by Deryn Pittar
Chapter 12
THEY SPENT THE AFTERNOON with Lewis’ parents, then escaped back to Emma’s house where they lay on the couch together, warm and comfortable, caressing and kissing, legs tangled.
“I only have another week of leave left, so I hope the council has made a decision by tomorrow. It will give us time to organise things. But you realise, if they say no, this could be our last night together.” Lewis couldn’t bear the thought and pushed it to the back of his mind.
Emma turned a little and then rolled so she was lying on top of him.
“Have more faith. They could feel the love we have for each other. You wait and see. By tomorrow they will have come up with a magnificent answer to our request.”
“Magnificent?” Lewis ran his hands over her body. “I can’t imagine anything more magnificent than us just staying like this.”
Emma pushed herself up and knelt astride him.
“That’s because you only have thirty years practice at finding solutions. They have had thousands of years.” She tickled him. He wrapped his arms around her, and they tumbled onto the carpet.
She wiggled under him, and for a moment he felt that familiar feeling of a flashback tugging at the edges of his mind. Was it an enemy under him? Was there danger? His hand moved to his waist, looking for a knife. Then her mind soothed his again and brought him back to the present. No, it was his beautiful angel who moved under him, wriggling with happiness, not struggling to escape.
“You’re squashing me,” she giggled.
“I’ll squash you more in a moment.” Now he knew where he was and what they were doing. He pushed himself up to kneeling, and carefully unbuttoned her dress front until he could see the edge of her feathers. “I’ll show you what magnificent is. Even with just a few meagre years’ practice, I can do magnificent too.”
She giggled again, and her eyes darkened with a desire that matched his.
“I love you so much, Lewis,” she said.
“I love you too,” And he set about proving it.
The next day they walked back to the church. The sun warmed their back but the breeze that lifted their hair had a chill to it.
He tucked her hand into his pocket, to keep it warm.
They climbed the three stone steps and Lewis pushed the door of the church open. “Now to hear the magnificent solution you’ve been telling me about.”
Emma laughed then stepped into the old church ahead of him.
“You will be amazed.”
“I hope so.” He grasped her hand tightly. He’d tried to keep things light, but so much rested on the next few minutes. What if the council wouldn’t let them be together? What if they spirited Emma away and he couldn’t fight them? What if he never saw her again after this?
He felt her mind touch his gently.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “It will be fine.”
“Magnificent,” he reminded her.
“Yes, glorious, splendid, brilliant.” She stretched up and kissed him. “Have faith.”
The council were waiting for them again. Standing in a semi-circle in front of the altar, the way they had been the day before.
They looked about as benign as a dozen old angels could despite them holding his future in their hands.
He stood in front of them with Emma beside him. He should have worn his uniform. It would have looked more impressive.
Gabriella took a step towards them. “Emmanuelle, Lewis, we have come to a decision.”
Lewis breathed in. This was it.
“We have looked at your request from all aspects and we have decided to grant it on one condition.”
Lewis let his breath out in a sigh. His heart rate slowed a little and the ache in his jaw eased. He hadn’t realised he’d been grinding his teeth together. He and Emma could be together—but now they would hear whether Emma would have to become mortal. He wasn’t sure he wanted her to sacrifice so much for him.
No, Lewis, that isn’t our condition. He heard Gabriella’s voice in his mind as clearly as he could hear Emma’s when her mind touched his. What was this?
“Yes, Lewis, I can touch your mind, and no, you don’t need a uniform to look impressive,” said the old angel. “We are impressed already by your bravery and depth of love for one of us.”
“What are your conditions then?” he asked.
Gabriella smiled at him and he relaxed a little. It can’t be anything too terrible.
“We have decided, we could use your skills as a soldier to protect the angels here on earth. We have seen what you are capable of and that you are a brave man. It is also useful that the government has trained you to fight and use weapons. Would you be interested in taking on such a role?”
Well, he’d been thinking of getting a job as a bouncer, maybe he could bounce fallen angels instead. This way he got to live with Emma and be near his family.
