by Mary May
To add to the strangeness of the whole situation, after Edgar had announced his birthday, he then acted like he didn’t want to talk about it anymore. When Sabrina asked him what he would like, he offered no suggestions, just saying as long as the family was here he was happy. Shaking her head, Sabrina carefully placed the glass cover over the cake and placed it on the counter away from where they were working.
“What did you buy Edgar for his birthday, Miss Sabrina?”
Walking to the fridge, Sabrina threw a smile over her shoulder at Cleo. “You know he said no presents, Cleo.”
Cleo rolled another roll up then sliced it into even sections. “Mmm… I heard that; so what did you get him?”
Placing a plate of deviled eggs on the counter, Sabrina winked at Cleo. “Wait til you see! I can’t believe that I was able to find this on such short notice. Edgar will love it!”
Wiping her hands on a dishtowel, Cleo looked at Sabrina. “So, what is it? You’re not going to make me wait after telling me all of that are you?”
Sabrina looked at Cleo then glanced around the kitchen and walked over to look down the hall. “Ok, I’ll get it. Hang on.” She raced up the stairs and into her room. Reaching under her bed, she pulled out a small box. She ran her hand over it lovingly then hurried back to show Cleo.
Sabrina poked her head in the kitchen, holding the box behind her back. “Is the coast clear?” she whispered.
Cleo looked around then looked down the hallway and nodded. “All clear. Now show me before I die of nosiness!”
Sabrina placed the small box on the table and took off the lid. Inside was a small stack of photographs. They were all very old black and white snapshots. Some even had torn edges. The first showed a family in the early nineteen-thirties standing in front of a brick building. The parents looked grim and worried but the children looked happy, especially the young boy in the middle. The next photo showed the same family this time by a river watching boats. The others showed the children in different poses playing with a small spotted terrier. Cleo picked up the one that showed the small boy holding a stick for the dog to catch; he was smiling at the camera.
“Miss Sabrina, tell me…is this…can this be…Edgar?” Sabrina nodded her head. “Yes, that’s his family taken before World War I. I had been looking online trying to find something and I ran across a site that had old photos with only the last names of the families listed on the back. I just happen to find this one first. There is no doubt that is Edgar!”
Cleo shook her head slowly as she looked through the photos once more. “No, ma’am, there sure isn’t. I can only imagine how proud he will be to have these. It was a pure miracle that you found them, Miss Sabrina, a pure miracle.”
Everyone had arrived for Edgar’s birthday dinner, and poor Edgar looked like he was wasn’t having a very good time and kept shooting the big angel in the corner some very hard looks. The plan was after dinner when the family would most likely gather in the den, they would at that time try to get the other guardians’ attention and like they did with Charlotte bring them into Edgar’s room to explain the situation. But Edgar had to get through the dinner and the gifts, which everyone had gotten him something despite the fact he said no gifts.
Dinner was easy enough and all the food looked so wonderful that Gideon was tempted to try eating again, but then he remembered nearly choking to death on the small sip of tea; he could only imagine his reaction to an actual bite of something solid.
After dinner was cleared away, everyone brought out the presents. Edgar was looking a bit red in the face, but he took each gift with grace and thanked them; then Sabrina handed him a small box. She gently set it on the table in front of him and the whole room was quiet like they knew this was a special moment. Edgar reached and lifted off the lid. Then he reached in and picked up the small stack of photographs. When he looked at the first one, Gideon saw his hands start to tremble. He then set that one aside and looked to the next one and then the next one. Gideon came closer, trying to see what was affecting the old guy so much. When he saw the pictures of what had to be Edgar’s family, he could only imagine the many different emotions his old friend had to be feeling.
Finally Edgar spread the photos out on the table and just looked at them, touching each one with reverence. Sabrina knelt down by the butler so she could look up into his face; what she saw broke her heart. Anguish and despair were etched so deeply on his features that Sabrina thought she had done the wrong thing. She reached out and gently took his hand. “Edgar, I’m sorry. I thought you would like to have these. I can take them away if you want.”
