16. Chapter 15 (1/2)

chapter 15

a car was parked in front of the beautiful and cosy

yellow house that stood right in front of judith's house. after two

weeks away, monica and andrew were back from their honeymoon and

would start a new and hopefully happy life close to the one who they

considered a mother and somewhat an angel in their existence, the

lady who stood by their side in the most difficult and also in the

happiest moments of their life.

the blond angel got off the car and rushed up to the

other side, to open the door for his beloved wife, who was giggling

once she took his proffered hand and also left the vehicle, "andrew,

you don't have to do this all the time, you know?" she spoke,

eyeing him with the natural tenderness of the ones who are deeply in

love.

with a

mischievous smile upon his face, andrew pulled her closer to him, and

then wrapped his other arm around her waist, "well, sweetie, i want

to inform you that i'll take each and every opportunity to hold you

and to kiss you like... well, like now, mrs!"

their lips touched a second later in a soulful, loving

kiss. once they were parted, monica held him tightly and rested her

head upon his strong chest, admiring the house where they would now

live. "i don't think i've ever felt so happy..." she sighed,

enjoying the way he would always entangle his fingers through her

auburn hair and his gentle caresses.

"the same

goes to me, angel." he replied, kissing the top of her head

repeatedly, "and i promise you i'll make you feel that happy

every day of your life, sweetie. everyday."

smiling, she looked up at his handsome face and tilted

her head in a way that made his heart melt for the hundredth time.

"you don't have to promise me that, andrew. i know you will! you

make every minute of my life a happy one!"

the

ushed a few more tiny loving kisses on her lips

and then caressed her rosy cheek. "don't you want to go inside

your new house, mrs?"

that tiny word at the end of the sentence always made

her smile grow wider, and she nodded her head emphatically, "yes!

let's go!"

but before she could move away from him, andrew

tightened the hold around her waist and suddenly, he lifted her into

his arms. she started giggling as the blond angel carried her across

the front garden, way up to the door, "andrew! what are you doing?"

"well, we got

to keep the old tradition, sweetie!" he said, amused with her

laughter, "i should carry you inside our new house!"

"you did the

same at the hotel where we stood!" she was clearly enjoying being

in his arms.

"well, what

did i tell you? i won't stop having you in my arms anytime soon for

the next hundred years!" he replied, kissing her cheek. as they

made it to the door, he carefully placed her on the ground just to

take the keys in his pocket and open the door, holding his beloved

wife in his arms once again; the sound of her giggles filling his

ears with the sweetest melody he'd ever heard.

when judith returned home at the end of that same

afternoon and saw andrew's car parked right in front of her house,

her heart nearly burst with happiness at seeing her two dearest

friends back. they were now a happy family that would stay together

practically all day long, sharing a happiness that judith herself had

almost forgotten after she'd lost her husband and daughter many

years before. god had given her two wonderful blessings and she would

treasure them for the rest of her life.

days became weeks and weeks quickly turned into three

happy months for the three of them. monica and andrew were more and

more in love with each other and anyone who saw the couple could tell

the great bond that

ought them together just by the look in each

other's eyes.

but a paper on judith's desk made her frown with

concern when she saw that, on the following week, they would have to

take a group of tourists back at baton rouge, where she, andrew and

monica had had that terrible accident that almost killed them. deeply

worried and a bit reluctant to go back there, she had called them

both and had a long talk with them. it was far too clear that subject

ought awful memories back to the three of them, but it was monica,

with her infinite tenderness and calming voice the one to put

andrew's and judith's hearts at ease.

"what

happened in baton rouge was terrible, that's true. but... almost a

year later, i guess we all learned that god has the power to make

wonderful things come out from terrible ones..." andrew was sitting

right next to her and she reached out to take his hand, "... look

at us now... though i have no memory of my life before the accident,

i'm almost sure that... that i was in love with you, andrew, and i

guess that what happened only made this love grow stronger..."

the blond angel felt the presence of tears at her words

and at the sudden sadness that those painful memories

ought to his

heart – images of monica fighting for her life and at how

ave she

was during a difficult recover caused a wave of emotion to flood his

very soul. he squeezed her hand and took it to her lips. "i'm

positively sure i've always loved you, angel... and yes, you're

right about this love... it's always growing stronger."

she returned his loving gaze, speaking loving words

through the

ightness of her dark pools. then, the irish angel

turned to judith and kept on speaking, "and you, judith, you found

not only peace of heart but also two friends who love you as a

mother... a loving mother who sheltered and helped us through the

most difficult time of our life... and who we'll always carry in

our hearts."

monica's words touched the woman's heart deeply, and

tears of emotion were finally making their way down her cheeks.

"you're right, dear... cause there was no way i could've

guessed god would make me smile again... and when i look at you two,

when i realise how important you are in my life and how much you

taught me... that's what i feel like doing: smiling and thanking

him for this blessing... for these two wonderful blessings."

later at night...

"angel?

sweetie?"

as they would travel early on the following morning, and

monica wasn't feeling very well during the day, she and andrew had

snuggled close together in the sofa to watch a romantic comedy on tv,

but the little angel soon fell asleep against his shoulder half hour

after the film started. andrew's voice interrupted monica's

peaceful sleep and she stirred in his arms to look at him with a bit

confused dark

own eyes, "yes?"

"i think the

film you wanted to see has just come to an end..." he replied, with

a slight smile, tenderly

ushing away a few strands of hair from her

face.

slightly blushed, she sighed a bit frustrated. "i wish

i could've seen it..." but then a smile crossed her pretty face,

"... but you're so nice and warm i cannot resist..."

loving to hear

his laughter, she felt him tightening the hold on her, "then i

guess it's high time a certain angel went to bed!" he said, and

ushed a tender kiss on her forehead, "we'll have a busy day

tomorrow, and you were not feeling well this afternoon."

she didn't miss the concern in his eyes as she spoke,

"i'm fine now, andrew. i had just a little indisposition during

the day... it's been a wee bit hot lately, you know."

"are you sure

you're okay? we could talk to judith and maybe you-."

"andrew, i'm

fine, i promise!" she had to stifle a yawn and that made him

chuckle, "...just a wee bit sleepy to be honest..."

"well, then

let's get going straight to bed, mrs!" he said, kissing her cheek

lovingly. the blond angel helped her to her feet and wrapped a

protective arm around her small shoulders, and after turning the tv

off, both headed upstairs. but that night, contrary to his sweet

angel girl, who immediately fell asleep once she had settled in his

strong arms, the blond angel didn't manage to sleep that fast. the

accident in baton rouge was still in his mind, and he wondered if and

when they would recover their memory back – and if that could

happen on the following day. sighing deeply, he decided not to think

about it any more and looking at monica's form, so gracefully

asleep in his strong arms was a way to put his heart at ease.

"sleep well,

angel. i love you..." he whispered, kissing her forehead tenderly,

and falling asleep some time later.

they left to baton rouge on the following day and, as

monica had already foreseen, they had a very pleasant and calm trip,

with stops at the most important monuments and tourist points of the

city and, even if the memory of the accident did come back once in a

while, the irish angel's joy and the visible love she and her

beloved andrew shared were so beautiful to watch that they managed to

shatter any sad reminiscence that could spoil that perfect sunny day.

after lunch,

the group of tourists took a

eak at the old state capitol building,

and monica, andrew and judith

took the chance to rest a little. hand in hand, the angels strolled

around the old monument, having the old lady standing by their side.

she looked at their entwined hands and let out a small laughter,

which monica didn't miss.

"what is it,

judith?"

"well... i

was remembering something that happened the last time we visited this

very place... something rather cute, i must say!"