But Gabriella hadn’t finished. “And Sebastian will be your deputy. Once he has finished atoning for what he tried to do to his sister he will be part of your team. He has shown he can choose the right path if he has an incentive. Being allowed to continue to live as an angel and not a mortal should be incentive enough.”
Emma’s grip on his arm tightened, her fingernails dug into his skin and he hoped her trembling transmitted excitement, not fear.
“Yes, I would be interested. But you do realise my leave finishes in a week and then I have to go back to the Army. I could be sent anywhere.”
Gabriella nodded. “We have discussed that and have decided it would be a pity to lose our newest member. You will need to resign and make this your last tour of duty. We will angelize you. You will become an honorary angel answerable to this Council. You can return to the army invincible and bulletproof.”
Now that would be very handy. A spike of invincibility ran up his spine. He stood taller. “Do I get to stay that way when I arrive home?”
Gabriella nodded again. “Of course, again we don’t want to lose our latest recruit when he is protecting our community.” She laid her hand on his shoulder and a wave of strength penetrated his bones and muscles. His fingertips tingled and the hairs on his arms stood up. Not unpleasant, but quite strange. He needed a moment to regain control of his emotions then pulled Emma close and dropped a kiss on her cheek. He’d do better later.
“Thank you, everyone,” he said, bowing to the circle of angels. “You’re all invited to our wedding.” He raised his eyebrows to Emma. “Next Saturday?”
She grinned. “My place at eleven - in the garden. Lunch afterward. Just friends and family.”
They walked out to the church, euphoric. It was difficult to believe how fast things had turned around. Only one more tour and he could come home for good and live happily ever after.
“I told you their solution would be magnificent,” said Emma, as they went out into the sunshine.
“You did.” He shut the door behind them, turned and put his hands on her waist and pulled her close, “And you were right.” He kissed her forehead. “This is the second-best thing that has happened to me.”
“Second best?” she asked. “What beats that?” She nodded at the church with angels inside.
“When you knocked me flat with the door of your car. That’s what started all this.”
“It did,” said Emma. “And I am so pleased.”
Chapter 13
“CYRIL. HAVE YOU been inside Emma’s house?” Alice turned to her husband, thinking how smart he looked in his pin-striped suit and silver gray tie.
He’d brushed his white hair until it shone, and it blew about in the breeze like silver wisps of thread.
He’d grinned every day for the past week, busy helping Emma tidy up her garden and having long conversations with Lewis, mostly in whispers around the house.
She had a suspicion they were sharing a secret, but their father and son bonding warmed her heart. Something she’d hoped for had finally come about. She knew they both considered her a nag, but she only did it wit
h love and as long as Cyril and Lewis had a proper relationship nothing else mattered. She’d watched Cyril physically fade when his son joined the army and had seen his hope crushed as he waited for Lewis to come home each furlough. Sometimes he didn’t. But this time he had – and to top it off he’d decided to get married today.
Cyril’s attention seemed to be caught by the youngsters climbing all over the fire truck, now parked outside Emma’s house.
“Cyril. I’m talking to you. Have you been inside Emma’s house?”
“Occasionally. Why?” He held her in a piercing gaze, his faded blue eyes reminding her of forget-me-knots.
“Because there’s a harp just inside the door and I heard it playing before so I peeped around the doorway. It must be one of those new-fangled electronic harps. No one was playing it but the strings were vibrating as if someone was plucking them. It stopped as I watched. Just like magic.” She tilted her head. “Listen, there it goes again. It sounds so beautiful. Have you seen it, Cyril?”
“Yes, I have. Lewis showed it to me the other day. It’s Emma’s harp. Sometimes she plays it and sometimes it plays by itself. Sort of a watchdog, he said.”
“Phooey.” Alice scoffed.” I don’t believe that. He’s pulling your leg again.”
