Falling for Hope

by Anne Conley

Michael grunted and disappeared. One second he was there, the next he was gone, evaporating into a mist that quickly dissipated. The doctor turned kind eyes to the rest of them. "He'll come around. I've got someone special in mind for him as well." The doctor spun on his heels and left as quickly as he'd come.

  Hope's mouth was gaping open as she looked from Gabe to Uriel and Rafael. They all looked at one another and burst out laughing. Gabe helped her sit up. She looked down at her hospital-issued nightgown and sighed.

  "What?" Gabe clasped her hand and looked at her, worry etched in his features.

  "I just really liked that gown that I was wearing, and now it's gone." She realized that she sounded like a petulant child and quickly backtracked. "Not that I'm ungrateful at all. Thank you all for helping me. That was really…scary." She looked down at her lap. "I was in Hell." A chuckle sounded behind her, and the enormity of the situation hit her full force. The tears fell, and Gabe immediately stood between her knees, wrapping his arms around her tightly.

  "Shhh…Hope. It's over. You're safe now." He rubbed her back and she felt calmer. "I won't let him near you again." When he stepped away, she realized she was wearing the pretty yellow gown again. She turned and looked at the two men behind her, seeing a twinkle in the blond man's eyes.

  "Thank you." He nodded.

  Rafael rubbed his tummy. "I believe The Boss told us to feed you. That means we've got to do it. Let's go. Uri's driving."

  Hope looked at Gabe in disbelief. "The Boss?" The doctor in duckie scrubs was God?

  He winked at her. "We'll tell you all about it at breakfast. Come on."

  Chapter 20

  Hope had never considered herself a small girl, despite her height. Here in her apartment though, she felt dwarfed by these three tall, strong angels. Rafe had taken over her kitchen, whipping up pancakes, omelets, and bacon. Uri was perusing her book collection, and Gabe was trying in vain to get her to lie down. He finally settled for her stretching out on the couch, Perseus and Di snuggled up with her. Hermes was hiding under her bed, and Athena had hissed at the extra bodies in the room before finding someplace to make herself scarce. Poseidon stared out the sliding glass door to the balcony, obviously wanting to be outside, away from all the people.

  "So, what actually happened today?" Hope was still a bit confused about the turn of events. She couldn't work out how she'd made it from her car, to Hell, to a hospital bed, to her couch.

  Uriel turned from the bookshelf. "You were in a car accident yesterday morning, which put you in a coma. Your dream-state allowed the Deceiver to take you into his domain. Fortunately for us, it also allowed your rescue."

  Gabe interjected. "We've all been turned human, as we all fell, but we've also retained some of our previous powers. Rafe, the healer and Uri weren't able to travel to your dream with me, but Rafe worked on you, while Uri lent him some power. Michael, since he hasn't turned yet was able and quite willing to help me. He hates the Deceiver more than the rest of us."

  "He seemed quite…capable."

  Gabe chuckled, but it sounded forced. "Yes. I told you a while ago that he holds a great deal of anger. It's easy to direct the anger at the Deceiver." He blew out a slow breath, and Hope knew how afraid he’d been. Apparently, he’d just discovered how fragile the balance was between life and death.

  Uri was pensive. "I worry about him though. His time will come, and the Deceiver is escalating his machinations with our women. He's going to go all out on whomever The Boss chooses for him. We've got to all be ready to help when it happens."

  "What do you mean?" Hope asked.

  "He's tried to get all of our women." Uri explained. "But nothing as dramatic as taking them to Hell, although I suspect he tried it with Rafe's Grace a time or two."

  Rafe poked his head out of the kitchen. "What about Grace?" Impossibly green eyes that Hope hadn't noticed before shined with curiosity.

  "We were just talking about the Deceiver, and his earlier attempts on Heather and Grace," Uri explained.

  Rafe came out, balancing plates full of food up both arms, distributing them around the room. Uri sat on the floor in front of the coffee table, following Gabe's example. Rafe perched on a chair in the corner.

  "I wish he'd stuck around a little, let us warn him."

  "He didn't seem too happy to be there." Hope observed.

  Rafe chuckled around a mouthful of food. "He thinks this is all a stupid distraction from the real reason the Boss is letting us all go. Michael's convinced we're being placated with empty worthless emotions and too stupid to realize it."

  Uri was using a forkful of pancake to mop up syrup. "He has no idea." With a satisfied smirk on his face, he shoveled an enormous bite of pancake into his mouth, chewing enthusiastically.

  "None of you guys regret losing your immortality for love, then?" Hope enquired before taking her first bite, amused that the others were already half finished with their plates of food. She had a suspicion that there would be seconds and possibly thirds.

  Every pair of eyes in the room turned towards her. "Absolutely not." Rafe exclaimed.

