Angel


"Tommy looks like he's having the time of his life." Amy laughed as she watched the little boy's face completely riveted on Harm. "He can talk about airplanes for hours."

"Well…" Mac drawled in amusement. "So can Harm."

"Your husband is great with kids," Amy said.

"Oh, he's not my husband," Mac answered automatically.

"Boyfriend?"

Mac paused. Was Harm her boyfriend? She supposed they were 'together,' but she hadn't ever really called him that before.

Did a girlfriend work with her boyfriend every day? Did she battle him fiercely in court? Did she travel around the world with him – in the air, on land, and sea? Did she eject out of Russian fighter jets with him?

Mac considered the idea. Maybe he was.

"I wish I had met someone like him a long time ago," Amy said wistfully. "I might have gotten my life back on track earlier."

Mac looked at her questioningly.

"I was an orphan," Amy explained. "And a teenage alcoholic. It was this shelter that saved my life. That's why I still work here. I just want to give something back to these kids now."

"Amy—" Mac began.

Amy held up a hand. "Don't pity me. My parents died when I was young, but the alcoholism was my own fault, and I realize that."

"I was just going to say that I understand," Mac said quietly. "It's not an easy thing to go through."

Amy studied Mac closely and the realization suddenly dawned on her. "You do understand."

"Maybe I do."

"But he came along when you needed him most."

Mac glanced over at Harm. She couldn't deny the longing in her heart as she watched Tommy chatter excitedly on his lap. From the way Harm was holding the toy airplane, Mac suspected that he was explaining the technical terms of the cockpit to the little boy.

"He's helped me through a lot," Mac finally admitted. "He's my partner and my best friend."

"Maybe he's more than that," Amy said. "Maybe he's really your guardian angel."

Maybe, Mac thought.

Maybe angels really did wear dress whites and gold wings.