15. Chapter 14 (1/2)

chapter 14

"so... it's

all set! monica, andrew... you'll get married here in two weeks!"

the priest said, writing down the important date on his book, inside

the sacristy. hand in hand, andrew and monica observed as he

registered the time and the day their wedding would take place.

"thank you so much, father o'

ien!" she exclaimed, happiness

evident in the couple's eyes.

"i'm the

one who is grateful cele

ating this wedding, considering your story

and how you've managed to overcome everything that's happened!"

"god knows

exactly what he was doing, even though we doubted about his own plans

sometimes..." andrew replied, gently squeezing monica's hand and

shooting her a loving gaze.

"oh, yes.

there's always a greater purpose in everything that happens in our

life. and only he has the power to make wonderful things come out of

sadness and pain, such as he did with you both!"

they bid the religious man farewell and headed back to

work, hand in hand along the street. they crossed the avenue just a

minute before a red cadillac stopped in front of the same church. a

dark skinned angel got out of it and entered the chapel - the sadness

for her dearest friends' absence was reflected on her face.

quietly, tess walked up to the front pew and sat down facing the

altar, "dear father, i know there's a reason why i haven't

found them yet and i trust that you'll give me my babies back...

but please don't let it be that long... i miss them so much... and

i beg you let them be safe and alright, don't allow anything bad

happen to them..." she prayed.

the following two weeks seemed to fly and finally the so

much expected wedding day arrived. judith closed the tourism agency

and put a happy note and the door, announcing the ceremony. while

andrew went to a friend's house, to get ready there, monica was

getting ready at judith's house, and the old woman had offered to

help them not only with the ceremony but also gave them a two week

trip on honeymoon as a present. "you two make a very beautiful

couple, that's for sure!" she said, helping monica to arrange her

hair. "and when he sees you like this and wearing this gorgeous

dress... andrew will certainly fall in love all over again!"

a slight smile appeared on monica's face as she

imagined the look in andrew's eyes once they were at the altar, "i

love him so much, you know..."

"oh, everyone

who sees you two together knows that! and i'm sure you'll be very

happy, dear!"

a sudden knock on the door interrupted their

conversation and judith and the young angel looked at each other with

confused eyes, "but who can that be?" the old woman said,

frowning with a mix of concern and impatience.

"maybe it's

someone from the agency..." she ventured, but with total

uncertainty.

"well,

whatever this person is he or she will have to go away, i'm not

finished yet and we have a wedding to cele

ate! everything else can

wait!"

judith climbed down the stairs to see who it was and

when she opened the front door, the woman frowned with concern,

"andrew? what are you doing here?" she exclaimed, with a not very

pleased face to see the blond angel standing at the doorway, fully

dressed in an elegant tuxedo.

"hi, judith,

i just came by to know how monica is..."

"well, she's

getting ready for the ceremony!" she replied, matter-of-factly.

"i know... i

mean... i was wondering if... may i talk to her..."

her mouth dropped open as if she had heard the most

absurd thing in the world. "no way you're gonna see her before

the wedding!"

"but we..."

"no 'buts'

mister! you and monica will see each other at the church and period!

and if i were you i'd start heading there right now!" she

exclaimed, with a mock stern expression on her face and with an

authoritarian tone in her voice. realising he would never be able to

enter that house and talk to his sweet angel, he had no other option

but to give up.

"alright

then... i... i guess there isn't a single chance that i could at

least say hi to her..."

"yes, you're

right, not a single chance!"

"i'll see

you at the church then..." he said, trying not to chuckle at the

woman's mock annoyance.

after making sure she'd locked the door, judith

climbed up the stairs and returned to monica's bedroom. the irish

angel had listened to the entire conversation and was giggling at the

way the old woman had spoken to andrew.

"what's the

problem with your fiancé? can't he wait a few hours to see

you?" she grumbled, taking a hair

ush to continue to do her

previous task.

monica's giggles subsided and she suddenly stared at

the woman's image, reflected in the mirror right before her eyes,

and remained pensive for a few seconds.

"monica? what

is it?"

"i don't

know... you remind me of someone..."

she raised her eyes in curiosity, "i do?"

"yes...

someone i used to love very much..." her lips curved in a slight

smile, "... like a mother..."

"well, then

i'm flattered!"

monica kept on staring at the woman and trying to

remember who had an attitude similar to judith. but after a few

instants, she let out a frustrated sight. "i can't... as much as

i think i can't remember!"

"well, here's

my advice, honey: try to focus on the present for a while and let the

past for later. today is your wedding day and i don't want anything

to interfere with it! and i'm sure your nervous future husband

agrees with me!"

the guests

were not only those who worked with monica and andrew but also many

people who the couple had met while they were working and who they

ended up helping with their comforting words and their messages of

faith and love. and judging by how full the sacred building was, it

was possible to realise the young couple had touched many people's

lives and even unaware of their angelic status, they had accomplished

many assignments.

when the

doors of the old cathedral were open, everybody watched with

fascinated eyes as a beautiful young lady walked down the aisle,

wearing a lovely wedding dressmonica

was wearing an elegant fully lined one piece strapless gown with

medium length train. beautifully made, beaded and em

oided bodice,

fully boned with lace-up back. there was a satin detail around the

bottom of the skirt and it split a little at front. the soft matching

veil was mid-calf length and had a single layer with

ribbon-edge. monica's hair was tied up in a bun, and that, along

with some soft make up, accentuated the beauty of her meek gaelic

features. holding a gorgeous flowered bouquet, and with her sweet doe

like eyes staring steadily at the altar, the young

ide let out a

sigh of pure happiness and then pretty white high heel shoes trailed

the red carpet towards the church navy, where andrew was.

the blond

angel watched fascinated as his beloved 'angel girl' came closer

to him, his green pools sparkling with love at her image. but his

were not the only ones – monica's eyes were also reflecting her

enchantment to see how dazzling he was in an elegant beige tuxedo.

his strong masculine features combined with his kind and gentle

nature had always moved her to tears and, in the last few months,

were also responsible for the pleasant sensation of butterflies in

the pitch of her stomach and the constant feeling of joy inside her

heart.

two

idesmaids and a flower girl were walking ahead of her, adding more

gracefulness to the ceremony, and as she reached the altar and stared

into the eyes of her soon-to-be husband, she saw the glowing love and

pride in them. how they loved each other! there wasn't a time the

couple had felt so happy other than when they'd found themselves

completely in love with each other and for many times since they'd

realised their hearts beat faster when they were together, monica and

andrew lifted their prayers thanking god for that wonderful feeling

that had grown in their hearts.

with

contented sighs, the guests watched as the

ide took the groom's

proffered hand and their eyes met – sparkling with love and a

multitude of other affectionate feelings.