She reached for the nearest photo to pick it up when Edgar laid his hand on hers. “No, Miss Sabrina. Please…please don’t take them away.” Edgar reached and picked up each picture, placing it gently in the box. Then he stood to his feet. “Thank all of you for this dinner and the gifts, but if you don’t mind I would like to excuse myself to my room for just a few moments.” They all watched as the visibly-shaken butler held the box to his chest and walked slowly down the hall to his rooms and softly closed the door.
Gideon followed Edgar into his room. He knew the old guy wanted privacy; Gideon would just stick his head in for a second to check on him. He had never seen Edgar so emotional. Edgar was seated at the table with his pictures again spread out before him. He had a dish towel in his hands, which he used to cover his mouth while he sobbed. His eyes were closed and he was unaware of Gideon or anything else at that moment. He opened his eyes and wiped the flow of tears, reaching for one of the pictures, the one with the whole family in front of the brick building. He touched each face with a trembling finger, softly caressing them. He then laid his head down on the table and sobbed harsh bitter sobs for their loss…
Gideon drew back into the hallway and leaned against the wall, sliding down until he was seated by Edgar’s door. The sounds coming from that room were shredding his heart into a million pieces. He knew Edgar would seriously resent any company right now. So Gideon did what he could do for his old friend; he guarded his door.
Catherine tried to comfort Sabrina, who was in bad shape herself. She was in the den wiping tears as they flowed down her pale cheeks. “I never should have given him those pictures! Of course they would upset him! How could they not? How stupid and thoughtless!”
Keelie wrapped her arm around Sabrina’s shoulders. “Hush, now, that was a beautiful gift. You gave Edgar back his family and when he has had time to grieve and to come to terms with having them again, if only in a photograph, he will thank you, Sabrina, I promise.”
Sabrina sniffled and looked at Keelie through blurry eyes. “Are you sure? I would never want to cause him so much pain. I just didn’t think!”
Catherine took Sabrina’s hand. “Baby, you have such a beautiful heart. No one thinks you did this out of anything but love for Edgar, and like Keelie said, give him time to come to terms with his past and he will love you even more for such a thoughtful gift.”
Keelie handed her another tissue, which Sabrina took with a small smile. “I hope you are both right about this.”
Gideon waited until the sobbing coming from Edgar’s room had grown quiet. He waited another ten minutes before he stuck his head in to check on him. Edgar looked up when he saw Gideon’s head come through the door. He waved him on in the room, while he put the box of pictures inside a small chest in his closet. Gideon was uncertain exactly how to approach Edgar. He paced the room trying to think of something to say. It wasn’t often that he felt this way.
Edgar closed the closet door then turned around. “Is it time to contact the other guardians?”
Gideon nodded. “If you would like to, that is, if you feel up to it now.”
Edgar brushed the sleeve of his jacket then pulled his tie a little tighter. “That was the plan, wasn’t it? I see no reason to deviate from it. Has the family gathered in the den?”
Gideon watched him carefully then nodded. Edgar gave him a brisk nod then walked out the d
oor and headed to the den.
Sabrina jumped up when Edgar entered the room. “Edgar, are you ok? I’m so sorry. I should have warned you or something.”
Edgar cupped her shoulders gently. “Miss Sabrina, it was a shock, but there wasn’t a greater gift that you could have given me. No words could ever express my gratitude. Forgive me if I upset you.”
Sabrina pulled the old gentlemen into a warm hug. “There is nothing to forgive; if you’re happy with the gift, then I’m more than happy! Maybe one day when it’s easier for you, could you introduce us to your family?”
Edgar’s eyes grew misty again but he smiled and nodded his head.
Once the family had settled back in for a visit, Gideon gave Edgar the signal to approach the first guardian. Edgar looked around to see which one would be the easiest to approach without being overheard. He finally decided on Catherine’s guardian. He was sitting off from the group on the hearth of the fireplace. Edgar approached the red-headed angel, pretending to be cleaning up a bit around the already spotless hearth. He saw the guardian watching him, and when Edgar was practically standing on his toes, he whispered. “Mr. Angel, if you would be so kind, I really need to speak with you.”
