Gloria in Excelsis

Title: Gloria in Excelsis
Pairing: Gloria/Monica
Summary: Even angels get angsty sometimes….
Rating: R (for some hardcore hanky panky towards the end)
*cough*
Disclaimer: I do not own TbaA or the characters therin – except Patsy. *shrug*
Furthermore, I derive no profit from this work.

The family home was a myriad of shadows and dark with despair until it was cast into the light and bathed in the glow of one beautiful angel. Monica was overflowing with God’s grace as she delivered the revelation and put hearts and souls at ease. Human eyes beheld her and filled with wonder and tears. It was so overwhelming, the sight of her coupled with the sound of her sweet soft voice uttering such simple yet true words, “Fear not.”

Gloria stood nearby, in awe of her supervisor. Ever since they had been unexpectedly paired together, the two of them had taken on an almost symbiotic relationship. Gloria mentally labeled it “performance anxiety” on her part because she found that whenever she tried to do her job, she faltered, miserably. Monica generally had to swoop in and save her, heroically, and basically complete all her assignments for her.

As the two angels exited the home where Monica had helped to mend broken hearts and reconnect them with God’s loving grace, Gloria found herself at a loss for words. Monica slid comfortably behind the wheel of Tess’ red Cadillac and started forward into the night. Gloria studied her delicate profile and made silent calculations in her head.

It had been nearly a year since Monica had walked away from Tess and into her new position as a supervisor. At first, it had been slow going for the both of them. The dynamic had changed a great deal. They generally worked with a different angel of death, but rarely did they see Andrew, and Monica was sullen a lot of the time, which was very uncharacteristic for her.

Gloria noticed the other angel was very focused on her job and not so animated, as she had once been, not as outwardly happy. Sure, she still had a certain optimism about her, but it was as if she had settled into a routine, into a rut.

“Forgive me, Monica.” Gloria said now, her eyes fretful. “I know I… failed you again.”

Monica shook her head, the wind playing in her dark red hair. “No, you haven’t failed Gloria. Failure only comes when you quit.” She paused and pushed a long silky lock of hair behind her ear. “And even then, you can always begin again.”

“I’m not a very good angel.” Gloria said matter-of-factly. “I know that…”

“Gloria, we’ve been over this.” Monica was patient with the younger angel even though she was growing weary of having this same discussion time and time again. “It takes a lot of work to get it just right.”

Gloria nodded, but she didn’t buy it. “Right. I fail nearly all of my assignments. You have to do much of the work for me. I should go to the choir. I can be useful there, I think. There are no lives or souls at stake anyway.”

“Yes, but you weren’t assigned to the choir.” Monica pulled the car over and turned to look at the other angel. “Listen, I know you haven’t found your niche yet, but we have to make the best of what we’ve been given.”

Somehow, Monica’s words made Gloria feel even worse. They were so grave and solemn. Monica sounded like she had been shackled to Gloria unwillingly, like she had been served a life sentence.

“You’re right, Monica.” Gloria said in a quiet voice, trying to keep the tears from running down her cheeks. “I’ll try and do my best.”

Monica nodded and started the car again as they headed towards the city limits. Gloria turned to look out the window, letting the cool air dry her tears, chill her body and make her a little numb. She was an angel. She shouldn’t feel this way. She should be in good spirits, on the verge of laughing, joyous and filled with God’s energy. Instead, she was depressed and filled with angst. She adored Monica, but she felt she was failing her.


When they finally pulled the car over, two cities away, Monica got out and stood on the side of a deserted road. It was early morning, and the wind kicked up dust accentuating the purple sky. It was beautiful, and the vision of Monica with her long tousled hair blowing in the wind summed it up perfectly. Pure.

Gloria got out and came to stand next to her. “Where’s our next assignment?”

Monica shrugged. “I don’t know.” She shielded her eyes with her hand so she could gaze off into the distance. “I suppose we’ll just keep going until something pops out at us.”

Gloria nodded, feeling weary. She wanted to eat something and she wanted to stay somewhere and rest. Monica, however, seemed to have other ideas.

“If we get started, we can be in Nashville in a few hours…”

“Umm… Monica, I wondered if maybe we could stop for a few moments.”

Monica turned to look at the other angel. She took in the sight of her disheveled clothes, tired eyes. Angels didn’t have worldly needs, but their human bodies did. Monica felt sheepish for making that little oversight.

“Of course we can stop if you’d like.” Her smile was sweet and Gloria shrugged one shoulder simultaneously apologetic and grateful.


Inside the small diner, Monica waited while Gloria went to the ladies room to freshen up. She seated herself at a table beside the window and looked out into the vast blue horizon. Her brown eyes were searching, searching for something, anything. She hoped against all hope that Tess would appear out of nowhere and guide her or ease her anxiety, but it was no use. She hadn’t seen her friend and mentor in a very long while. She didn’t want to let go, but she also knew that if she didn’t let go, she’d fall into a deep depression. It was already starting to get the best of her. After all, how could she possibly ease Gloria’s heart when her own was slowly breaking?

“What can I get you?” the waitress approached the table and Monica took in the sight of her, the dry bleached hair piled on top of her head like twists of cotton candy, the bags under the eyes, the hint of cigarette smoke beneath the smell of fried grease.
“Two cups of coffee, please.” She mustered a faint smile as Gloria approached the table, looking refreshed.

The waitress walked away with the order as Gloria slid into the seat across from Monica.

“It’s interesting what people write on bathroom walls.” Gloria fiddled with the napkin holder, tinkering with the little screws that held it together. “For example, for a good time we could call trailer-park-Patsy at 555-12 – “

“Gloria,” Monica interrupted. “Those are just… bathroom writings. People play nasty jokes on other people by trying to get a rise out of them or maybe just to get their attention. I don’t really know why.”

“I guess people are lonely.”

Monica nodded. “Loneliness is a very common state of mind among the humans.”

Now Gloria looked up into the other angel’s eyes and considered her. “You’re lonely. I can see it in your eyes. Even when you’re with me… or when you’re on an assignment. It’s very sad.”

Monica didn’t have the energy to argue. In fact, it was the truth. Instead, she thought she’d steer the conversation onto a new track. “I ordered a coffee for both of us, but you can always get something else. I think they have soup and sandwiches.”

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. I understand.” Gloria turned to look out the window. “We could go do something fun while we wait for our next assignment.”

