The Angel's Daughter

by Jody Sharpe

  Andy introduces his parents who show off their new rescue, Scout. “We all tried to do something angel-like,” Mayor Willie Walin tells her. “It’s wonderful seeing the town come together like this.”

  The mayor asked me to leave town and never come back that day. It made me feel like a loser.

  Elizabeth asks Laurjean and Donnie Whitefeather, the police chief and his wife, to introduce their new addition. Proudly, they introduce their foster son, six year-old Stevie, who is soon to be fully adopted. The little boy is smiling ear to ear. He holds a puppy named Freckles.

  Laurjean beams at the camera, “I always wanted more children and land sakes, I do feel like I know real angels now. We are blessed to have Stevie. He has a new start.”

  That could have been my life years ago. Maybe if someone else had raised me my life would have turned out different. Maybe it’s not too late for me to change, make myself a better man.

  Elizabeth Cameron interviews Hannah’s friends, Hattie and Taylor Msumba. They introduce, Michelle, their one year old daughter adopted from Botswana. When the reporter tells Hattie she looks like the First Lady, Michelle Obama, Hattie smiles and nods. “I get that a lot. That’s why we named her Michelle.”

  Oh, I remember her. She’s Hannah’s lawyer too. Great….. That day July North interviewed me was so awful.

  Taylor adds, “We gave her Hannah’s middle name, Angel. She’s sent from heaven.”

  Hannah’s Dad, Gabe, is interviewed next to what looks like a small deer dressed up like a reindeer with plastic antlers. He also holds a little scruffy looking dog. Gabe does kind of look like Santa though he seems to have lost weight. How did he do it consuming all of those mouthwatering cinnamon rolls? Gabe also introduces a group of his friends including an old vet, Doc Lindley. The Doc says he’s got rescued deer and other animals on his farm. He also formed a men’s group with Gabe. They volunteer at a San Francisco shelter.

  Another one of the older men is interviewed. A man named Phil Doherty speaks, “I own a Christmas tree farm here in town, Phil’s Christmas Trees. We put on Christmas events for kids from the shelters and the Boys and Girls Clubs around here. No child in this part of northern California is going to go without a party and Christmas gifts. We seniors got a lot more time to give now and we’re doing it.”

  Elizabeth asks Gabe if he is proud of Josh and Hannah. My eyes start to mist up again, oh my God what’s wrong with me? I’m acting like a blubbering baby for God’s sake.

  “You bet, it was infectious…we all wanted to rise to the occasion, make our lives really count.”

  Elizabeth bends down to touch the deer. “Who have we here?”

  “This is Dawn, our rescued deer. She loves kids and so at Christmas events we dress her like a reindeer. The kids love petting her and she loves attention. And this little dog is Hannah and Josh’s. They named her Penny. They found her abandoned on a dirt road.”

  I’m totally awestruck. I wish I’d stayed in the pretty little town. Maybe I could have been a part of it now. I would have asked Hannah to marry me way back then. I would have listened to her, tried to understand what the hell she was talking about. Her Dad’s an angel? Maybe he was sick. I don’t get it. She’ll always be the one who got away.

  Elizabeth Cameron interviews an old psychic woman named Madam Norma sitting in a lawn chair next to another elderly woman. They’ve adopted another dog, a German Shepherd no less. Aren’t they too old for a big dog like that?

  After asking about the dog, Elizabeth inquires, “We hear you’re the most well known psychic in town, Madam Norma, so what are you hearing from the psychic world about this new angel venture?”

  Madam Norma seems elated to explain, “Let me tell you dear, there are psychics in this town and non psychics but we’re all just ordinary folk trying to behave like real angels. That’s why I feel so fortunate to have lived so long in this town. We all meld together!”

  “Wow July, are you hearing this? I’m amazed at the kindness of these people.”

  “Yes, Elizabeth, me too. You just keep on interviewing…..this is marvelous!”

  Elizabeth interviews Meredith and Tony D’Amato, Hannah’s best friend and her husband. I met that weird couple once or twice. They’re astrologers. Yeah, like anybody really can read the stars. They introduce their two year-old, Hannah Angel. Another kid named after Hannah? Tony speaks about the new part of their business, a donation center where they collect food and clothing and make sure the appropriate shelters down in San Francisco get the donations.

  “People keep giving us more and more items. Tourists remember us and come back with donations. It’s awesome!”

