It's nice and relaxing, and there's lots to do."

"Good."

"Just what we needed, we need to be away from the city." Zoë commented.

"Are we there yet?"

"No Sophie." Her sisters told her.

"Speaking of, when do you think we'll get there?"

"Just a couple of hours." Their father said.

An hour later all three of the girls were asleep; which was good because it was Sophie's naptime anyway.

"So." Monica said softly, "What do you want to do tonight?"

"Well I'm for getting us settled and the girls settled first. Then maybe a quiet walk on the beach before dinner, and then dinner, and then…"

"I agree completely." She smiled.

"Are they all asleep?"

"Yes, they are, and that's good. After all, it is Sophie's naptime, and she wouldn't have gone to sleep if her sister's hadn't too." Monica said, turning around and placing a thin baby blanket over Sophie.

"I want to spend sometime with the girls when we're there too. That's the whole point."

"I know. Me too. And maybe with Gloria and Adam too."

"Yes, that would be good. Which one of the girls do you think has been the hardest?"

"That's easy. Zoë. Well, except for when she was born. When she was born it was easy, she practically fell out of me!" Monica laughed.

"I know. I was there." He laughed too.

"I'm worried Andrew."

"About what?"

"Sophie."

"What about Sophie?"

"I'm worried about moving her to her big girl bed."

"Have you prayed?"

"Of course."

"Then don't worry sweetheart."

"Okay."

………………….

A half hour later, the girls woke up.

"Are we there yet?" Sophie asked again.

"No!" They all said to her.

"Sorry." She said softly.

"That's alright Sophie sweetheart." Her mother told her.

"Yes, it is, because, although we aren't there yet, we're almost there."

"Really?"

"Yes. Really."

"How far is it from New York City to Cape Cod any way?"

"About 230 miles. Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering; that's all." Zoë said.

"Alright girls, welcome to angels port." Their father said as the car stopped in front of a large house on the beach.