Cyril straightened his back and sniffed. “I’m just telling you what he said. You don’t have to believe it.” He looked around. “Let’s go and find a seat, my legs are aching. All this standing about is giving me indigestion.”
They walked through the small gathering, wending their way through the group, all strangers except for Lewis’ army mates, Daniel and Zac, who nodded and shook Cyril’s hand. Zac even insisted on giving Alice a hug and a kiss on the cheek. It wasn’t as if she knew him that well, but she bore the attention in good spirit. After all, as mother of the groom she supposed she was due some attention. Plus she had spent a small fortune on her outfit, which floated about her like a soft cloud. So the salesgirl had said.
The harp played, its sound drifting out of the lounge windows and she found a chair for Cyril then set off to find a cool iced tea for both of them. The drinks tent had been erected on the front lawn. Then she returned to the shade of the Aspen tree where Cyril held court with Lewis’ mates.
She asked. “What on earth is the fire truck doing parked outside on the road?” A fire truck – at a wedding? Seemed very odd
“Just in case,” Cyril said.
“In case of what? You surely don’t expect anything to catch fire today of all days?”
“You never know,” Cyril said, and Daniel and Zac nodded seriously. Honestly the three of them were acting like a secret group of warriors.
“Can’t be too careful Mrs C,” Zac said.
“Besides, my kids are loving it,” said Daniel, pointing at his two little dark-haired sons who were perched on the rungs of the ladder that lay along the length of the deck, both making siren noises.
“But who do all the other children belong too?” She’d been amazed at the blond, chubby-cheeked youngsters who seemed to be everywhere. They chased each other through the legs of the guests, ran around the garden and several had just raced around the Aspen tree, dangerously close to Cyril’s chair. Another had dropped off a branch, far too high up for a child to be dangling from, again missing Cyril by inches. He hadn’t seemed to notice until she pointed them out.
“I asked Emma,” said Zac. “She said they were cherubs.” He seemed to be satisfied with this answer, but she wasn’t.
“Yes, they are certainly beautiful enough to be called cherubs, but whose children are they?”
“Ask Emma yourself,” muttered Cyril and drank his iced tea.
“I will.” She set off across the lawn on tiptoe wishing she hadn’t been talked into buying high heels, which now sunk into the grass if she walked properly. She found Emma in the middle of a large group and eased her way in through a small gap between two wide shouldered men. Tall and very handsome. Everybody seemed to be good looking at this event. It made her feel quite dumpy and plain, but she remembered the salesgirls’ praise and pushed that thought aside.
“Emma, darling girl, you look so beautiful.” And she did in a cream silk dress that hung from a princess line under her breasts. The top was covered in lace and a chiffon train that swirled as she moved among the guests.
“Thank you, Alice. So do you.” Emma turned and reached for the hand of the woman next to her. “Alice, this is my mother. She and Dad have come over from California for today’s celebration.”
A slender woman with a short bob of blond hair, grasped Alice’s hand and smiled at her. “So pleased to meet you. You must be Lewis’ mother. Such a lovely man.” Alice felt as if a warm shower had bathed her, yet she wasn’t wet. The woman made her feel loved. When Emma’s mother withdrew her hand Alice felt the loss. She shook her head and gathered her thoughts. “Emma, dear girl, whose children are those climbing all over the fire engine? Not that they aren’t very well behaved, but they are so beautiful.”
Emma giggled. “Those are the cherubs. They’re everywhere today.”
“Are their parents here? I’d like to meet them.” Alice hated the thought of abandoned children even if they were happy and well-behaved.
“They’re around somewhere, possibly in the kitchen, or looking at the garden.” Emma gestured, covering the whole property. “They’ll be somewhere, Alice. Please don’t worry. The children won’t come to any harm.”
“I just wanted to tell their parents how beautiful their children are.” She turned to find the rest of the group had dispersed and only Emma’s mother remained. “I would have liked to have had more children,” she said and wondered why she was telling this deep secret to a complete stranger.
“I’m Ruth. Can I call you Alice?”
