The Angel's Daughter

by Jody Sharpe

  He shakes his head and walks back upstairs. I fix Bubbles her food and start to cry again. Josh gets up and comes in the kitchen. He’s got to go to work early again. I dry my eyes and tell him the news and he hugs me.

  “Yes, please call Hattie. Get things started. Why not call July North back? At the very least, it’d give people a different perspective before they hear Sam’s. I think it might be the way out.” He presses me to his chest and kisses me.

  I think about it then say, “No, I can’t, I really can’t.”

  “Hang in there. Call me if you need me please!” He kisses me and leaves and I sit at the table and cry and take a sip of my coffee. A tear floats on the top. I admire the way it glows.

  Why do I have to be a part angel? Why can’t I fly back to wherever heaven is and just be a whole angel? I look for Uriel but I don’t see him. Bubbles jumps on my shoulder to nuzzle me again.

  As the day passes I realize I’ve been looking at the clock every few minutes. And when Josh comes home I’m embarrassed I’m still in my bathrobe. I’ve called Hattie and she will come over first thing in the morning to go over some documents. I’ve put all my writings together in a folder for her with dates and emails from Sam that I kept, grades included. I even saved rough hand written drafts; good thing I was always meticulous with my writing. My Aunt fixes sandwiches but only the pets are really hungry. As we watch Duke and Dawn play Dad states, “Isn’t that all that really matters in life; how we love?”

  Josh and I talk late into the night about calling July North but come up with no solution other than doing an interview and our meeting with Hattie. Dad and I don’t think I should do the interview. I just have to believe Hattie will help stop Sam. She says we have a case and perhaps a threat of a lawsuit will end Sam’s intimidation. At the very least, maybe we’ll convince the publisher to stop sinking money into his promotion. I don’t care about the plagiarism; I just want it to go away. Josh doesn’t agree with me, but I stood firm. I’m not ready to give in to Sam’s malice and allow it to force me to explain myself or Dad in a TV interview.

  HANNAH’S DREAM…….

  We meet each other in the middle of the dusty deserted road. The only thing visible is the sunlight, our two cars and the long road. Mom’s hair is pulled back. She looks a little younger than the day I last saw her. She gets out of her car and I get out of mine. We hug each other tight and look into each other’s eyes. I ask my Mom to come back to us. Mom says, “I can’t, I have to go with them.” She motions to the car. I ask her where she’s going. She says softly, “To travel the universe with God.”

  I feel compelled to ask her if she is in heaven… aware …if life goes on. My mother only answers, “Yes”. I cry and tell her that I love her so much. Mom tells me she loves me too. She says she often stands by the rose bushes in the garden and watches me. The last thing I ask her is if she is ever sad and Kate Dear O’Ryan, my late and beloved mother replies, “Hannah, I’m only sad when you are.”

  I wake up remembering my dream. It seemed so real. Mom was here. She is only sad when I’m sad. I think of the rose bushes in the garden and know I will remember her with love each time I look at them now.

  I think of Sam coming to town today. Camera crews are stationed outside our house in anticipation. It looks like we certainly will close the store. The media are everywhere. I look awful but I don’t care. Tiffany and Bambi were cruel but right. Blonde and I go together like a bald beardless Santa. I don’t want to be me anymore. I want it to go away, fly away. I feel like an animal in a small cage.

  Dad became obsessed with CNN news. He watched it all day yesterday. Sam was on the local news late last night hinting then showing off his tattoos and boasting about his upcoming interview with the biggest talk show host in the country. Hattie’s going to let his people know we’re filing a suit against him for plagiarism as soon as we sign the papers this morning. Oh God, how will that end?

  Dad really can’t comprehend meanness and seems tortured with media frenzy. How can I stop this? I wait, hoping for the light of dawn to give me inspiration.

  We decided Josh will be the family spokesperson today if Hattie wants someone to speak to reporters. Aunt Helen said Laurjean told every one of the reporters that tried to come into her place, “We only serve decent people here, not you piranhas.” That word is her new favorite. I’d laugh but can’t. I don’t know how to fix this horror.

