Once there was a mother named Marie. She was married to a wonderful man and was blessed with three sons. One day her husband announced that he had to go out of town. Though the news saddened Marie she was kept busy by her three active boys. On Friday Marie received a phone call from her beautiful little sister. She invited to spend time with her and her boyfriend at the beach. Marie smiled as she listened to her sister convince her of needing to get out of the apartment. After hanging up the phone Marie called her mother to ask her to watch over the boys. Her mother loved her grandchildren and jumped at the chance to watch over them. After leaving her children in their grandmother’s care, Marie was soon on her way to the beach.
Sitting in the back seat, Marie couldn’t help but feel lonely. There she sat watching the interaction between her sister and her boyfriend. Marie notices how the young man never once let go of her sister’s hand. Hearing her sister’s laughter and seeing the sparkle in her eyes that shown so much love made Marie ache for her own husband. Silently she prayed for her husband’s safe return. There wasn’t no other way to reach their destination other than taking the ferry. By the time they found a parking spot Marie decided to give the young couple some privacy. Besides Marie didn’t want to feel like the third wheel. Enjoying her walk along the shore and feeling the coarse sand between her toes brought a sense of peace. Then Marie heard a child call out to her.
The young boy was adorable and reminded her of the boys. He asked Marie if she would help him build a sandcastle. Marie couldn’t refuse the invite and sat across from the boy. The child introduced himself as Kevin. Marie asked Kevin if he would mind her calling him hon. Kevin smiled and told her that he didn’t mind. It wasn’t long after joining him that Kevin talked to Marie about his mother. The mother was killed by a drunk driver leaving Kevin and his father. Then Marie heard a man speak, “Kevin who gave you permission to flirt with a beautiful woman?” Marie blushed and smiled as Kevin’s father joined them. She noticed the father’s wedding band on his right hand, but didn’t say word. Kevin’s father introduced himself as Daniel.
As Daniel and Marie talked they didn’t realize how Kevin was watching them. After a few minutes both Marie and Daniel looked down to find their hands buried in the sand with a heart drawn on top. Marie could feel her cheeks redden and decided to cool herself in the salty seawater. Daniel and Kevin joined her with the child holding on to Marie’s hand. When the adults were knee deep they stopped suddenly. Twenty feet ahead of them was a dorsal fin. They quickly agreed that they had enough cooling down. It wasn’t long after that Marie heard her sister calling out to her. Marie said good bye to Daniel and Kevin. Once again sitting in the back seat, Marie couldn’t handle the mushiness of the couple.
Since it was still a ways to the other port, Marie exited the parked vehicle and headed toward the front of the ferry. Marie loved the scenery and enjoyed watching the dolphins hitching on the waves the ferry made. Then Marie felt someone tickling her right arm. She looked down to find Kevin standing beside her. “Some woman came up and started rubbing herself all over dad. I thought it was gross and came over here. May I stay with you please?” asked Kevin. Seeing the innocence of the plea Marie couldn’t deny him. Marie placed Kevin on a step next to her. Soon the both of them were watching the scenery.
“May I join you both or is this a private party?” Kevin and Marie laughed at Daniel’s comment. A strange expression appeared on Daniel’s face when he heard his son’s laughter. It wasn’t long when the dock came into view. Kevin got quiet when Marie took him off the step. She knelt in front of Kevin. The boy stared at the angel necklace hanging around Marie’s neck. He reached out and ever so lightly touched the angel. He stared into Marie’s eyes, “May I call you angel?” Marie hugged the child and replied, “I would be honored.” As she stood up, Marie noticed the same strange expression on Daniel’s face. In fact Daniel asked Marie to wait for him there while he went to put Kevin in their vehicle.
When Daniel returned Marie saw the unshed tears in his eyes. “Kevin never spoke a word after the death of my wife. To hear him laugh and speak again makes me so happy. You aren’t just Kevin’s angel, but you are mine as well.” Mare was touched by the sentiment and embraced Daniel. “I’m happy to have helped,” said Marie. Daniel asked,” Will we see you again?” She answered back with a simple phrase, “Maybe you will; Maybe you won’t.” They smiled and went back to their vehicles. Few years had gone by. Marie and her husband had bought a home. Their sons were now teenagers and still active as ever. Monday afternoon Marie’s sister called. She asked Marie to go buy pearls for the centerpieces she was making.
Marie agreed to help, after leaving the craft store Marie headed down the freeway. Ahead a tanker jack knifed, Marie saw an overturned SUV. She stopped her car and heard a man yelling frantically. Apparently the man’s teenage son was still in the vehicle. Without thinking of her safety, Marie ran toward the SUV. There she found the young man still buckled. “I can’t get it undone. Dad tried but his hands were too big to get to the buckle,” explained the young teen. “It’s okay hon., I’m here to help you,” said Marie. She noticed how silent the young man went. Then Marie heard the father yelling something about a fire. Quickly Marie got the seatbelt unbuckled.