Edgar watched the exact same expression race across this guardian’s face that he saw with Gideon and Charlotte -- first shock and disbelief followed quickly by suspicion. The angel didn’t respond. He just looked at Edgar with a raised eyebrow. Edgar sighed. He couldn’t stand here forever cleaning a clean hearth. “Look, I know you’re in shock, but I can see you and speak with you, so get over it. Gideon is here in this house and needs to speak with all the guardians of this family immediately!”
That seemed to get his attention. The angel looked all around the room then back at Edgar. “Gideon the Mighty is here? In this realm?”
Edgar nodded carefully. “Yes, now give me a few minutes to speak with the other guardians then we will all meet in my quarters and I’ll explain everything. What’s your name, angel?”
The angel in question still looked very uncertain but he answered. “I am Baylor, Catherine’s guardian.”
Edgar nodded again then walked around the couch to try and get the two guardians watching Keelie. He bent down to pick up some coffee cups off the table and looked right into both of the lady angels’ eyes and winked! He almost chuckled at the way they gasped and drew back in surprise. They both continued to watch him carefully, which was Edgar’s plan. He kept eye contact with them as he walked to the door. He gave his head a small jerk toward the hallway hoping they would take the hint. He almost slumped his shoulders in relief when the angels got up and made their way into the hallway.
“Ladies, I have an urgent matter to discuss with you, about the safety of this family. Gideon is here in this house and wants me to gather all the guardians together so he can speak with you.”
The dark-haired angel’s eyes narrowed in suspicion as she crossed her arms. “How do I know that Gideon is here? This could be a trick to get us away from our humans!”
The smaller angel with short blonde spiky hair pointed a finger at him. “Prove that you are telling the truth!”
Edgar rolled his eyes. “How would I even know about Gideon if he wasn’t really here? I have already spoken with Sabrina’s guardian and Catherine’s. Please just come to my quarters after I have spoken with the others; then you can make your judgment.”
The angels studied Edgar for a few moments then both nodded their heads in agreement.
“Thank you. Sabrina’s guardian is Charlotte and Catherine’s is Baylor. What is your name?”
The dark-haired angel, Keelie’s guardian, reached up and curled a glossy brown ringlet around her forefinger, twirling it a couple of times before she answered. “My name is Evie.”
Edgar turned to the child’s guardian. “And your name?”
“I’m Leia,” the blonde replied.
After speaking with Evie and Leia, Edgar hurried on into the kitchen to put the cups in the dishwasher and to tell Gideon who all he had contacted so far. “I have Catherine’s guardian; his name is Baylor, Keelie’s is Evie and the unborn child’s is Leia. Do you know these guardians?”
Gideon thought for a moment. “Is Baylor a big red-headed angel with copper bands around his biceps?” At Edgar’s nod, he continued. “Evie isn’t ringing a bell. What does she look like?”
Edgar finished loading the washer then turned it on. “She is tall for a woman with curly dark brown hair and very light blue eyes; she seemed a little bossy. Leia is short with short spiky blonde hair and dark green eyes.”
Gideon shook his head. “I don’t believe I know them. Were they the only ones you had a chance to speak with yet?”
Edgar shot him an exasperated look. “It’s not exactly easy to communicate with someone that no one else can see in the middle of a room full of people without them noticing, Gideon. I must use caution and finesse!”
Gideon held up his hands in surrender. “Okay, point taken. Just try to do this as quickly as possible because we don’t know how much longer the others will be staying.”
When they got back to the den, Edgar spotted Evan’s angel. His was bald with a dark brown goatee. He was standing by the window. This seemed to be a popular spot with these guardians, he had noticed. He walked up to the window under the pretense of looking out himself and whispered, “ If I told you that Gideon the Mighty was a guardian in this house, would you believe me?” The big angel took a step back and looked at Edgar with open hostility. Edgar was just about to get tired of being looked upon like a demon from the pits of hell tonight.
“Gideon is here; he is Charlie’s guardian, but he wants to speak with the guardians for the whole family, for they may be in danger. Please just meet me in my quarters after I speak with Carl’s guardian. I have already gotten the others to agree.”
This angel didn’t look like he was going to be easily convinced. “Tell me something only Gideon or another angel would know,” he demanded.