  "So, do I need to keep watching out for him? Will he come back to try to get me again?" Hope couldn't quite let go of the fear. She had to force back the rising panic at the thought of returning to that place and being stuck there forever. Gabe seemed to sense it and leaned back on her, reassuring her with the feel of his back against her.

  "He hasn't so far with Heather or Grace." Rafe answered her around a mouthful of food before getting up to take his plate into the kitchen. "But we try to keep on the lookout. We're really not sure what he's willing to do." He called over his shoulder from the other room.

  "Why is he doing it?"

  Gabe answered her. "He wants love too, Hope. He's seen its effects over the millennia, just as we have. He's jealous that The Boss has allowed us to fall. He's always wanted what we have. He's our kid brother."

  "What?" Hope couldn't quite believe it, although something was familiar about this.

  "There were initially eight of us." Uri stood to go to the kitchen as Rafe was coming out with a second plate piled high with eggs, bacon and more pancakes.

  Rafe continued. "He was cast down after getting a little carried away with his duties."

  "What were his duties?"

  "He's called the Deceiver for a reason. He was to trick the humans, to help God know the faithful. It was honestly a redundant job. I can't imagine The Boss not seeing the faithful. It was during His age of retribution, though. He's mellowed out a bit since then." Gabe answered thoughtfully.

  "So, there's seven of you?" Hope asked, still a little confused.

  "That we know of. The Boss has always kept his cards close to his chest." Rafe answered. "We and Michael were His closest." He gestured towards Gabe and the kitchen, where Uri was.

  Uri came around the corner, another mountain of food on his plate. "The Four Winds."

  "Ah…" When Hope opened her mouth with the exclamation, a yawn escaped, and before it was finished, Gabe had gathered her in his arms and was carrying her towards her bedroom. "I'm not tired," she said before another yawn escaped.

  Gabe lowered himself next to her. "I'm getting you a bigger bed tomorrow." Pulling her close, she allowed herself the luxury of his embrace. Perseus promptly jumped to her spot on Hope’s pillow and started making biscuits in her hair with his paws, purring loudly.

  There was still one question she had. “Gabe?”

  His soothing fingers stroked her cheek. “Yes?”

  “Was that really my sister?”

  He pulled her to him and kissed her chastely. “No. That was a trick. He’d seen her pictures at your parents’ house, remember? He knew all about her and how to manipulate her image against you. He knew how sacred her image is to your family and he was trying to use that.”

  The words made sense, and she felt a little stupid for almost falling for it.

  “Don’t worry, he’s been deceiving people for millennia. You wouldn’
t be the first.”

  Feeling contented and safe, Hope whispered, "I love you, Gabriel."

  Murmuring into the back of her neck, he sent tremors rippling down her spine with, "I love you too, Hope. Forever."

  Epilogue: three weeks later

  The air was clear with a crispy bite to the wind. Hope snuggled under Gabe’s arm as they walked across the cemetery to where Hope’s parents had set up. This was the first time ever that Hope wasn’t dreading the event, and it was because of Gabe. That morning, he’d drawn the obvious parallels between what her parents were doing and what Mexican people did on Dia de los Muertos, when people paraded to the cemeteries as a family and held celebrations honoring their dead. She honestly didn’t know why she’d never quite seen it that way, as she’d never been able to distance herself from the pain enough to look at it from that perspective. But today, seeing her father grace her mother with a rare smile, as he passed her a drink from their cooler, she realized that this was her family’s way of letting go. By hanging on.

  “You okay?” Gabe asked her quietly, before they’d made it to where her parents were sitting.

  Was she? “I’m better than usual.” She looked up at him, and the adoring look in his eyes melted her insides. “Thank you for being here.”

  He stopped walking and pulled her in for a hug. “I wouldn’t think of letting you come alone.” He laid a soft kiss on her forehead, and he resumed walking.

  When they reached her parents, Gabe stuck out his hand to her dad. “Good to see you again, sir.”

  “Gabe! Nice to see you, too.” Her mother walked over and handed Gabe a soda before embracing him.

  Hope hugged both of her parents, sniffing back tears.

  “Such a pretty day,” she murmured into her mother’s hair.

  “It’s beautiful. Just the type of day that always reminds me of Melissa.”

  Thus began the story-telling portion of the day. In the past, it had seemed forced to Hope. Sitting around, thinking of nice things to say about her dead sister who had stolen her parents’ attentions in life and even more so in death. Dealing with the guilt of those emotions, the fact she was the one still alive had always been difficult for her, especially on this day. But now, with Gabe sitting next to her, holding her hand, she told stories she hadn’t remembered. She told Gabe about her sister, growing up with an older, bossy sibling: the original Miss Bossy Britches. She told the story, as yet unheard by her parents, of covering for Melissa once when she’d snuck out to meet a boy, her only rule-infraction. She told about giving Melissa a portion of her allowance to perform her daily piano practice while Mom was in the kitchen so that Hope could finish reading her book. She told the story of the time Melissa had dared her to eat every bit of candy in her Easter basket in under twenty minutes, leaving Hope with a stomach ache, and the misery of watching her sister savor her candy for a week.

