by Jody Sharpe
“Well,” says Dad. “It’s over, thank the Lord.” He smiles at Josh and me.
“Yes, Dad. But who is that doctor?” I’m baffled by this concept since never meeting anyone that knew him before. How could they? He was a practicing angel until he met Mom.
“I’ll figure it out, I’m sure. My mind is going back through the memories.”
“Finally!” Josh says coming in from the living room. “The media’s trucks are leaving.” The door bell sounds. Josh goes back in the living room to answer it. We hear voices and he sprints in the kitchen, “There’s a woman at the door, I let her in. She’s that doctor July mentioned.”
Dad and I look at each other. Maybe she’s an angel because Dad sure wasn’t a kid. He says he’s always been a celestial being.
“I’ll be right there. Helen, Josh, can you call Donnie, Laurjean, the Walin’s, Meredith and Tony, Hattie and Taylor, Doc and Shari and anybody else you want to come over to celebrate? Hannah and I will talk to this lady in the living room a minute by ourselves. I’m not sure who she is.”
“Who do you think she is, Dad?”
“I’ll know when I see her face,” says Dad calmly. This is dreamlike. I hope I get to meet another angel passing as a human being.
Dad and I see a pretty and petite woman in her sixties waiting on the couch. She gets up when she sees Dad. She takes Dad’s hands then looks into his ocean blue eyes.
“Gabe, do you remember me? I’m Deidra Lane now Deidra Lane Beauchamp, Director of Cardiology at Cedars-Sinai in L.A.
“Yes, of course I do, Deidra, but you were just a girl when I saw you last. Please sit down.” We sit down in the wing backs across from Deidra. “It was kind of you to call July North. I’m so appreciative. How are you?”
“I’m well, thanks to you. I called July’s office the other day because I couldn’t stand watching and reading all that was being written about you. They were trying to ruin your beautiful daughter’s life and your precious life here. I assume your daughter knows what is going on, or shall I go?”
“Deidra, my daughter knows all, but has never met someone from those long ago days. Perhaps you would like to share the story with her. This is my daughter, Hannah.” Dad smiles his infectious smile, his usual shiny blue eyes cloud up with tears. I go over to shake her hand.
“Hannah, how nice to meet you.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too. Thank you so much for calling July.” I sit on the couch next to her.
“I was thirteen and in Junior High. I was a very large little girl with very short curls then. My mother would cut my hair like a boys and I would get teased unmercifully. A mean girl with her little clique pushed me down a flight of stairs at school one day. Today it would be called bullying but then parents and teachers turned the other way. But as I was pushed, an angel, your father, saved me. He caught me in mid air and gently set me down like I was a little flower. He smiled at me and was gone before I could say thank you. The look on the mean girls faces after I floated down and landed upright was certainly a sight to behold. No one saw him but me. I never forgot his handsome face, strong arms, or his silvery blue glowing wings. When I saw your Dad’s face in the paper, I knew he was the one living as a human in “My California Angel” and you were his daughter. His presence gave me the courage to stand up to the girl and the others I encountered over the years. I excelled in school and grew into the confident woman and doctor I am now because one day an angel loved me.”
We get up and Deidra stands and we all hug. I’m crying my big white tears and brush them away without wiping hard. I whisper, “Thank you for telling me, Deidra. How kind. It is so wonderful to meet you.” Deidra starts to cry.
“It’s so good to be with you both. I’ve waited all my life and finally can say thank you in person. I never thought it would happen.”
Dad hugs her again. “Deidra, you make my heart sing. And it is I who thank you again for giving me back my anonymity.”
“You are so very welcome.”
“Come, join us in the kitchen. You must meet our family and friends now and celebrate. But remember I’m just a typical man to them. But I must tell you, you have saved the day, Deidra.”
“I would love to stay for a while but I want to say that should you need me for any reason as a doctor or as a friend, I am here for you.”
“Oh thank you, dear. Let’s get together again after we settle back into our normal lives. I would love to have a discussion with you about my unusual genetics.”