Completely at his wit’s end, Edgar snapped out, “How about I tell you what a big stubborn pain in my hind end Gideon is; would that convince you?”
The angel snorted in laughter. “That’s a good description of the winged warlord! I believe you. Where is he? What kind of danger is this family in?”
Edgar appreciated the concern in the angel’s hazel eyes. He didn’t have to ask this angel’s name; he offered it. “I’m Anthony. When and where do we meet up with Gideon?”
Edgar casually looked around to make sure no one was paying him any attention then replied. “We are going to meet with Gideon and the others after I speak with Carl’s guardian. He is the last one. I really am getting tired of explaining myself to you doubtful angels.”
Anthony looked around the room. “Well, if I could see who it was I could probably tell you his name; that should shock him into silence anyway.”
Edgar’s eyes lit up. “He is big like all male angels are, with long black hair that’s tied back into a ponytail with a leather strap, and he has gray eyes.”
Anthony smiled. “Does he have a really fierce scowl on his face right now?”
Edgar looked then nodded his head.
“I bet you that is Donovan. Man, I wish I could see his face when you walk up and call his name. You have to promise to tell me everything later.”
Edgar nodded once again then headed across the room to where the angel was actually sitting on the top of the bookshelf. Edgar decided that angels must be a lot like cats; they always seemed to be perched up on something. Edgar reached for a book and pretended to be reading it when he spoke to the angel above his head. “Donavan, Anthony said that you scowl too much.”
The angel jerked so hard that he lost his balance and with a grunt and a lot of wing flapping he fell to the floor at Edgar’s feet. Edgar kept looking down at the book and watched as Donovan sprang to his feet, looking hard at Edgar.
“How do you know my name, human?”
Edgar flipped a page
in the book. “Anthony told me. If you want to know more, then come with me to my quarters. Gideon is here also and wants to speak with all of the guardians of this family.”
Edgar looked up into the angel’s eyes to see what his reaction would be; like Anthony he seemed concerned. Edgar looked around and saw the other guardians were still watching him. He approached Sabrina who had been sitting visiting with Keelie and Catherine and had been watching him with a concerned look. “Madam, once again I would like to thank you for my dinner tonight and my gifts. If you don’t require anything else from me, I’m going to retire for the night.”
Sabrina just smiled, looking at Edgar with concern. He had been acting very strangely tonight. “Not at all, Edgar. Goodnight and happy birthday!” The others in the room offered their own well wishes and goodnights. Finally Edgar was heading to his room with all of the guardians lined out behind him.
Gideon waited for Edgar to close the door before he started asking who else was there with them. Edgar pointed to where each guardian was standing. “We have Charlotte then Baylor, Evie, Leia, Anthony and Donovan.
Gideon nodded. “Good, and do they all believe that I am here?”
Edgar sat down in a chair with a tired sigh. “Yes, most of them do; however, it wouldn’t hurt to write some more gibberish on that board like you did for Charlotte. That seemed to convince her more so than anything I could say.”
Gideon didn’t need any more convincing. He reached for the board and quickly wrote out a greeting in Lumiaera. “Greetings, my fellow angels! Thank you for listening to my friend and coming to this meeting. I have news that has to do with each of the humans you are guarding. Edgar can see and hear each of us and will act as my mediator. Feel free to speak freely in front of him; he is a trusted friend. Gideon the Mighty.”
Gideon then placed the board on the table and Edgar watched as they all, except for Charlotte, wore a look of wonder at seeing their written language.
Donovan reached out and tapped the board. “Please ask Gideon what matters we need to be concerned with.” And with that opening statement the angels all got briefed on what was happening at the estate and the two other attacks on Sabrina and Charlie. In the two hours before the family left, they all decided that, yes, it probably was little Charlie that the minions were after. They developed a plan to safeguard the estate and the all the humans living there. They also made a plan to be able to speak with each other without Edgar by using the board and writing in their own language in case anyone came across it. Edgar said he would pick up more boards so they could each have one and would be able to communicate more freely. After everyone had left and Edgar had gone to bed, Gideon paced the rooftop, feeling more confident in being able to protect this family that he had come to love…