Chapter 20 – Happy Hour

The next time Crowley visited, Mary seemed more cheerful. She had the lamb and dove strung on a leather string and wore it around her neck as a talisman. She kept it under her tunic but pulled it out to show Crowley. "Cora, I'm beginning to think this might actually happen."

"We're doing everything we can. He will have to come here so we have a better chance of getting ready without detection. Even if we don't make it all the way, I promise you will get to see your 'Jesu' again."

"That is more than I've ever hoped for before. Thank you, Cora"

"Mary, with your help, we might save the world."

"What do we do now?"

"Act as close to normal as we can. I suggest we go meet Leonardo and have some wine while he shows us his work. He's finished the platypus and is trying to design an improvement. I'm here to talk him out of it." And Crowley and Mary walked arm in arm to Concourse B, for an afternoon of art and laughter.

"Antonio, you brought our radiant Mary. Excellent!" Leo reached behind the counter for a third glass. "Maria, did you know our oooolld friend here helped design the placement of the stars?"

Mary looked at Crowley, "How old are you?"

Crowley glared at Da Vinci. "That was a secret, Leo! I helped design how stars were born; where they fling themselves is their own doing." He leaned over to Mary, "I don't know, but I'm older than the stars. To humans, I look somewhere between 30 and 50. They see what they want to see." He held out his glass to the artist. "Today we are here for wine, for art, for friendship. Not to dissect each other's past."

Leonardo gave a knowing nod and filled the glasses. He raised his; "To Friendship!", he toasted.

"To Friendship!" They saluted and drank. The afternoon was spent looking over sketches and laughing. Then Crowley escorted Mary back to her information desk. "Soon, Mary. I know we can do it."

"I'll be ready. Can I still call you Cora, even though you're this 'Crowley'?"

"I would be sad if you didn't. We'll see you soon."

As he started the Bentley, the radio announcer was reporting, "And as a surprise to everyone, Buddy Holly's "Every Day" has shot up to number one on the charts for the past week. Downloads haven't reached Taylor Swift numbers, but Buddy has beat the sales record of anyone who recorded before 1960. And for you vinyl enthusiasts, there's a little record shop in SoHo that has singles available for sale. Here's Buddy Holly, with "Every Day" …"every day, it's a-gettin' closer…." Crowley rolled his neck, stretched out his arms, and popped his knuckles before taking the wheel. "Well done, Angel!" he said with a smile as he put the car in gear.