“Something fun?” Monica watched as the waitress appeared and placed two cups of coffee on the table. She knew she didn’t want it even before it arrived. She had envisioned the staleness of the coffee grounds and she could smell the thin layer of grease on top just as she could see that the cup hadn’t been properly washed. There was the faint pink of someone else’s lipstick around the rim. Then she wondered when she had become so jaded. There was a time in her life when she was so carefree that she would have drank coffee out of a worn boot.

“Sure.” Gloria said as the waitress walked away wordlessly. “We could go to a show or a party. Or maybe we could go home for a bit and see what everyone is up to.”

Monica shook her head and wiped the rim of her cup with her napkin. Now, she was determined to drink it just to prove a point to herself. Gloria, of course, was completely oblivious of her internal struggle. “I don’t think it’s a good time to go home. Our assignment could come any time.”

Gloria nodded. “Yes. I guess you’re right.” She turned her cup up and drank her coffee black and without sugar. The hot bitterness was curious to her. It was verging on disgusting, but she was intrigued. Also, the fact that Monica liked it made it that much more appealing. Anything that Monica liked seemed worth exploring.

Monica, for her part, was busy stirring several packs of sugar and cream into her cup. Gloria looked on, wondering how many of those little packs Monica could stir in before it all cancelled the coffee out and simply became a cup of sweet cream. When she drank it, she visibly twitched. The taste almost startled her.

“That’s… good coffee.” she gasped as she dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. “Very potent.” She murmured as Gloria smiled at her.

“I have an idea. Maybe we should stay over in a hotel tonight. I mean, we usually have accommodations, but…”

“We should keep moving south, I think.”

“But, think of how fun it might be. Us in a hotel with room service and cable television…” Gloria pushed, but Monica shook her head.

“Tess always said that cable television was bad for the soul.” Monica felt her heart ache at the mention of her best friend. But she pushed those feelings aside. “And we don’t need room service, Gloria. We need to focus on our next assignment.”

Gloria sank down into her chair a little, defeated. She had never seen Monica push so hard against anything before. It was disheartening. “I’m sorry, Monica.” She said. “I just thought you looked like you weren’t having any fun.”

“I’m having a lot of fun.” She said, but her face said otherwise. In fact, she looked miserable. She was stressed out and overworked, and Gloria had the sinking suspicion that she wasn’t happy with her, that she’d rather be with anyone else.

Gloria pushed her coffee cup aside and stood up. When Monica looked up at her with question marks for eyes, she shrugged. “I’m just going for a walk.”

Monica wanted to protest but didn’t. She figured maybe if Gloria took a walk then she’d get the giddiness out and they could have a nice quiet ride to Nashville. Something about Gloria’s voice was just a bit too perky, a bit too pleasant. She wasn’t in the mood for that level of cheerfulness. Instead, she wanted to have a nice quiet ride, to look inward, to meditate. Then, she felt instantly guilty for thinking such things. After all, that was part of Gloria’s charm, the childlike inquisitiveness.

Reaching into her coat pocket, she pulled out a ten-dollar bill and laid it on the tabletop. As the waitress came and cleared their cups, Monica wondered, vaguely, if the woman was their assignment. Then, she shook her head. No. She’d not gained any word on the subject and now, she was beginning to suspect that she was just fishing for lost souls.

Outside the diner, she stood next to the red Cadillac and waited for Gloria. She didn’t see her in either direction, but then maybe she had gone around the back of the restaurant. Maybe she would be along soon.

The sun was already beaming brightly in the sky and becoming so warm that Monica had to shed her jacket. She looked around for Gloria and felt a slight pang of worry. It wouldn’t be like Gloria to disappear like this. She was always very responsible and dutiful despite everything else. Perhaps she had gotten herself into some kind of trouble. Monica pushed her hair out of her face and searched with her eyes and with her heart. No, Gloria was definitely nearby; she could sense her – but where?

And then, out of the blue, she approached, with a woman in tow.

“Hey, Monica.” Gloria came up, smiling. “This is Patsy. From the trailer park.” She gently nudged Monica when she said it.

“Hello Patsy.” Monica took in her appearance. She was dusty in an old pair of jeans and a torn flannel shirt. Her pale blond hair was pulled under a cowboy hat and she wore a smile. Monica could guess at her age, but she couldn’t guess at her purpose. Her soul was almost cloaked. “I’m Monica.”

Patsy nodded. She was thirty-something and playful, ready for action. “Gloria told me about you. She said you’re real nice.”

Gloria nodded. “She’s the sweetest person you’ll ever meet.” She turned to Monica. “Patsy wanted to know if we wanted to come to a party tonight at her house. She doesn’t live far from here. I told her we could give her a ride home, at least.”

“Certainly.” Monica nodded and climbed into the driver’s side, just glad that Gloria had returned. She wondered why they had encountered Patsy since she hadn’t gained word of her being the assignment. And, it was odd that Gloria had seen her name written on the wall and then just happened to bump into her.

“So, Monica,” Patsy said in that flighty tone once the car got rolling, “Your accent is weird. Are you from Scotland or somewhere…?”

Monica smiled faintly. “Somewhere…”

“So, can we go to her party?” Gloria’s eyes were alight, like a child’s. Monica wanted to say no, but Gloria was wearing that puppy-dog expression – and maybe she had been a little hard on her lately. Ever since they had been paired together, there had been little time for fun.

“We’ll see.” She said in a quiet motherly voice as Gloria glanced in the backseat and beamed towards Patsy.

Gloria took very easily to people now that she had gotten the concept of not going around blurting out that she was an angel or making huge social blunders in general. She liked how opposite this Patsy was from Monica. Patsy had been balancing precariously on the edge of a broken fence when Gloria had seen her, singing and bobbing her head, having fun all alone. Gloria liked the feeling that radiated off the human – like a party in a box.

Patsy had gravitated to Gloria fairly easily as well. She’d come ambling towards her, wearing a mischievous grin, sensing that Gloria was “out of her element”. And Gloria had warmed instantly to her. She liked anyone who was friendly and responsive to her. In this way, Gloria was easy prey and the main reason Monica liked to keep her close at hand. Some lessons were harder to learn than others, and she didn’t want Gloria to find herself in a painful situation.

Once they got to the dusty trailer park that was Patsy’s home, Patsy got out and skipped up to the one that was sat upon several cinder blocks and Gloria got out also until Monica stopped her.

“Gloria, we have to keep moving…”

And then Gloria’s big brown eyes found Monica’s and they looked so broken that Monica had to look away. “Monica, you said maybe we could stay…”

“I know, but I have a bad feeling. I don’t think we should hang around. I think our assignment is further south.”