Alice nodded, speechless with the aura of delight this woman seemed to wear.
“I’d love to meet your husband. Cyril isn’t it? Could you introduce me?”
And with that they made their way back to the Aspen tree where Cyril appeared to be telling an amusing story to a group of the young children. It involved a lot of arm movements and expletives and somehow the fire engine kept being pointed to. It seemed a shame to break the party up, but manners prevailed and she interrupted to introduce Emma’s mother.
After an exchange of pleasantries Ruth said she had to find her husband and no doubt they’d meet again over lunch, after the ceremony.
Daniel turned up with another chair and Alice sat beside Cyril, listening to the joy in the children’s voices, the hum of adult conversation and the constant whispering of the tree’s leaves above them. She really wanted to go into the kitchen and check that her cakes were being displayed correctly and that the savouries she’d spent the previous evening creating were safely in the oven ready to be warmed.
But she didn’t move. Today was Lewis’ day and Emma’s too of course. She looked around and couldn’t see her son. Her heart twisted, as it always did when she thought of him going missing. His profession and the danger he placed himself in made her feel ill. But today was different. Today he was safe at home, surrounded by good people. Not a threat in sight. She smiled.
“Happy?” Cyril asked and squeezed her hand. His gnarled hands, the veins prominent and dotted with liver spots held hers tight. Her hands didn’t look much different really, just smaller and a little bit younger.
“I am happy, especially for Lewis.” Something had been bothering her and she leaned to whisper in his ear. “You know Cyril, I keep seeing people on the side of my vision, yet when I turn to look there’s no one there. It’s like there are a host of people here, all around, but I can’t see them.”
“Silly thing,” he said, and gave her cheek a quick kiss. He didn’t do that very often and she touched the spot as if to save it. “There’s a lot goes on in life that you and I don’t know about, Alice. Don’t try to understand everything. Just enjoy the day.”
“I will and I am. She’s such a dear girl, Cyril. I can�
��t imagine why I ever thought she’d killed my roses.” He squeezed her hand again and closed his eyes.
“Wake me when the fun starts,” he said.
Chapter 14
EMMA STOOD WITH HER FATHER. “I hope Sebastian will come and celebrate with us. I’ve forgiven him. He was a lost soul really. The Council of Angels have said he has to do lots of ‘good works,’ for the next year, or they will lock him up in the dark somewhere until he repents. Lewis is in charge of finding things for him to do. He’s used to managing men.” She smiled at the expression of hope and relief that passed across her father’s face.
“Apparently your young man is the new go-to fellow for the Council. A sort of Mr Fix-it.”
“He is. That’s part of our marriage agreement. The Council will employ him once he’s finished his next tour of duty.” She stood on tip-toe and kissed her father. “You look wonderful, Father. As handsome as ever.”
He shuffled his feet a little and to her delight a blush rose up his neck. Her staunch father was actually embarrassed? “Don’t want to outshine the bride,” he murmured and clasped her hands. “No one is more beautiful than you, my darling. Your mother and I hope you will be very happy with this man. He seems a sensible fellow—and brave from all I hear.”
“He is, and I love him more than I’ve ever loved anyone before.” She was about to add more when her thoughts were interrupted.
Time to gather round everyone.
All the angels in the garden turned as one at Gabriella’s instructions and Lewis hurried around the corner of the house followed by Sebastian who wore a smile for the first time in years. Her handsome older brother. She had looked up to him when she was growing up. That was before Levi got his claws into him. Now he was back to his old self.
Sebastian noticed her and grinned. The grin full of life, with a touch of wickedness. He’d be a handful for Lewis to manage. But she was sure Lewis would cope.
She beckoned to Alice and Cyril, who in turn called to Daniel and Zac. Daniel’s boys had left the fire truck and were part of the group of youngsters who now hurried to where Gabriella stood in front of the rose garden. A small table dressed in an embroidered cloth had been placed nearby and following Gabriella’s pointed directions the children stood in a circle behind him and the table.