  Two guys named Sal and Larry are interviewed. Sal states, “I go down to the shelters on Mondays and give haircuts. There’s always a line. I love helping out.” Larry, who looks like a hippy-throw back, explains how he enjoys working with people at the shelter giving energy healing and meditation sessions.

  That huge policemen, the one stationed outside Hannah’s house the day of the interview, is standing with his pretty wife, Sue. They’re holding a banner that says “THE TOWN WITH THE ANGEL VIBE!” They say they’re volunteering at Riverton’s Boys and Girls Club once a week. These people have such big hearts. Yes, these people seem to have the hearts of angels like my lost love.

  The show goes to commercial. I go back in the kitchen to get a beer. I look in the refrigerator. All of a sudden I wish I had some of Aunt Helen’s cinnamon rolls to eat. I grab the damn jar of peanut butter and a spoon. I pop the can and sit down. It’s Christmas Eve and I’m eating peanut butter! Elizabeth is interviewing Mayor Willie Walin again. He takes the microphone himself. “I’m so proud to be Mayor of this town. It’s been a life changing experience for all of us. Come visit our beautiful town by the Pacific, and say hello. You’ll feel the energy here, the friendliness of Mystic Bay! You never know, it might be catching!”

  July stands sweeps her arm embracing the crowd again, “Thank you Mayor Walin!” The cheering is almost deafening from the crowd as the camera switches back to Hannah.

  “Amazing! Hannah, tell us about the proceeds from your book.”

  “Gladly. They’ll help fund our Angel Vibe Association with future rescues, fostering and adoptions.”

  “This is extraordinary! Well, get ready everybody because it’s time to meet Hannah’s husband, Josh and her Aunt Helen and little family. Come on up here.” My heart feels like it dropped six stories when I see Josh Ryder, looking so happy with a baby wearing a Santa suit in his arms. Aunt Helen walks up the stairs with another baby wearing a red Christmas dress.

  Hannah’s Aunt Helen is beaming, wearing a pink Christmas sweater and Josh has a crooked grin I didn’t notice before. They both say hello to July. They both sit in big white wicker chairs on the bandstand.

  “Well, who do we have here?”

  Josh looks so happy, “These are our twins born four months ago. This is Gabriel Michael.”

  “This is our little Kate Helen,” Aunt Helen almost sings, obviously loving her new role as Great Auntie.

  Twins! I totally blew it with Hannah. Like I wrote in my book, she was my California Angel. Could she be a real angel? No, she’s just a woman with a vivid imagination that made me one whole hell lot of money. She wished me well that day so maybe she really has forgiven me.

  CHRISTMAS EVE 2:57 pm

  To: Hannah’s email@…..

  From: Sblakley’s email@…..

  Hannah, Long time no see! I so wish you’d have picked the better man for you, me. Just want you to know my next book is a memoir about my underprivileged childhood. I’m going to call it, “The Author’s Diaries.” Don’t worry. I won’t put you in it. Maybe you’ll want to read it. Your angel vibe town made me really think today. I’ve decided to adopt a dog.

  Wishing you well,

  Samuel L. Blakley

  My white tears are coming but I sweep them away as fast as they float in my eyes. It’s really okay though because no one but an
gels can see they’re white.

  “This is a real Christmas miracle, Hannah, Josh and all you wonderful people. Congratulations on the book! For more information on the town we have a link to The Angel Vibe Association. Go to my website, JulyNorthTalk. Thank you town of Mystic Bay. You inspire us.” She turns to me and says, “You told me you have one more thing to say.”

  “I do. If it wasn’t for the book claiming I was an angel, this outpouring of love would never have happened. Whoever said, ‘out of the bad can come good’ was right. I’d like to thank you, July for your support and interest. And I’d like to say thank you to all the people who wrote me supportive letters and emails. There are a lot of angels unaware out there.”

  I look at our twins. As I held them in my arms the day they were born, I glanced up knowing he was there. At the corner near the top of the room was the luminous Archangel Uriel. He smiled, nodded then he was gone, not forever….. Just until I need him.

  July stands and shouts, “Merry Christmas everyone!” And the cheering of Merry Christmas from the crowd is like music from heaven. On cue the Bell Tower chimes three. I bet angels just might be ringing it today….