“But how do we know that Patsy isn’t our assignment?” Gloria pleaded. “Monica, what if she needs us?”

Monica was certain Patsy wasn’t the assignment. “Come, Gloria. Get in.”

And then Gloria did something Monica never thought possible. “No, Monica. I’m staying.”

Monica was too stunned to be upset. “What?” she searched the younger angel’s face. “But why?”

“Because I feel that we have work here.” Gloria’s voice was a little feeble, but she knew she wanted to stay, and she felt that Monica would benefit from it somehow as well. Even if her reasons were selfish. Even if she just wanted to relax a bit and do something that wasn’t work related.

Monica put the car in park and sat, dumbstruck. What would Tess do? Monica had been insubordinate earlier in her career as a caseworker, but she had never envisioned what it might be like from the supervisor perspective.

Gloria stood outside the car staring in at Monica. She had so many words to say, but no way to convey them. It was as if she couldn’t put them together right in her head. She wanted to tell Monica that she loved her and hated seeing her this way, so tense and so sad. It reflected in everything she did, in the way she dealt with people and in the way she dealt with her. It made Gloria miserable because she wanted to be with her – and she didn’t want to be with her. If only she could fix it somehow.

From the tiny porch, Patsy called down to them. “C’mon inside, y’all! I made some hard lemonade! It’s pretty good too. C’mon out of this heat.”

Gloria reached towards Monica. “Please, just for a little while, Monica. I know it’s hard and you don’t want to, but please trust me.”

Monica looked towards the round-faced angel and sought out her soul. She wanted Gloria to know that she did want to trust her, that she did want to be with her, but the words wouldn’t come. She was so empty lately that she wondered how she could call herself an angel at all. Instead, she slid out of the passengers seat and closed the door.

“We can stay for a wee bit.” She said it grudgingly, pulling her long reddish hair back and tying it with a band before following a smiling Gloria up the steps and into the trailer.


The place seemed larger inside than it had outside. There was a small bar and ceiling fans and matching furniture set in animal print. Monica tried to relax but it was difficult. Gloria, on the other hand, was settling in nicely. She willingly accepted Patsy’s lemonade and took a sip of the curious beverage.

“Wow.” She wiped her mouth with the edge of her sleeve. “This is… different.” The effects were almost instantaneous as she drank nearly all of it down. She felt a bit lightheaded and somehow sillier. “I’ve never had lemonade like this.”

Patsy winked. “This recipe has been passed down from a long line of us Winslows.”

Monica caught on far too late. She reached for a glass of Patsy’s lemonade and sniffed at it. She shut her eyes and prayed for strength. She could barely deal with Gloria under the best of conditions. She’d be impossible under the influence of alcohol.

She politely went to where Gloria stood gulping the beverage and took the glass from her hands. “You can’t drink this, Gloria. It’s… not good for you, remember?”

Gloria nodded, but she wasn’t sure what she was nodding about. The effects of alcohol hit her so hard because she was a virgin at it, her body wasn’t used to something like this, but already it felt like a party in here.

Gloria threw her arms around Monica and whispered in her ear, in a matter-of-fact tone, “I think this room is spinning on an axis.”

“No, Gloria, it’s just you.” Monica helped her to the couch.

“Is everything okay?” Patsy seemed oblivious. “She never drank bourbon before?”

Monica shook her head. “No. She never has. Not until now.”

“Oh.” She shrugged, an amused expression on her face. “That’s crazy. I guess I popped her cherry, huh?”

Monica cleared her throat, resisting the urge to cringe. “I suppose so…”

Patsy went to another room and began making phone calls as Gloria lay on the couch staring up at Monica through unfocused eyes. “What was that, Monica?”

“It’s called alcohol.” Monica said. “It’s a mind altering drink humans take to help them relax.”

“Like wine?” Gloria inquired, sitting up a bit so that she could be nearer to Monica. “Jesus drank wine…”

“Yes, he did.” She couldn’t wait to leave this place and get back to work. The entire scenario was turning into a fiasco – and a big waste of time.

“I love you, Monica.” Gloria said in a definitive voice. “You know that, right?”

Monica nodded. “Yes. Of course I know.” She petted Gloria’s hair. She was used to the drunken rants of humans and in angels it was no different. She, herself, had even experienced it before. But Gloria was looking at her intensely now, perhaps trying to focus.

“I really mean it Monica.” Gloria swallowed back a dry heave. This liquor wasn’t agreeing with her. “I really do love you.”

Monica smiled patiently. “Yes, Gloria. And I love you too.”

Gloria took a moment to register the words. “You do?”

“Of course.” Monica felt a little crestfallen that Gloria would question it at all.

“It’s just that…” Gloria swallowed again. “…it’s just that I wasn’t sure.”

Monica felt genuinely saddened now. It was a tragedy that she had made Gloria feel that way, unloved. She used to be so good at making people feel warm and accepted. Now, she was slowly, almost deliberately pushing Gloria away. The thought of it made her eyes sting. It hadn’t been her intent.

“Gloria…I…I’m…”

A knock at the door pulled her out of the moment just as Patsy came dancing into the room switching on her digital stereo. “I’ll get that.” She grinned, tipping her cowboy hat. “You ladies relax. The party is almost here.”

And when the door opened, it was as if a flood of people washed into the room. It was insane how many there were, laughing, the ends of lit cigarettes dangling out of their mouths, the strange clothes. “Howdy!” a man said glancing at Monica and smirking at Gloria. “Looks like the party’s already started.”

Monica turned to look at Gloria who had passed out in her arms, and she lay her down gently on the armrest. She wondered if one of these men could move her into one of the bedrooms, but then she thought it might be better if she stay here in the open.

As the others came in and started to dance and drink and talk in loud animated voices, Monica went outside and stood staring up at the early afternoon sky.

“Father…” she began to pray, but no more would come. She thought of Tess and wished she could have her stern but helpful advice. She missed her steady voice and her warm embrace. She didn’t want to cry because it would be an admission of weakness. She didn’t want to be weak. And then, in the distance, she saw a hazy figure in the afternoon sun, a man dressed in white, his blond hair blowing lightly in the wind.

Andrew? She approached, slowly, uncertain. As she got closer, she saw that it was, in fact, the angel of death. But what was he doing here now?

“Andrew.” She breathed when she got close and he smiled at her, faintly.

“Monica, how are you?” He took her hand in his and squeezed it. It had been a while since they’d seen one another, and she was very glad to see him, but she wondered about his purpose.