  There is a speech at noon at the band stand by Mayor Walin, and Donnie Whitefeather. I look over at Aunt Helen slightly snoring. A worried look has taken over her normally calm face. Pink looks at me and I pet her head. I try to hear the owl but there are too many sounds, mostly the hum of a TV truck outside. I feel my tears come, I let them fall.

  I look at Duke and Dawn on the floor. They look up at me and the night light from the bathroom makes their eyes shine. I hear the rustle of wings. They look up in the corner and so do I. Uriel is finally here once more, this time suspended from the ceiling. I can see him although there is only a small amount of light softly illuminating that part of the room. His eyes know my pain. His lips form a small smile. His white robed being is gone before I can even admire his majestic wings. How I’d love to fly with him away from all of this. Feeling joy again, I stand up and look at myself in the old antique mirror that was my Grandmother Lucille’s. The light reflecting off my glowing tears brings my mind into focus and this whole situation is suddenly perfectly clear to me. My Mom and Dad named me Hannah Angel because I’m not a shadow at all but an angel’s daughter. I look at myself again, the half angel in the mirror. I have an angel’s ear, I can leave my body, I can do anything even fix this. It’s my very angelness. Josh thinks I’m his angel. Well, little does he know that I’m almost an angel for real and that part of me is going to give July North her interview and somehow make it all go away. I go to get her number.

  Suddenly, Bubbles runs in and jumps on my shoulder chattering loudly….an alarm of some kind. Is Dad alright? I rush into the living room. No one can see in, we have the curtains drawn. Josh sleeps fitfully turning a bit on the couch, a light blanket wrapped around him. Homer raises his head and wags his tail. I run up the stairs and into Dad’s room. I stand in the door way, his TV is still on tuned to CNN. Something is not right about the way he is laying. I move up closer to the bed and see black for a moment while I grab hold of the bed post. I steady myself. My father’s wings spread on the bed are wrinkled and faded. I can almost see through his face to the pillow. What? Why is this happening? He’s disappearing! Angels disappear when they want to leave. I feel his pulse. He grabs my hand and opens his eyes.

  In a weakened voice he says, “You’re here…... news says something’s wrong with the facts of my birth in Ireland. They say something about fraud. They want DNA. I have to go now so no one will know. I’m sorry.” His eyes close.

  “No Dad, no!” I start to cry, softly then it becomes a wailing. White tears rush down in volume now. I put my head on him, my tears streaming all over his pajamas, chest and neck. Josh rushes in, then Aunt Helen. The sun has risen now. Aunt Helen hurriedly opens the curtains. The light in the room hurts my eyes. My tears continue to fall like water over the rocks of a flowing spring.

  Josh shouts, “I’ll call Doctor Nathan.”

  “No, he looks so pale. Call 911,” shrieks Aunt Helen.

  Dad sighs. I pick my head up and look at him in the morning light. His look has changed. He seems to be getting his color back. His wings are still there but they’re disappearing but incredibly he’s not. Aunt Helen is at his side stroking his head. She doesn’t say anything about the wings or my white tears. She doesn’t see them. Josh must not either. I’m the only one who sees his wings and my father and I are the only ones who can see my white tears.

  He looks less pale, his face brighter. He sits up in bed with Josh’s help, wings disappearing with each second. My father is back.

  “No need to call anyone. I’m going to be fine, just a little sick last night is all.�
�� He turns to the corner and I follow his gaze. There standing against the wall is Uriel again. His massive wings spreading out against the wall in a feather spray shine like thousands of crystals reflecting the sunlight. Dad sees him, I see him, but Aunt Helen and Josh obviously can’t. They’re only looking at us. I feel joy. Dad will be okay! Uriel transmits words to me without speaking aloud. “Hannah, your white tears are healing love. Your dog and deer lived because of your tears. Your father will remain for a long time because of the angel tears of love!”

  Then he is gone in a whip of light. Aunt Helen and Josh are fussing around Dad, propping up pillows, asking him if he wants tea and toast. Bubbles nuzzles his ears.

  “I’ll be alright.”