  As we go off the air, I gaze at the angel with the crooked smile whom I love so very much and the wonder of my little family. We are blessed not only because a few of us are angels or part angels, we are blessed to live with ordinary folk where nothing is impossible as long as there is love around. As a child I wanted to fly more than anything but my father has taught me what matters most. It’s imprinted in my mind and heart. All that matters is how we love. I look at July and she gives me an understanding smile. For little did I know two years ago, suspended in air watching her interview me that I was looking at another real angel! She had decided to live as a human to do good works here and she’s doing it so very well. She took her name from her favorite month, July, because just the name itself can warm a chilly morning. Her favorite star, the North Star was chosen for her last name for the bright star has guided man since he first walked our Earth.

  I look at my Dad and he winks, his ever-present angel smile planted on his face again. He knows his secret will remain safe for now, maybe forever. I can’t wait to get home to our bursting at the seams little apartment. We’re building an addition on the main house so we can live with Dad and Aunt Helen. Of course, I’ll bring my tin angel with us so I can see her angel shadows all afternoon long and on nights when the moon glow catches her just right. I made sure there’s a perfect place for her in a window facing west. I’m more than just a shadow though. I’m a real angel’s daughter with a life full of promise.

  At home there are dogs waiting for us and a squirrel hoping for a taste of hot chocolate as the cats dream away. A soft wind picks up and I think I hear my Mom whisper at my shoulder, “I love you.”

  I brush the hair away from my face and feel my scar dimple into my smile. “I love you too forever, Mom… see you in a nano second of time,” I whisper with my heart.

  And then I hear it, my angel’s ear is calling. An animal is in distress, distant, needing us somewhere out there. This time it’s coming from the south. Josh and I will find it on this Christmas Eve. Then when midnight comes, Dad, whom we call Papa now, will baby-sit the twins while we will go where no one can see us but the angels and half angels. We’ll fly up above the tree-lined streets gazing at the Christmas lights of our seaside town with the angel vibe. I think of my healing tears of love. They’ll come in handy today again, they always do.

  To: Hannah’s email@…..

  From: July North’s email@…..

  Hi, Hannah,

  Just heard she’ll be here tonight! The adoption papers are finalized. Can’t wait for you to meet my baby daughter, Heather Angel North. You see, Hannah, your town even inspired an angel!

  With Love,

  July

  We turn down a dusty dirt road an hour east of Riverton. The Christmas Eve winds have picked up and the road is bumpy.

  “Which way, Han?” Josh looks my way stopping the truck.

  I turn my head toward an unkempt piece of property on my right. “It’s in the thicket over there by that old barn behind that willow tree.” We’ve hitched the horse trailer to the truck because I’m certain the sound is that of a forlorn horse. I see the white figure in the late afternoon sun. His head picks up, his sad eyes rivet on my own. I start to cry as we carefully walk his way through the tall grasses and snarly weeds. For near the tree and small pond is the lonely horse, thin, waiting by an abandoned ramshackle barn and slanted farm house. Still, his magnificence shines in the sun.

  “How could someone leave him,” sighs Josh? “Let’s get him to Doc’s.” He reaches for the horse and I see a cloudy mist burst from Josh’s hands surrounding the poor animal. This is the angel gift Josh gives his animals in his work, a calming mist that will soothe the horse’s frightened mind. The horse’s eyes close. I reach up to touch my tear-stained face and pat the tears gently on the horses’ back. The tears will help soothe whatever ails him for the time being.

  “Tears of healing love and angel dreams,” Josh whispers. “It’s all he needs till we get him to the Lindley farm. Doc and I’ll fix him up just fine.”

  We walk the horse now in an angelic sleepy fog, into the awaiting horse trailer. As we get in the truck, Homer, Duke and little Penny remain quiet knowing instinctively we’re doing our angel mission. Just like Sam’s character, Honor, in his book, hers ironically has become our mission, Josh’s and mine.

  “What shall we call him?” I ask my sweet husband. He thinks a moment as he drives out the dirt road onto the two lane highway heading for home.

  “Rodney. It was my Dad’s pony’s name when he was a kid. He loved that pony so much and now it’s this horse’s turn. It’s never too late.”

  As Rodney slumbers in the trailer, he can only dream of the wonderful new life waiting for him in Mystic Bay. He may never comprehend that real angels live as humans there. But just off Main Street in a town with an angel vibe where love abounds, some are keeping a secret. Angels are everywhere.