  They laughed together while they picnicked on the grave, and for the first time, Hope saw this as a healing experience. As her mother packed away the garbage and pulled out a bunt cake, she saw a flicker pass between her father and Gabe. The next thing she realized, Gabe was on one knee in front of her.

  “Hope, I know that we have had a far from conventional courtship.” His earnest gaze met hers, and she clasped his hand, sending him words with her mind.

  You know you don’t have to do this. I’ve already said yes.

  He smiled wryly and replied with, Your dad wants this. Just go with it.

  She looked at her dad, and sure enough, he was watching intently. He gave her an encouraging wink, and Hope tried desperately to remember the last time her dad had shown that sort of affection with her.

  “You are a far from conventional woman, and I think that’s why God put you in my path, to complement my rigid conventions.” She giggled at this. “I’ve fallen for you Hope, and I can’t imagine walking this earth another moment without you being my wife. Will you please do me the honor of marrying me, and getting us out of the sinful situation we’ve found ourselves in?” Her mother gasped at that remark, and when Hope looked over, she saw a blush rising to her cheeks, even though she was grinning from ear to ear.

  “Of course I will Gabe. I’ve loved you since you first stepped foot in my library.”

  He slipped the ring on her finger, and Hope saw it for the first time. It was a simple gold band, with the shape of an eternity symbol set in small diamonds. It wasn’t flashy, but it sent the message perfectly. Hope loved it. Gabe was still on his knee, and Hope pulled him up, embracing him fully. She pushed her softness against the hard planes of his body, trying to fuse them together so she didn’t ever have to leave him again.

  “You don’t,” he whispered in her ear. Her mind filled with images of them growing old together, in an old house filled with books, fairies, cats, and children.

  “Well, we need to go work on some things. I’m really sorry to have to cut this short, but Mom, you’ve got two weeks to plan a wedding. I want this done as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we’ve got to go hunt for a house.” She hugged her parents good-bye, knowing they would stay until the sun went down.

  Leading Gabe out of the cemetery, he rushed to keep up with her. “Why are you in such a hurry?”

  “Your last image had a bunch of kids in it. We’ll need to start practicing won’t we?”

  She nearly laughed at the expression on Gabe’s face. “You’re ready for that now?”

  “All the famous baseball players practiced a lot before they made it to the big times…”

  They’d reached the car, and Gabe pushed her up against it with the length of his body. Lowering his mouth to her ear, he whispered “Home run?”

  “Grand Slam.”

  “Get in the car, and explain that metaphor on the way home.”

  Anne Conley is a former high school teacher, who took some time off to raise goats, and children. Living in a rural Texas town has taught her that life won't come to her, she's got to grab what she can get. So, she started writing stories. Join her on her journey. Let her know what you think!

  Email: anneconleyauthor@gmail.com

  Read her blog at: www.anneconley.com

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/anneconleyauthor

  Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6907845.Anne_Conley

  Twitter: @anneconley10

  Anne Conley’s Four Winds Series:

  Falling for Heaven –

  Uriel is one of God's Four Winds, the Archangel of Destiny. He has helped thousands of people throughout the ages find their destiny according to His will. This time however, what he doesn't realize, is that it's his own destiny he's supposed to fulfill.

  

  Heather is an exotic dancer, who's stage name is Heaven. It's not that that's what she's always wanted to do, it's just that it helps her pay the bills, and she's got a lot of bills, with taking care of her mother and her sister. When the mysterious Uriel comes into the club, she can tell he's different, just how different will rock her world...

  http://www.amazon.com/Falling-Heaven-Four-Winds-1-ebook/dp/B00CH1PC1W/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1394108941&sr=8-3&keywords=anne+conley

  Falling for Grace

  Rafael is one of God’s Four Winds, the Archangel of Healing. He has answered the countless prayers for healing of loved ones, wondering what it was about the emotion that made humans willing to sacrifice so much.

  Grace is a lifeguard who has been on Rafe’s radar since she lost a little boy three years ago. What she doesn’t realize is the green haze that comes over her during a rescue is actually a divine presence who’s about to give up his celestial body to become a very real entity in her life.

  While Grace is trying to overcome her own demon, Rafe is discovering his own sexuality, but there’s a darker presence making himself known. The Deceiver wants what Rafe is getting, and he’ll do whatever it takes to have her.

  http://www.amazon.com/Falling-Grace-Four-Winds-Conley-ebook/dp/B00GIWY9S8/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1394
108941&sr=8-

  8&keywords=anne+conley