  I’m crying and laughing at the same time. “I’ve decided to meet with July North today. I’m going to call her assistant right now and get an interview before Sam has one if it’s not too late. I’m going to convince her and everyone else in the world that we’re just normal everyday people.”

  Josh claps his hands. “Yes.”

  “It’s the right thing to do, Red,” adds Dad.

  “Oh dear,” says my aunt with skepticism, “Do you think you should?”

  “She’s got too,” says Josh looking at me with pride in his eyes, “Hattie will be here soon and let’s ask Sam over to meet before his interview. His ego will love it. I have an idea”….

  To: Hannah’s email@…..

  From: Sblakley’s email@…..

  I’ve something to ask you tonight when we’re alone. Can’t wait to watch the sunset blazing red and gold in your beautiful hair.

  Love Sam

  It’s two pm. My interview with July North is all set before Sam’s interview with her at the high school. I hope Josh’s idea works by then. There was a clip of Mystic Bay’s town meeting on the noon news. Mayor Walin told the crowd and the cameras, “We want our peaceful little town back. We want the O’Ryan family to be left alone in peace to live like anyone else has a right too in our great country. We are asking Sam Blakley to leave our town now as a gesture of good will.” At the end of the piece there’s a shot of Reverend Manuel praying, asking for tolerance and acceptance.

  I’m dressed in jeans and a striped green top as I sit in the kitchen with Josh. There’s quite a ruckus outside. At the front door I hear voices, probably reporters. Sam has arrived, we guess. Donnie brings Sam into the kitchen to meet with Josh and me alone. He saunters in wearing jeans and a white tee shirt with a giant angel on it. He’s dressed as if he’s going into one of his book signings where he can be the center of attention. He sees me at the kitchen table with Josh and stops short. For a moment he freezes, as if captured in a memory. He used to pick me up at the back door and enjoyed consuming everything Aunt Helen made especially her cinnamon rolls. Of course, I put them out on the table today. Why not make him remember the good things about our life here in Mystic Bay. My father is in his bed but feeling much stronger now and that makes me happier than I’ve been in weeks.

  Thinking of strength, I feel strong looking at Sam. I feel like the half angel I am. My tears brought my father back from the brink of leaving his human connection. My white tears are made of healing angel love Uriel said. I will think of my Dad and Aunt Helen and Uriel and not the negative energy before me that is Sam Blakley. I pick up a roll and take a bite.

  Sam sits and looks around the pink kitchen. He can’t help himself. He grabs a roll and eats it fast like he’s famished.

  Donnie says as he leaves the room. “I’m right outside if you need me. Your lawyer is sitting in the living room with her husband.”

  Sam chews his roll but manages to talk in a condescending way, “Changed the look of the drab kitchen I see, very retro.”

  Avoiding Josh but looking me straight in the eye, he swallows and says, “You look different, Hannah. I miss your red hair. You’re still an eyeful though. My lawyer is just outside in the car. I can bring her in at any moment and leave whenever I feel threatened she said. ” His smug face waits for a response. There isn’t one.

  Josh starts. “Mr. Blakley, I spoke to you on the phone. I’m Josh Ryder, spokesperson for the O’Ryan family. ”

  “I figured that.” He meets Josh’s gaze this time. There is anger in his eyes. “Call me Sam. Mr. Blakley is my eighty year old Dad.” He laughs and I detect something else is wrong. What is it?

  “Would you like some coffee or water?” Josh gets up to get some coffee for us.

  “No thanks,” he replies, his smirk seems set in stone.

  Josh sets the coffee mug down in front of me. “Let me get straight to the point. Gabe O’Ryan has not been well due to the stress you and this media attention has caused the family. And since you plagiarized Hannah’s college work in your book, her lawyer, Hattie Msumba, of the law firm Bernard, Joseph and Herrera has made her aware of her legal rights. There are sufficient grounds.”

  Sam’s one eyebrow raises. It’s a trait he was known for in class. He smiles sheepishly. “Now how are you going to prove it’s not my writing?”

  “We have our proof,” warns Josh. I look at Josh’s face so calm yet so confident. I love him so.