“What are you doing here?” she walked with him, glad to be in his presence.

“Working.” He looked at her with green eyes. “I thought I’d come by and say hello.”

She smiled. “I’m working too… or… I’m supposed to be, but Gloria… well… she met this woman, Patsy…”
Andrew nodded gravely. “Yes, I know her. I took her father home a few years ago. They were very close. He was a good man.”

Monica smiled, amused. “I wonder if he was as much of a party animal as she is.”

Andrew regarded her. “Not exactly.” Then he faced her, glad to see her. “How’ve you been?”

She shrugged one shoulder. “Fine, I guess. A wee bit glum at times…”

“Only a wee bit?” he lifted her chin with his index finger. “Just looking into your eyes, I can see you’ve been down a long time.”

“That’s an exaggeration.” She said trying to keep a lump from forming in her throat. “I’m fine.”

“I know you miss Tess…”

“Andrew, don’t.” she whispered. “I can’t.”

He exhaled. “You’re an angel. You’re not supposed to be sad.”

Now she smiled, sadly. “Sometimes, I can’t help myself. We’re not immune to it.”

He nodded, agreeing, and then murmured, “Where’s you assignment?”

She shrugged, glad for the change in subject. “I don’t actually have one yet.”

“You sure? These things have a way of sneaking up on us.” He said, staring intensely into her brown orbs. “At any rate, you should enjoy yourself while you have the free time. I’m sure you and Gloria can find something fun to get into.”

“Actually…” Monica hesitated to say, but couldn’t stop herself. “…she drank bourbon accidentally and now she’s passed out on the couch…”

Andrew’s eyes were wide now. “Wow! Well, I remember a certain angel going through something similar once…”

Monica blushed a deep pink. “Andrew…”

“She really looks up to you, you know.”

“Who?”

“Gloria, of course.” He grinned. “If she hasn’t proven that to you yet, I’m sure she’ll find a way.”

He took a step back from her, and she panicked inwardly. “Andrew, please, don’t leave yet.” She resisted the urge to reach out for him.

“I have to go.” He looked squarely at her. “You’ll have a good time. Just don’t close yourself off to it. Sometimes we find love in the unlikeliest of places.”

She looked at the ground, trusting his voice but not trusting the words. When she looked back up, he was gone. She knew he would be, but she hadn’t wanted to accept it. She wasn’t prepared to let herself feel love. Not now. Not like this.

. . .

Inside the trailer, Gloria was coming to. The music was so loud and all around her there was dancing and laughing and joking. Right next to the couch, some people were playing a rambunctious card game, and Gloria felt her head spin when she sat up. It had been at least a few hours since she had been lying there and she felt around on the little side table for her glasses before sitting upright. Through a haze, she could see Patsy working the room with a pitcher of her dreaded lemonade.

“Patsy?” she stood, a little uneasily, and carefully approached the blond host.

“Oh, hey, darlin’!” she said handing the pitcher to someone and grabbing Gloria’s arm. “You want to try something a little milder? I got some Long Islands in the kitchenette.”

Gloria wasn’t sure what a ‘Long Island’ was, but it seemed like a bad idea. “The bathroom, please?”

“Oh, sure! Right this way.” She led Gloria to the bathroom as the angel followed on unsteady legs. “It’s in here. You gotta jiggle the handle.”

“Thank you.” Gloria said politely, before falling to her knees and emptying the contents of her stomach into the porcelain bowl. Patsy hadn’t even had time to leave her- even though she seemed amused by it all, but she was also sympathetic.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, darlin’” she went to the hall closet. “I’ll grab you a few towels. If I knew you hadn’t never drank, I wouldn’t have started you off with my homemade brew.”

As Gloria reached for the towel and wiped her mouth, she felt emotionally weak as well as physically.

“I just wanted her to have fun… a good time.” She turned her brown eyes to look into Patsy’s. “I don’t know how to make her like me.”

Patsy kneeled next to her on the bathroom floor. “You mean Monica?”

Gloria nodded. “Yes, the redhead angel… I mean…”

“I get it now,” Patsy said, knowingly. “You love her.”

Gloria nodded. She did love Monica. She wished there was a way to show her and to make her feel it so that she wouldn’t be sad. She thought the only way to help it was to get Tess to come, but somehow, she didn’t think that would fill the void – and in any case, Tess was busy elsewhere.

“I don’t know how to make her see because I am inadequate and…”

“If you just want to get her to love you back, then you should have told me. I can help you – but she’s a hard nut to crack. It’s going to take a lot of work.”

Gloria took off her glasses and wiped her weary eyes. She was still slightly under the influence, but things were coming clearer than they ever had before. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

Patsy smirked, taking in the sight of Gloria’s pretty face without the glasses. “Well, darlin’”, you’re already on the right track.”

. . .


Outside, Monica stood near the grill as a man poked at cooking burgers and hotdogs. “You like pork wieners or beef?” he asked, a toothpick between his teeth.

Monica shrugged. “I’ve never given it much thought.”

“Well, pork are best cooked on the grill, but the beef taste good right outta the packaging.”

Monica nodded, somewhat baffled and yet fairly intrigued. She wasn’t entirely sure she knew the difference. She was sipping a warm orange soda and letting the bubbles soothe her stomach. She was still waiting for word on their assignment and wondering if maybe she’d been sent here for a reason. Maybe she and Gloria were meant to stumble upon this party, to do some good here – but so far, everything seemed in order. There was nothing out of the ordinary going on. Sure, people were drinking and carrying on, but no one was in any danger and there were no moral lessons to be learned, or so she thought…


Inside, Gloria was holding a cigarette in the cramped cluttered bedroom with a small group of people, including Patsy. “Is this right?”

Patsy nodded. “Oh yeah… that’s good. You have to hold onto it or you might lose it…”

Somehow, Gloria felt this was the most valuable lesson Patsy could ever teach her and she brought the cigarette close to her lips, intending to take her first drag. However, when she heard the door open, she looked up and saw Monica through a haze of smoke and stood up. She’d taken off her glasses (because Patsy told her she was more beautiful that way) and approached. Monica, however, didn’t look pleased.

“Come on, Gloria.” She took the lit cigarette from Gloria’s hand and crumpled it up. “We’re leaving.”

“But…” Gloria tried to protest, but it was too late. Monica had made up her mind. In fact, Gloria didn’t think she had ever seen Monica so determined – or angry.

Outside, Monica murmured to her co-worker, “Get in the car, Gloria.”