“Yes, that would be quite a topic for discussion. Though, I have a feeling yours are just perfect. There is divine intervention. I know. I’ve seen it myself.”
We stroll into the kitchen. The back door stands open and our friends march in crowding the pinkest kitchen on earth. We make more hot chocolate and open some wine. Aunt Helen brings out the cookies she’s made in the shape of angels. It’s pretty funny since she doesn’t get it. We laugh. We joke again. Sam’s left town, our dearest friends are here and Deidra, a little girl from Dad’s past now all grown up and forever thankful is here to celebrate too. Food is on the table and Bubbles is in hot chocolate heaven.
……………………………………….
I’m exhausted as is everyone. Dad is fast asleep and Aunt Helen is preparing for bed. We head up to my apartment with Dawn, Duke and Homer. Jesse is waiting for us on the windowsill.
“Josh, I can’t believe this day is finally over.” We flop on the bed.
“Me either,” he says his eyes dancing. He takes me in his arms and kisses me. He sits up taking both of my hands. “Now I can say it, shout it if I want from the rooftops. I’m in love with you Han. And you are in love with me too. Aren’t you?” His crooked smile brings tears forming once again.
“Yes,” I answer my voice cracking. I put my hands to my face and start to cry.
“Why the tears? Please don’t cry.” He wipes them away with his big gentle hands.
“Because, I thought about it all day, if we’re going to be together I need to tell you the truth about me. You’re the man I should have told.”
I look at the man I love so much and see him looking back at me with anticipation. As I sat with July, and suspended above in my extraordinary out of body experience, I realized he deserves to know who I am. I’m a half angel and must embrace it for what it is. I can’t live afraid he will leave. He’s got to believe me because he’s the love of my life. He would never betray the secret. Sam was wrong for me, Aunt Helen and Dad were so right. And so I begin with hopeful anticipation of my own.
I get off the bed. “Josh,” I whisper getting down on my knees. “There is something very important that I must tell you but you may not want to be with me after hearing it. And if you don’t I’ll understand.” He gets off the bed too but stands up. Is he leaving? No, I look at his face as his smile gets wider still.
“You’re my angel, Han I know it and I’m yours.” He starts unbuttoning his shirt.
“Josh, I mean it. I have something to say. It’s serious please don’t joke around. Sit down, okay?”
But he keeps taking off his shirt. And then something happens. The room gets quiet and the dogs, cat and deer stare at him too. Bursting forth from his back are beautiful feathers, spreading their way upward and outward.…sparkling greens and blue light and oh such a brilliant white! Out of his shoulders are unfolding crystalline glorious wings. Josh is an angel!
He is really an angel and I can’t speak, unable to move. He laughs spreading his wings, soft and light like giant butterflies’ wings. I feel free remembering the sight from my flying nights with Dad. Magical, fantastical dusted wings sparkling like scattering sunshine, like moonlight on snowflakes they’re calling me to fly.
“Why, didn’t you tell me?” I whisper as he helps me up. White tears of joy fall and I throw my arms around him and kiss him. I touch his wings ever so lightly and the angel dust feels like new fallen snow in my hand.
“Han, before you could know, you n
eeded to be at peace being part angel and part human. You needed to know you’re a beautiful soul, the human side and the angel. You had to tell me the truth before you could know about me. You also had to realize no one on earth has control over everything in life. Most of all you needed to realize it wasn’t your fault your mother died.
Angels can’t change everything only people can change their own lives. I met you so long ago and had to go away, live apart from you until you came into your own. Your father let me know when it was time to come back into your life.”
It all makes sense now. He is my angel love from long ago, here to stay!
“But Josh, you lived here as a child. I want to know how you became an angel. Dad never will tell me.”
“I was adopted Han, sent to be my parents’ child. I can only tell you people need to believe in angels without proof. They need to learn to trust we’re here to help, to guide them. My parents needed me and then you needed me too. When we met, I knew we were meant to be together. Come, let’s fly now. I’ve been waiting so very, very long.”