The young man and Marie crawled out of the SUV. Marie made it to where the she was between the teenager and the burning vehicle. When all of a sudden there was an explosion. Marie felt the intensity of the heat behind her. She made sure that she pushed the young man far enough so the heat wouldn’t reach him. Marie on the other hand was knocked to the ground. The pain in Marie’s back was so severe that she was unable to move. The teenage boy knelt beside her and noticed the angel necklace she had on. Marie heard him gasp, “Oh my God, angel. Dad it’s her it’s angel!” Marie heard the footsteps pound on the asphalt.
“The ambulance is on its way angel don’t move,” said Daniel. Kevin never left Marie’s side. Since Marie had third degree burns on her spine, Marie was laying on a special bed. Oh how Marie hated hospitals and she made sure both the doctor and nurses knew it. She heard Kevin enter her room and did the oddest thing ever. Instead of sitting in a chair Kevin laid on the floor so that he was able to face Marie. “I hope you don’t mind me wearing your necklace angel. The nurse wanted to put it in a plastic bag but I asked her for it, “said Kevin. Marie assured Kevin that it was fine and soon the both of them were laughing.
Daniel came into the room and couldn’t believe the sight he saw. There was his son talking to the woman not once but twice had saved him. “I called your husband and he along with you sons are on their way,” explained Daniel. After a few hours the discharge papers were drawn and signed. Marie was so happy to leave the hospital. Kevin was about to remove the necklace when Marie stopped him.
“I want you to keep the angel necklace hon. That way you won’t forget me.” Kevin held Marie in a gentle embrace so not to hurt her back. Then Daniel hugged her and felt his heart break. As he watched Marie’s husband drive away from the hospital Daniel couldn’t help but shed tears. He loved Marie with every ounce of his being, but he knew that one day he will see her again. Time passed by bringing grey streaks to Marie’s hair. It has been more than a year since the passing of her husband. Marie’s sons had grown to be handsome and loving men. Each of them had enlisted in different branches of the military.
At the airport Marie hugged her boys. They were concerned in leaving her alone, but Marie put their minds at ease. “Just come back home safe and sound.” After her sons’ departure, Marie decided to take the ferry to the beach. Marie was enjoying her walk when she spotted a small young girl running toward the water. Then Marie saw a dog heading for the child at full speed. Without thinking of the consequences, Marie reached the child and lifted her off the ground. The dog knocked her down with the child beneath her. Marie heard a man yelling to what appeared to be the owner to help him get the dog away from her and the girl. Marie felt strong arms help her to her feet.
The little girl went to the man who Marie assumed was the father. The father was checking his daughter making sure that she was alright. Satisfied that the child was unharmed, the man turned to Marie and thanked her. Marie smiled and couldn’t help noticing the necklace the man was wearing. Marie’s breath faltered a little, “May I touch your angel?” The man nodded and allowed her to touch the necklace. He preceded to tell Marie about how he had come to have the necklace. The young man told her about the woman who had befriended him when he was a child. He also told Marie about the same woman saving him in an accident. The man made it clear that he never forgot the woman.
Then the little girl asked Marie something she hadn’t heard in a long time. “May I call you angel?” asked the little girl. Smiling back Marie said, “ I consider it a honor.” That’s when Marie noticed the young man’s mouth drop. He put the child down and asked her to go with her momma. Turning back to Marie, the young man’s eyes were filled with tears. “Angel is it you? Do you remember who I am?” Marie smiled and hugged the young man. “Of course I remember you Kevin. You are as handsome as your father,” replied Marie. Kevin and Marie stood embracing and crying with tears of happiness when they heard a voice behind them.
“Kevin when are you going to stop flirting with the beautiful woman?” asked Daniel. Kevin asked Marie if she remembered who the man was. “Of course I remember him. Daniel you still look handsome,” answered Marie. Daniel reached for Marie’s hand and invited her to walk with him. Marie agreed to the invitation. She noticed how Daniel never released her hand. She told him about the passing of her husband and where her sons were. “Angel do you know I don’t remember even asking for you name?” Marie chuckled and told him her name. “Do you know Marie that I never remarried? You took my heart the very first time we met. You are still breath taking as ever.”
Marie blushed and felt her chin being lifted. Daniel bent down and kissed Marie ever so gently. After releasing her lips Daniel stood within inches of Marie. “I love you Marie with all my heart. God sent you to me when I needed you the most. You opened my heart to love again. Will you be with me forever?” Marie looked deep into Daniel’s eyes and smiled. “I will be with you now and forever.” Daniel and Marie embraced one another. The love that was thought to be gone forever returned to Daniel at the same place where it all started…
The End
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