“No.” Gloria protested again. “Not until you tell me why.”

“You were smoking!”

“I never actually put it in my mouth. Patsy told me you would think I look cool.”

“Well, I don’t.”

Gloria was dumbstruck. “But smoking makes people socially more acceptable.”

“It’s tawdry Gloria, and wrong.” She tried to keep her anger in check. “You’ll ruin your human form that way.”

“Patsy said you’d like it if I acted more assertive.”

“That’s not assertive, Gloria, mimicking a pack of reckless humans.”

“Are you still sad, Monica?”

She bypassed Gloria’s question by simply ignoring it. “Please, Gloria, get in the car.” Monica had grown weary. She was ready to leave, to get on with their next assignment.

Gloria hesitated, but then she slid inside next to Monica, feeling dejected. Also, she felt light-headed. Patsy was right. Monica was a touch nut to crack, and she wondered if maybe it was best to just give up.

They rode for several miles in silence. Monica was so focused on the road that she rarely turned to even look out the window. Gloria was so distracted by the things and landmarks they passed that she couldn’t even say which direction they were headed. She was lonelier now than ever and her heart was heavy. She needed a friend right now, and Monica was in her own world. She prayed for something to happen, something that would make Monica see that she was a good companion and a worthy angel.

When the car pulled to a slow stop, nearly an hour later, Gloria turned her questioning eyes towards Monica. The sun was hanging lower in the sky and warmer now than before. Monica pushed a long silky tendril of her red hair behind her ear and regarded the other angel.

“Gloria, I’m sorry if I was too hard on you back there.” She paused, searching for the right words. “It’s just that I worry about you. You’re still new to this and things are a wee bit confusing…”

Gloria wasn’t listening to the words so much as she was looking into Monica’s beautiful face, gauging her mood. She could calculate things like pulse and heart rate or measure a person’s tone by how clipped their words were. Monica was nearly as taut as a bowstring and it made things that much more tense between them.

“There’s a motel up here…” Gloria said in a thoughtful but sure tone.

And as Monica drove onward, the motel came into view. She pulled into the lot without hesitation and they checked into adjoining rooms. She thought they could both use the time to rest up and gather their thoughts. It would have been easy to simply return to heaven, fruitless – but she thought it might be best if they wait down here. She felt sure there was business; she just didn’t know what.

In her own room, Gloria prayed for a miracle. She wanted Monica to come to her, to want to be with her, but it seemed futile at best. Gloria was lacking all the things Monica wanted right now; she wasn’t Tess or Andrew. She wasn’t familiar enough with her work to be self-sustaining. She was almost a burden, in a sense – and Gloria hated the thought of being a burden. She wanted to disappear, to become nothing so Monica could go about her work as an angel alone.

Hours later, after the sky had turned darker and the wind cooler, a truck pulled up outside the motel and dumped a blond woman out. She was torn and ratty in her ripped jeans and dirty shirt. Her face was bruised and her lip busted. She was almost unconscious, thrown out by the man who assaulted her. She lay on the ground, in the dirt, finding her breath because it hurt to breathe with fractured ribcage.

Unbeknownst to the angels inside, a man in white approached her and kneeled by her side, glancing up into the windows of the motel. He brushed pale hair out of her face and checked his pocket watch. Unless there was some angelic intervention, he would soon be taking her home to join her father – both fathers.

In her room, Monica pondered the ornate wallpaper, the thick carpet. She had tried several times to rest her head and sleep, but she was too distracted. Something was keeping her alert. The same was the case with Gloria who hadn’t quite gotten used to the idea of lying down and shutting her eyes for long periods of time. Instead, she looked over at the kitchenette and contemplated the small bucket lined with a plastic bag. If there was a container for ice, then where was the ice?

She got up and knocked on Monica’s door.

“Come in.” Monica’s voice was soft as she said it, and Gloria poked her face into the room.

“Sorry to bother you. I’m going to try and find ice. I don’t really need it, but since I have a bucket for it…”

“Do you want me to help you find the ice?” Monica asked, wanting to be helpful, but Gloria shook her head.

“No. That’s alright. I think I can manage …”

“I didn’t mean it that way, Gloria…” Monica stood to protest, but Gloria had already disappeared.

In fact, she had no clue where ice was kept. There were several places it could be, and in a way, she was glad for the distraction. It was almost like a treasure hunt. The front desk man said that the one machine was broken, but that there was another machine around the side of the building so Gloria went through the front lobby and around past the parking lot where she got the strange sensation that she was needed. She dropped the bucket and wondered if maybe she should go back to get Monica, but instead, she was called to the lot where there was a heap in the dark shadows. She approached and kneeled down, unsure how to proceed. She was too stunned to act.

“Patsy?” she felt a pang in her chest at seeing her friend here. “Patsy, when… how did you-?”

And then Andrew appeared again, a worried crease between his eyes. “She doesn’t have much time, Gloria.”

“But… what do I do?” Gloria was desperate. “How did this happen?”

“There are bad people in this world, Gloria. You know that. She didn’t stand a chance. Her party kind of got out of hand. Especially when she was visited by her jealous ex-boyfriend.”

“I’ll go and get help.” She stood, frantic. “I’ll get Monica…”

“There’s no time for that.” Andrew said. “You have to talk to her. You’re an angel. Use your words.”

Gloria nodded, feeling out of practice. She brushed tufts of blonde matted hair from her friend’s face and felt herself filling up with the power of God’s love. She was glowing heat and Patsy opened one swollen eye and managed a small smile.

“Gloria?” she laughed weakly, then winced. “What’s happening to you?”

Gloria shook her head. “I I’m an angel. I’ve been sent by God to tell you that… well… he loves you.”

Patsy continued to smile, but it dimmed a bit. “God?”

Gloria nodded. “Yes. At first, I didn’t know why I was sent here… or what I was even looking for, but now… well… I guess I was sent here for you.”

“Except that you’re too late.” Patsy coughed and blood came onto her lips. Gloria wiped it with the edge of her shirt. “My ex beat me almost to death back there. Then h-he brought me here, where we first met.” Patsy paused. “Why did you leave, Gloria?”

Gloria shook her head. “Because I didn’t know I was meant to stay.”

“I’m glad I got to see you again.” Patsy shut her eyes. “So I don’t have to die all alone.”

“But you don’t have to be alone. You’re never alone, Patsy.” Gloria felt her eyes filling with water. “God is with you always. You don’t have to fill up your life with noise and partying because in those quiet moments, God is there. He’s in your life and in your heart. Always.”