We walk hand and hand to the door of my apartment, the animals watching the magic happening. Their eyes shine with excitement. The midnight air is cool and I hold tightly to his hand. His wings move up slightly and we are up…. up, soaring high above the house. Then he swoops playfully down again. We fly over the rooftops of our quaint happy town towards the sea just as my father and I did. It’s exhilarating flying again. It’s been years. I’m weightless, at peace.
Are my eyes deceiving me? With the moonlight shining on their smiling faces, Taylor and Hattie are waving to us on top of their roof. Taylor’s perfect golden sparkling angel wings rest softly at his side. I can’t quite comprehend this. Taylor’s an angel too? His wings spread out like a giant eagles’ while Hattie holds his hand. They wave and he shouts, “Hannah girl, look at me fly”…. They laugh as they fly away to the east. But how can this be? I watch them until I can’t see them anymore. I’m about to ask Josh what is going on when we fly to Laurjean and Donnie’s house on Seafarer Lane. They’re on top of their roof too. Donnie’s wings shine like iridescent candles in the sky. They fly up to us, Laurjean hanging on his arm. Their faces look radiant in the moonlight as they turn north, laughing.
Laurjean blows me a kiss, “We love you, Hannah.” Josh turns back to me smiling even wider if possible.
“That makes Chris a half angel like me!”
“There are a few more of us Han. There are psychics and angels and such good people here in the town of Mystic Bay. This town brings a little more to the world… a little more love, more hope, and more joy. It was meant to be that way.” He turns toward the west again. I look at the stars overhead and the ocean waiting beyond. Waves sparkle in the starry night like my heart is sparkling with love for Josh.
TWO YEARS LATER…..
Christmas Eve
Sam Blakley, Malibu, California
To : Hannah’s email@…..
From: Sblakley‘s email@…..
Dear Hannah,
I look at the stupid email I can’t seem to write. I turn to look out the floor to ceiling windows of my awesome beach house in the star-studded hills of Malibu. Life should be great right? The book, “My California Angel,” was a best seller and now will be a chick flick this summer starring a cute red-haired actress named Lilee Rose. But she’s no match for my Hannah. I ponder this and the fact that I’ve made enough money to take a sabbatical from NYU. Hell, I even dated that gorgeous Tiffany Gould for a while and now I’m dating Katarina, a beautiful Russian actress. But I can’t pronounce her last name for God’s sake. And here I sit. My agent wants more….. He keeps calling. “Sam, you’re one hell of a chic romance writer, get it started.”
But I know I’m a real fake, unprepared to write a good story line every morning while sitting at my laptop trying to attempt the novel. I don’t have it in me. All I know is I took all of Hannah’s stories and made an enormous amount of money simultaneously almost ruining her life. She’ll never forgive me or see me again. I hit my fist down on the teak desk overlooking the blue Pacific. Ow! My hand really hurts now. What do I have to show for my conniving? This costly house, an expensive new convertible and a girlfriend who I can hardly converse with?
“And, you don’t have Hannah, you fool!” After taking her ideas and making it into a novel which was pretty clever, she fell for some local yahoo vet. Why did I blow it? I know why. It was pure greed and greed always gets in the way of a purposeful life doesn’t it?
What will I do now? I can’t write another angel story…. but what? It’s time to turn TV on to the July North Show. I’ve been waiting all day for this so I plunk down on the plush navy leather couch and use the remote. Oh God, I’m going to see Hannah again. Why did I drive up the coast to her town two nights ago? I was such a fool sitting in my car looking up at the dimly-lit window on the second floor. I didn’t see anyone but white Christmas lights and the outline of that tin angel she keeps in the window. I knew I had to leave because I’m still not welcome in the town at the mayor and police chief’s request.
The announcer says, “Live from the beautiful seaside town Mystic Bay, California, it’s the July North Show… here she is, July North!” July walks up a stone path while touching as many hands as possible. She’s looks stunning running up the stairs of the bandstand wearing jeans and a gold sweater. Townspeople are everywhere. The camera switches to her guest, my beautiful Hannah; her flowing hair back to the red I love. The smile on her face could light up the sky. Why couldn’t I have changed things? Damn fool!