  “Proceed then, sir.”

  “We have found a solution for this potentially to be a win-win situation for all. In your interview tonight with July North we want you to reinforce the fact that the novel is purely fictitious.”

  “Oh really, I haven’t come out exactly saying they’re living a lie and are actually angels. You did know that didn’t you Josh? Hannah told me after a night of passionate lovemaking that they are indeed angels from that place up in the sky, you know, heaven?”

  Even though Sam is being sarcastic and mentioned lovemaking, I still feel strong. I will not let him try to control me ever again.

  “They are human beings and you will tell that to July North tonight and then leave town and quit this media circus of self-promotion,” Josh says sternly.

  “Now why should I do that?” Sam is smirking but beginning to move around nervously in the kitchen chair.

  “Because if you don’t we’ll proceed with a lawsuit for plagiarism, for pain and suffering to Mr. O’Ryan and the family and slander and other multiple charges.” Josh’s voice is steady. His piercing beautiful blue eyes never leave Sam’s face.

  “You will say Hannah wrote angel stories in class and you fell in love with her. When you parted ways you decided to expand those ideas making a great love story, out of the initial angel idea. You hoped it would help the world become a better and more peaceful place. You will gain the public’s sympathy and boost your book. Plus we’re betting you will get a huge movie deal out of this with our blessing….And one more thing.”

  Sam hesitates. “Okay, go ahead. What else?” Sam is leaning towards Josh now, his elbows on the table. He’s interested and avoiding looking at me though my eyes don’t leave his face.

  “You will say that you were so in love with Hannah that you wrote this story to gain her attention. You wanted to see her again. You wanted the media attention to win her heart again. You will apologize to your readers and write a new foreword in the book disclaiming your previous assertion that Hannah and her father may be real angels. You will say that you met with Hannah today and apologized. You will say you told her you want her to go on with her life and you will leave town and never bother her again. Also, you will promise never to write another story about her or her family. The media will love it and then hopefully leave the O’Ryan’s alone. You will be a hero of unrequited love and book sales will soar.”

  Sam almost beams but the sarcasm persists. “Very good, Josh. There is only one problem with your idea.”

  “What’s that?” Josh asks confidently taking a sip of his coffee.

  Sam looks at me with the loving look I’d forgotten, the one that always drew me in.

  “I’m going to tell July North that I’m still in love with you, Hannah, and I know you are with me. I’m going to tell her I want you back if you’ll have
me. The way you pleaded with me to stay that night, the kind of love we made makes me yearn for you now. I want to beg your forgiveness and fight. I’m going to tell her I intend on winning your love back from this guy Josh who doesn’t understand your inner beauty, your mind. I’m going to say when I look at you, I do see the face of a real live angel on earth.”

  Josh doesn’t wait a beat before answering, “That’s not a problem for us. Just remember while you’re sitting there that there could be a very public lawsuit.” Josh surprised me again with his calm delivery.

  Sam is dumbfounded. He expected some other reaction; anger, retaliation or perhaps some outburst from me.

  “Okay, see you at the gym tonight.” Josh smiles and gets up. I get up too still not speaking.

  “You’re both going?” Sam looks surprised as he slowly stands up. He looks at me, beads of sweat form on his brow.

  “Yes, Hannah has an interview before you do. That will make you look even better we’re guessing and you’ll have great future sales of the book. Don’t worry, just play your cards right.”

  Sam looks at me intently for a moment. The color has drained from his narcissistic face.

  “Aren’t you going to say anything to me, Hannah?” Sam looks sad suddenly, as if the angel stories he’s written are really his own and I’m the plagiarizer. I remain calm staring at him feeling nothing for him. Whatever love there was left a long time ago. “If you ever did care about me, leave me and my family alone now and forever.”

  Sam looks at me, the deceitful eyes are back. “Goodbye, Hannah. You’ll wish someday you took me back. I’m not that sure the media will leave you alone either.” Sam turns, gives Josh a dirty look and storms out of room towards the front door, slamming it like he did the night he left. I hear a member of the press outside shouting questions. I hear a car drive away.

  To: Hannah’s email@…..