Patsy smirked a bit, but she nodded before her face crumpled up. Her eyes were leaking large tears. “God was with me all those times I wrote my n-name on the wall… and my number…”

Gloria nodded. “Yes. All you had to do was call out to him.”

Patsy was crying now, great heaving sobs, and her body hurt with every movement – but it also felt cleansing and life giving. Gloria looked up to Andrew, needing an answer, but he was nowhere in sight. Instead, a car pulled up and some people from the party jumped out and ran to where Patsy lay. Gloria was unseen to them, but as they rushed towards her, their caring hands lifting her gently into the car to be taken to the hospital, Gloria felt that she was in good hands.

“You’ll be alright, Pats.” One of her friends was saying. “We already called the cops on Ray. He won’t make it to the state line in that beat-up pick-up of his.”

And as Gloria watched them drive away, she turned and saw the glowing redhead angel standing near her.

“You did a beautiful job, Gloria.” Monica’s voice was like music to her ears. “Very well done.”

Gloria averted her eyes. “I was afraid, at first.”

“You were very brave.”

Gloria pushed her glasses up her nose and moved past Monica back into the motel. She didn’t want to talk to her because she felt in a daze about the entire situation. She had helped someone, in the vaguest sense of the word, and perhaps Patsy had helped her as well. But she still felt an emptiness where Monica was concerned.

She was washing her hands at the sink, a perfunctory gesture considering that angels really didn’t need that sort of upkeep – just like eating or sleeping. She could simply wish it away or rejuvenate herself, but there was something refreshing about having the water on her skin that way. Even though she wasn’t human, certain things she liked about it, like the touch of another against her, something she was still largely unfamiliar with.

“Gloria.” Monica was behind her, and Gloria turned to look at her. “Talk to me.”

“Alright.” Gloria conceded. “What would you like to talk about?”

Monica shrugged, smiled a little smile. “Well, we could talk about us.”

Gloria made a face, confusion etching her eyebrows. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“I’ve been a wee bit distant, I know…”

Gloria shook her head, slowly. “No. You’ve been here with me most of the time.”

“I don’t mean that, Gloria.” Monica put a hand to her temple, trying to consolidate her thoughts. “I mean, I’ve been somewhat introverted or cold. That’s not like me at all.”

Now Gloria reached a hand out and touched Monica’s soft skin, noting that it was anything but cold. In fact, she was rather warm. At any rate, the gesture caused Goosebumps to pimple her skin. There was a definite sign of heat in her cheeks, but Gloria remained silent, making mental notes.

“It’s been difficult for me, this past year, getting to know you, not having Tess around…” her voice faltered on that. It had been rough enough without her good friend Andrew, but the absence of Tess had weighed so heavily on her heart. One year away from her had been nearly torturous – not to mention lonely. “…anyway, I’m sorry to take that out on you.”

Unsure what Monica needed or how to proceed, Gloria opened her arms, gesturing for Monica to come to her.

“Gloria, I’m not sure how…”

“It’s an expression of love. You taught me about it once. One of my earliest lessons with you.”

“A hug?” Monica felt her eyes filling with water. She didn’t know how it would help, but she was out of options. “Alright.”
Monica came close and let Gloria enfold her in her arms. They were relatively close to the same height and so Monica’s face rested comfortably in the crook of Gloria’s neck. She smelled so clean and fresh and a little sweet – like rose petals. It was a side affect of being an angel. Monica wrapped her own arms around Gloria and let herself be held so tight, so warm and so comfortable. Gloria’s hands found Monica’s hair and touched it, experimentally at first, then more liberally. She stroked the long reddish strands in her fingers, noting how much like water it felt, how much like silk.

When they pulled their faces apart, Monica held one small hand to Gloria’s cheek and stared lovingly into her watery brown eyes. Gloria was such a comforting presence in this moment, such a sweet angel. Monica brushed her mouth against hers, an innocent gesture between friends. Her mouth seemed perfect for such an act. And then Gloria mimicked the gesture, kissing Monica’s soft lips.

Gloria’s hand rested on Monica’s slim waist and she liked the way her thin cotton dress slid against the skin beneath it. She liked the sensation of being so close, of the intimacy. Monica in her arms felt like the safest place in the universe – and it felt so right.

Wordlessly, Monica took her hand and led her into the main room where a bed faced a television. They sat on the edge, hand in hand, and drank up the cool candlelit silence. They were speaking to one another, without words. Monica was powerful enough that she could get inside Gloria’s head, let her know the things she couldn’t exactly put into words, reassure her: No, she wasn’t disappointed in her; yes, she loved her with all her heart; yes, she enjoyed working with her. She explained, in her own way, how Tess was like a mother to her and how being away from her was like losing a limb in a sense – but also, it made her feel so vulnerable at times. Sometimes, she became sad and disinterested, but because they were angels and their needs were secondary, she was ready to move past that.

Gloria held her hand tighter inside her own. She leaned over and kissed her again, enjoying the contact. Monica smiled at her when she pulled away. She reached up and slid Gloria’s glasses off her face and laid them on the nightstand. Then she leaned over and kissed Gloria’s mouth with so much passion that Gloria felt a jolt through her body, like electricity. It startled her and made her pull back.

“Monica…” she gasped. “…what was that?”

Monica grinned, her beautiful face seductive in the dim light. “An expression of love. You remember the people you once saw kissing in the park?”

Gloria nodded, feeling tingly all over. “Yes. I remember.”

“This is like that. Only more.” She entwined her fingers with Gloria’s. “I want to show you how much I love you, Gloria so you never have to question it again.”

Gloria’s face was flushed with heat and her heart was beating faster than normal. She suddenly felt idle – like she wanted to do something with her hands. She wanted to touch Monica, and the more she thought about it, the more her body reacted.

Monica leaned towards the younger angel and kissed her lips gently before kissing her chin and her neck, the soft velvety skin just above the hollow of her throat. Gloria trembled and let her hand rest on Monica’s head, fingers getting lost in the deep shimmery forest of her hair.

While Monica kissed all over her soft skin, she was using her hands to slowly divest Gloria of her clothing. She was so skilled at this that Gloria didn’t even realize she was no longer wearing a shirt until she felt the cool air kiss her skin and raise goose bumps along it. This distracted her mildly as Monica’s head hovered near her ribcage, dragging her mouth along her sternum. Her small delicate hands cradled Gloria’s renaissance body with such care that Gloria felt she was being recreated, that Monica’s hands were gently sculpting her.