They hug and sit in whicker chairs. July changed her show recently. Now she does only human interest stories. No more celeb interviews unless there are good works involved, a kinder gentler gathering of news I guess. Hannah looks radiant in a green sweater and jeans. I Googled her this morning. It’s her first interview since her new book has been published. The Christmas wreathes, stars and snowflakes shine in the sun and reflect off her happy face.
July whispers to her before the interview and they seem like friends now. July faces the camera. “I’m here today in Mystic Bay, California, in the town square on the bandstand with one of my favorite people, Hannah O’Ryan Ryder. Her new book is called “The Town with the Angel Vibe.”
God dang, I’m sweating and it’s not even hot. Why did she marry that almighty know-it all? I slam my fist down on the leather couch this time. It doesn’t hurt.
A perky July smiles, “Hannah, I’m thrilled to be here in Mystic Bay again!”
“Welcome back, we’re so glad you’re here.”
“First of all, congratulations on your new book. Please tell us about it.” She holds up the book. There’s a group shot of hundreds of townspeople, all wearing the same white tee shirts with angels on them. Hey, that’s the shirt I have.
“I’d love to. It’s about our town and how it came together to support me when a novel came out implying I was an angel. The media landed hard in our town.”
“I know that was not an easy time for you but the people of the town came through. So tell the audience about Mystic Bay.”
I can’t believe my damn book is not even mentioned by name.
“Well, we are a quiet town on the coast near San Francisco. We have flower and Christmas tree farms, art galleries, restaurants, and some psychic and astrology shops as well. Between the sea air, the fantastic food and all, families love to visit.”
“It’s so pretty here. And so you wrote this book to tell of the special town and how they got you through a rough period in your life but there’s more isn’t there? Tell us about the title, The Town with the Angel Vibe.”
“Well, we had a town meeting after I was on your show and Josh, my husband, had an idea. He proposed that since we were put on the map by that book maybe we should live up to the name and do something really angelic. We decided to change our lives, do some good.”
“And so what did you decide to do?”
“We agreed as a town we wou
ld make small or large changes in our own lives helping someone else by doing volunteer work, rescuing animals, helping the homeless. Some people are fostering and adopting needy children.”
“Wow, this is really amazing. There are so many wonderful stories to tell us about.” She turns to the camera. “I would like to show the TV audience this beautiful town square and meet some of the caring residents and ask them how they’re living with an angel vibe. Here they are everyone.” She stands up and sweeps the air with her hand, “Mystic Bay, California, The Town with The Angel Vibe!”
The camera zooms in on the people gathered in the park, as many as can cram in it seems. People wave and hold up signs. This is incredible.
“Merry Christmas, Mystic Bay!” July waves.
Everyone waves and yells, “Merry Christmas!”
A tear almost travels down my cheek where tears have rarely been. Remembering my boyhood and Christmas in Indiana is not easy. I would look across Lake Michigan at the distant Chicago skyline wishing I was someone else’s kid.
July’s well known roving reporter, the statuesque Elizabeth Cameron is in the square interviewing the crowd. She interviews the first row of townspeople. A guy named Andy introduces himself and his new bride, Mary Jo. They’re standing by two old dogs. I remember him. He was that friend of Hannah’s I met at the Pelican Wharf. He had a very peculiar way of eating as I recall.
“Andy, we have been told that you are in charge of the animal adoptions for the Angel Vibe Association. Is that correct?”
“Yes, if there are animals in need of homes we help place them and work closely with the local Human Society. We adopted these older dogs from an elderly man who couldn’t care for them any longer. This is Sid and this one is Lizzie. We’re going to make sure they have a great home with us.”
“We foster animals in our town too,” Mary Jo states holding a small dog in her arms. “This is Diva and she’s ready for a forever home!”
“I might be interested in that dog, myself,” Elizabeth laughs petting the white dog. Let’s talk after the show.”