*~*~*
After their coffee break, C.J. and Yva left for other
commitments. Andrew persuaded JenniAnn to return to her
studies. She thought he had then left for an assignment
or, better yet, returned Home. This hope was dashed,
however, when JenniAnn took a break and noticed a light on in
Andrew's living room. He was home. Something told
her he was alone and not particularly happy about it.
Not knowing what else to do, she made a few sandwiches and
snacks and headed towards Serendipity. She was still
some yards off when she heard the music, loud and
sorrowful. And imperfect. It was no CD Andrew was
listening to. The angel seemed to be playing Grieg's
Piano Concerto in A Minor and it broke JenniAnn's heart.
"Andrew!" she called from the porch. However, her
shouting was drowned out by the music and she feared that
screeching or screaming would only alarm him. She
entered the house and made her way to his living room.
For a moment, she stood in the entry and only watched.
Andrew grimaced as he played and though he didn't appear to be
crying it was obvious he had recently. JenniAnn waited
out the movement, not wanting to deny the angel this
release. When his hands had at last stilled, she called
his name again.
Andrew spun around to face her.
"I... I tried to call for you but you didn't hear and I didn't
want to interrupt and... I brought sandwiches and chips
and some macaroni salad and dessert bars."
Andrew looked tenderly at the woman holding out the
basket. It was not lost on him that she had come bearing
the customary sympathy food of her Midwestern people. He
wasn't very hungry but approached and accepted the basket then
hugged JenniAnn. "Thank you."
"Are you... even close to okay?"
Andrew began to nod then found himself shaking his head
instead.
"Let's sit down." JenniAnn guided him to his couch then
sat beside him, hugging his arm.
The angel remembered sitting on another couch with Monica,
trying to console her. But he'd taken a place as far
from her as he could manage. Why had he done that?
Why had he stayed so far when he suspected time with her was
waning? "It's already becoming a blur," he
started, surprising JenniAnn and even himself. "I was
standing there. It was a field near a road. Where
Tess gave Monica her first caseworking assignment."
Andrew looked out the window with a wan smile. "I
watched Gloria tell her good bye. And then she left and
for a few moments I just stared at the spot where Gloria had
been. I should have said something to her before, I
guess. I didn't realize we... we were all going our
separate ways." Andrew brushed at a tear. "And I
also... well, I was stalling. But Tess hung back so I
figured that meant it was my turn to say good bye."
As
the song progressed, the two began to waltz properly. They
moved in elegant circles and Andrew spun his partner
around. They laughed when JenniAnn's hair whipped him in
the face.
In the doorway, Joshua watched over them. He closed his
eyes, seeing another time, another dance to the same song.
Andrew sat in the Fields of
Gold, gazing up at the stars and the full moon. His face
was tense, his eyes wearied.
JenniAnn, now grown into a
woman in her thirties but still looking at Andrew with the
same love she'd borne for so long, stepped out of a
cabin. She walked across the lawn then paused to pull a
small device from her pocket. A moment later familiar
strains issued from it. Tears trickled down her cheeks
as she listened to the words and remembered the first night
she had heard them. She had felt so nervous that evening
but it was nothing to the fears that gnawed at her then.
Dance me into the night
Underneath the moon shining
so bright
Turning me into the light
Time dances whirling past
I gaze through the looking
glass
And feel just beyond my grasp
is heaven
The angel of death turned towards the woman. He smiled and
held out his hand.
Mirroring their younger selves, they danced slowly and then
warmed up to an all-out waltz. For those precious minutes,
their worries and her fears melted away. It was only them,
the music, the moon, the stars, and God until the notes died
away and a chill breeze stirred.
"I don't even know what to say," JenniAnn confessed, her voice
barely audible.
Andrew pulled her closer. "That's okay,
Laja. I know what to say. Because it's a lot like
something you told me years ago, after Monica got
promoted. So here it is: I won't leave you. I know
tomorrow will bring trouble and things... they might look bleak
for a while. And I know you're worried that something
might happen that would make me leave here. But... I
really don't think I will. You know, I *know* I
won't. I'll be here. I'll be here for you.
Always."
"Always..." JenniAnn echoed.
The angel stroked her
hair. "I know what you can say to me."
JenniAnn stepped away just
enough to look into his eyes. "What is that?"
"Say you'll meet me Saturday
for breakfast. Under the willow tree. Red velvet
cupcakes?"
Laughing even as she wept,
JenniAnn nodded. "The willow tree, Saturday, I'll bring
the cupcakes." With a sigh, she nuzzled his
shoulder. "I love you, Andrew."
"I love you, too, Laja."
"We'll pray for you.
All of us."
"Thank you," the angel of
death said quietly before kissing her hair and preparing to
let her go.
Joshua opened his eyes, lovingly watching the two dancing around
the living room. Now they were laughing near
constantly. He smiled. Even if he hadn't already
known what the future would bring, even if he hadn't known how
that fateful Friday years into the future would end... he would
surmise that Andrew would triumph. Love always did.
Andrew loved so greatly and was so greatly loved that no other
result was possible. When the day came for Andrew to meet
JenniAnn beneath the willow tree, she would not wait for him
alone. The yard surrounding her would be filled with those
who loved Andrew... each with a cupcake, each waiting for a
hug. Monica would glance at her pocket watch... his pocket
watch... and remember the good times they had together.
And with the sound of
his footfalls would come the promise of more good times for them
all.
The End
The song lyrics are from
"Dark Waltz" from Hayley Westenra's CD Pure.
After writing this, I realized that CD wasn't released until
2004. Oops. I spose it's still possible singles
from it got radio play in 2003, when JenniAnn tuned into
it. However, I'm also content to cover my lil mistake
by saying it was a "God thing." If God wanted Andrew
and LJA to hear that song then, the matter of time wouldn't
stop Him. ;-)