“You’re so beautiful, Gloria.” Monica’s mouth hovered near one of Gloria’s ample breasts. “Never think I don’t love you, inside and out.”

Gloria couldn’t find a verbal response as Monica’s mouth took a pebbled nipple and suckled it gently. She felt electricity again, coursing through her body, up her spine and through her erogenous zones. She had read about it once, the effects of sex on the human body, but all her research had been in theory. Actually experiencing it was a whole other ballgame, and her thoughts were turning to mush anyway because Monica was turning her slowly from a solid to a liquid. Her body was literally melting. She felt so much wetness that it made her head spin.

“Oh Monica…” Gloria’s eyes rolled back as Monica’s hands and mouth teased her nipples into hard little pebbles of granite.

After several minutes of this, Monica gently pushed Gloria into a reclining position on the bed and lay next to her. She was undoing her pants and looking lovingly down at her, smiling fondly. She was eager to love her and make love to her. In fact her hands trembled slightly as she reached for her fly and slid a hand downward to rest on Gloria’s quivering belly.

“Relax, Gloria,” Monica whispered - for her own benefit as well. “I would never hurt you.”

Gloria nodded, dragging her fingers through Monica’s fiery hair. “I know you wouldn’t.” Gloria’s voice was faint but sure. She knew that was true even while she didn’t know what was in store. She obediently raised her hips as Monica pulled her slacks down her legs, and felt almost more comfortable because nudity wasn’t an issue as angels had no need of modesty. She was more worried of exposing her heart rather than her body.

Monica straddled her and caressed her all over, her hands leaving trails of heat wherever they traveled. She kissed Gloria’s mouth now with abandon, her tongue gently but insistently probing, sliding against her own. Gloria felt she was in another world. She was floating on a cloud and exactly where she wanted to be, where she had always wanted to be, so close to Monica they were practically inside each other. Monica’s hair was all over the place and Gloria held handfuls of it like it was strands of gold. She never wanted to let go.

Monica’s mouth left hot kisses all over her body, even those little insignificant places like the place behind her ear, her shoulder, underneath her arm, her hip bone, the place just underneath her bellybutton that made her tremble because Monica’s hair was simultaneously dragging along her sensitive nipples.

She rose off the bed, feeling she needed more, desperate for more. And Monica seemed to know exactly what she needed because in the next moment, her hands were traveling farther south, resting against the soft tuft of hair covering the mound at the apex of her thighs.

The younger angel whimpered as Monica’s fingers dipped beneath her virginal folds and lightly caressed the little nubbin within. She let it slide between her fingers and then reached farther to find wetness and let it aide in her task. She was lying next to Gloria, kissing her face as she began a rhythm, her thumb circling the nubbin as her fingers slid in and out, letting the tight walls clench her hand.

“Oh, Monica…”

“Yes…” Monica whispered against her lips. “…Yes, Gloria…”

Gloria moaned and felt her hips gyrating, finding the contact she’d been longing for, her fingers holding onto Monica, getting lost in the friction of her hands on her and inside her. Monica, for her part, was enjoying the feel of the tight wetness of Gloria’s clenching. She liked making her feel good and she liked the closeness. Gloria’s hands were holding firm to her, and Monica felt chills up her spine as the nails lightly scratched her skin through her thin slip dress. She wanted this moment to last, but Gloria was getting so close already. Her flushed face was beautiful as she got nearer to the precipice. And Monica continued to circle her slippery nubbin with skilled fingers all the while driving into her with deep plunging thrusts. It was nearly all Gloria could handle, and then she shut her eyes and tossed back her head.

“Monica!” she cried out as her body went suddenly rigid. “…Monica…”

The warmth was unbelievable. It was all over her; washing over her in waves of pleasure as she trembled and let it keep coming, keep wracking her body. She held onto Monica’s arm for an anchor as the heat continued to rush through her, the wetness between her thighs, her walls grasping at Monica’s fingers. Her head was angled away and then Monica brought her face back around and kissed her mouth, sucked lightly at her tongue. This caused another hard tremor to rush through her because Monica’s fingers were still buried inside her.

When the tremors subsided, Monica slid her hand out and held Gloria’s warm body. She caressed the smooth skin, and kissed her all over, cool soothing kisses like balm for the soul. Gloria’s chest rose and fell as her breathing came back to normal. She didn’t know how to thank Monica for this, didn’t even know what to say. She felt a little discomfited also because now that she had done this, she wanted to experience it often, wanted Monica’s hands on her at all times. She shut her eyes and reveled in the beauty of it all.

“I love you so much.” Monica caressed Gloria’s dark hair, let it slide through her fingers.

“I can tell.” Gloria’s voice was hoarse and ironic at the same time. The words brought a smile to Monica’s lips.

“You feel so good in my hands.”

Now Gloria looked at Monica, sought out her brown-eyed gaze. She wanted to touch her, as she had been touched. Her hands reached for the redhead angel and brought her closer, if that was even possible. She kissed her mouth and let her tongue find Monica’s. The eldest angel moaned softly, and Gloria decided she loved that sound, wanted to generate more of the same.

Feeling in control, Gloria sat up a bit and reached for the hem of the thin slip dress that Monica wore and brought it up and over her head and exposing Monica’s nude body. She was a work of art, pale and flawless. The silky patch of red hair covering her mound matched the long thick mane flowing from her head. Gloria was rendered speechless as she admired her supervisor’s heavenly form.

“You’re so amazing Monica.”

Monica licked her lips and smiled. “Touch me, Gloria?”

Gloria’s breath caught in her throat as she reached for the angel, her hands around her slim waist. She moved with nervous inexperienced hands, but she knew what to do. She had been on the receiving end and she knew where she wanted to begin.

Monica’s breasts were perfect handfuls, round and pale, like porcelain. The nipples were wine colored and Gloria wondered what they tasted like as she bent her head to lick at one. Monica’s breath came quicker as she caressed Gloria’s head, getting lost in the sensation of the gentle mouth on her. Gloria kissed and licked and sucked the nipples in turn, for several minutes while her hands traveled the length of Monica’s skin, learning her body. Her fingers danced over the places on Monica where the bone stretched the skin, she was so slender. Her clavicle was curious to Gloria as well as the torso where her fingers slid lightly across her ribcage and down to her hipbone. Her mouth continued to suck and nip at the peaks of her breasts until Monica was trembling beneath her, her chest rising and falling in deep arcs.

