Earth Angels Part Three

CHECK OUT PART ONE & TWO BEFORE PROCEEDING PLEASE :)

CHAPTER SEVEN

Water trickled down into a large fountain in front of the restaurant. David held open the door for me as I walked in. Heaven was beautiful, but this atmosphere was pretty nice too: a pianist played classical music in the corner and there was a soft murmur of chatter as people ate their food. This wasn't somewhere that someone took another person on a simple casual date. At least, that's what I thought.

And David? He was dressed to the 9's: midnight navy suit, sleeves ending just above the wrist and trousers fitted just above his shoes. His crisp white dress shirt was buttoned to the top and he wore a navy-blue silk tie. Although heaven was full of angels, not one of them looked more stunning than he did in my eyes.

I was surprised when he reached for my hand and turned me around as we stood in front of the long mirror just before we reached the entry way to our seats. I glanced at us together: my emerald, green floor length dress complimented his blue very well. The slit was high revealing the left side of my rose gold heels. I held onto my matching rose gold purse to calm myself. I was nervous, a feeling humans often felt in situations like these. Internally, I thanked April for spying on fashion model outfits and picking out a beautiful dress for me at such late notice. April decided to give David and I some time alone together. She would visit me if she sensed that it was needed.

"Don't be nervous," David said as if reading my mind.

I turned to face him. "We're just getting to know each other, David. I feel a bit overdressed and this place is really, really nice."

"Well, you seem like a very nice person. Nice people deserve nice things, and I'm not one to waste time."

He smiled at me. The type of smile that could make any human feel, as they called it, butterflies. It had only been a few seconds, but I felt like I could stare into his eyes forever, like I could get lost in them yet feel at home at the same time.

"Your table is ready," the hostess said as she held two laminated menus in her hands.

"After you, young lady," David said. He gestured for me to walk ahead of him then gently guided me by putting his hand on the right side of my waist.

As we sat there, he asked me about my life. I tried to remain as general as I could without giving too much away.

There was a short silence after we'd eaten for a little while.

"Layla?"

I looked up. "Yes?"

"What questions did you have for me?"

"About the class?"

He grinned then leaned forward, the reflection of the candlelight glistened in his eyes. "About anything," he replied.

"Do you remember me?" I wanted to ask. "Do you remember when I first saved you at the beach? Do you remember when your parents passed and I stood by God, watching Him dry your tears in the spiritual world? Do you remember how I kept you awake as you studied for exam after exam during your college years? Do you recall how I kept you safe from oncoming traffic when you weren't paying attention?"

I couldn't ask him any of this. For one, he would have thought I was completely crazy, and two, there's no way he would have remembered, he would have never known.

"Josephine," I said, switching gears. "How long have you two known each other?"

He sat back, apparently surprised to hear her name. "She just moved into the neighborhood. We hung out a few times at my place. No biggie."

"Oh," I replied.

"Why? What's up?" David watched me again over the glass of water he was drinking.

"It's just that..." I paused. Just outside of the window stood April. She was glowing in red, the symbol angels used for high alert.

She zoomed past the entryway and in an instant, she was next to me.

"Get David out of here, fast," April said, "Someone broke into his house!"

CHAPTER EIGHT

"Thank you, officer," David said. He stood there staring at the red and blue lights. They reflected on the clear concern in his eyes.

I stood a few feet away watching him and wondered what I could've done in that moment to comfort him.

April tapped my arm.

"Not now, April," I said.

"It's important," she said.

"I just want to make sure he's okay," I responded. Before April could say anything else, I walked over to David and tapped his shoulder.

He knelt on one of the steps of his porch, his face was buried in his hands.

"How bad is it?" I asked.

"Whoever it was stole just about everything. My parents' wedding rings, all of my lesson plans, spare house keys, they even slashed my pillows, cut a hole through my bed and broke the frames to my old family photos!"

A gentle gust of wind brushed behind me, making the slit in my dress sway. I looked over my shoulder and saw the familiar green glow from April signaling it was time to return to heaven for the time being.

"David," I said. I closed my eyes for a moment and held him. I just wanted him to feel that someone cared about the situation, that someone cared about him. "I've got to go, but I promise I'll come back to check on you. Are you going to be okay?"

"Got no choice but to be," he replied. "Thanks, Layla. Sorry tonight wasn't everything it was meant to be. I wish it could have turned out better."

"It's okay. This was more important. I'll see you soon."

He held me for a while, and I felt it in my spirit that he didn't want to let go.

When I finally let go, when he turned around to face his home, and when no one was paying attention to me, April and I evaporated into mist, ascending into the night sky.

CHECK OUT PART FOUR CHAPTER NINE