Gloria rested a hand on the place between her belly and her chest as she bent her head low to kiss the navel and the flat area beneath. Her other hand slid over the smooth white thighs and down her legs, just enjoying the feel of her, the silkiness.

“I love touching you.” Gloria whispered as she moved between her thighs. “I love you so much, Monica.”

Monica smiled faintly as Gloria’s finger tangled in the soft hair between her thighs. She bent her head low and kissed her there, which surprised Monica. Then she kissed both thighs before parting them slowly. She wanted to savor this moment, to enjoy every second of it. Her fingers found Monica already so wet as they slid inside her easily. She rested her chin on Monica’s hipbone so that she could watch her face as she made love to her. Monica was moaning softly as Gloria’s fingers drove in and out, finding the soft core before withdrawing again. She used her free hand to tease the hardened nipples while she did this and Monica was soon moving her hips in rhythm.

“Yes, Gloria…oh, Gloria…” Monica’s soft voice was whimpering, making Gloria insane with passion. She loved the sound of her voice already, the Irish lilt, but it was even better during sex. She sounded so amazing.

Gloria slid two fingers in and out of her colleague and continued to pinch the nipples, but she was nothing if not creative – and even though she had never experienced it herself, she wondered if Monica might enjoy more.

Bending her head, she kissed and licked her mound while she kept her fingers driving in and out at a steady pace. Monica cried out, and Gloria watched her face for signs of discomfort and found none. Instead, it was as if Monica was getting even hotter. Her body was flushed pink, sweaty all over, her beautiful eyes clenched shut in pleasure. Gloria parted her lower lips with her tongue and found the nubbin there within and began to lap at it hungrily; Monica tasted like the finest sweet cream.

The elder angel was getting so close. She never wanted Gloria to stop what she was doing with her hands and with her mouth. She was so close to the precipice, but she willed herself away from it. She wasn’t ready for it to end yet. It was far too good.

“Oh. Gloria…” she moaned, gyrating her hips against Gloria’s mouth and fingers. “…yes, please… so good…love you… so much…”

Gloria swirled her tongue around Monica’s nubbin, faster now, her fingers moving deeper and harder. Monica’s leg was draped over her shoulder and she loved it that way, loved the thought of Monica wrapped around her. She could tell by her breathing and by the way she moaning and cried out that it wouldn’t be long, but she still hoped it would last longer. She loved the feel of Monica’s tight slick walls gripping her fingers, loved the feel of her taut nipples, poking at her open palms, loved the taste of her on her tongue. She was so delicious.

Soon, though, it was too much. Monica’s body became tight, and she opened her mouth in silent cry as her hips raised off the bed, taking Gloria’s mouth with her.

“Oh… Oh… Gloria…” she cried out once, then again, and Gloria kept her fingers buried deep inside her, loving the sight of her like this, coming so hard that her narrow body was convulsing. Gloria’s hand was clenched tight by her inner walls, and with her free hand, she tugged a nipple to enhance it that much more.

“Beautiful…” Gloria whispered against her pelvic bone as she slowly came down. “…incredibly beautiful.”

When Monica had settled against the bed, Gloria slid her fingers out gently and wrapped the other angel in her arms. She kissed her face and her hair as Monica slid her arms around Gloria as well. Lying together, skin to skin, was exquisite. They were both so warm and so wet and it was perfect.

Monica’s mouth sought out Gloria’s and they kissed deeply, tongues dueling lazily. Monica was light headed with passion and Gloria was bathing in the aftermath. She traced Monica’s hot skin with her fingertips, flowery patterns and words of love. She didn’t want to take her hands off of her, and Monica didn’t mind. She even dozed lightly as Gloria continued to touch her skin, learning it, burning it into her memory for eternity.

. . .

The next morning, two angels pulled up to the hospital in a red Cadillac where Patsy sat up in a hospital bed watching television and sipping juice from a little Styrofoam cup. She was bruised and in a little pain, but otherwise, she was okay.

Gloria poked her head in the door and waved. “Hello Patsy.” She had brought a bouquet of flowers and placed them on the stand near her bed.

“Gloria, hi!” she reached for Gloria and they embraced like old friends.

“How are you?” Gloria straightened her glasses on her face. “I hope you’re well.”

“I’m better, thanks to you.” Patsy pushed her hair out of her face. She looked tamer without the cowboy hat and the cigarettes. “So, you’re an angel.”

Gloria nodded. “Yes. I am.”

Patsy seemed in awe of her. “It’s so weird that an angel would come to me. But I think it was meant to be. If you’re real, then that means… God is probably real.”

“God is definitely real.” Gloria looked at her intently until Patsy smiled. “And he loves you.”

“My minister came and saw me this morning. He said I should come back to church. My mom still goes there. I haven’t seen her in a while…”

“I think that’s a good idea.” Gloria agreed. “It’s one of God’s favorite places.”

Patsy smirked. “Yeah. And I can start over. From scratch.”

“And Ray?” Gloria wanted to know about the miserable man who had hurt her newest friend.

“Police got him. His stupid truck can’t go much over forty-five. He never stood a chance.”

Patsy laughed and Gloria smiled and stood. “Well, I better be going.” She embraced Patsy again and when they pulled apart, Patsy got a closer look at Gloria. Something about her seemed different.

“What’s happened to you?”

Gloria shrugged. Her smile was innocent as ever, but there was a definite change in her that Pasty couldn’t explain – and Gloria was betraying nothing with her words even if her face said something different.

“Where’s your friend, Monica?”

And at the mention of the name, Gloria flushed a deep pink that gave her away. Patsy grinned. “She’s waiting for me… outside…in the car…at the car. Parking. She was parking. Well… waiting…”

Patsy continued to grin. “Okay. Well, I take it you’ve settled your differences.”

Gloria simply nodded, her hand on the door handle. “You could say that.” And as she exited the room, she waved just as a dove landed on the windowsill of Patsy’s room. The little bird seemed to be laughing with her as she nodded, contented.

. . .

Outside at the car, Monica was wearing sunglasses and smiling. She seemed a new person as Gloria got in and buckled her seat belt. “How is Patsy?”

“Oh, she’s much better now.” Gloria nodded, happier than she’d been in months.

When she turned to look at Monica, the angel was already grinning at her. “Where do you want to go?”

Gloria shrugged and reached for Monica’s hand that was resting on the steering wheel.
“Anywhere. As long as it’s with you.”

Monica brought Gloria’s hand to her lips and kissed the knuckles then before putting the car in gear and pulling off towards the vast blue horizon.


END