~ Zion's Angel ~

by

Cristy Upchurch

It was all he could do not to drive at neck breaking speeds as he drove to Angel’s house. She’d said that her head had been split in two with a hammer! She must be pretty stubborn not to let anyone take her to the hospital. Was she crazy? He’d make her think crazy after she’d made a trip to the hospital and was recovering well. What in the world was she thinking, not going to be checked out?

He knocked on her door twice, but no answer. At last, after he’d resorted to banging with his fist, just when he was about to go into his rescue mode, she opened up the door wearing a frown and a baby blue cotton robe tied tightly around her small waist. What he saw wasn’t good. She looked weakened, eyes dark circles underneath, nose red, frown on her face, and a box of tissues in her hand, but it was much better than what he’d been expecting. Yet he knew with all those blonde wavy locks that any wounds would be easily concealed. He wasn’t about to take any chances. “You shouldn’t be up and running around in your condition.”

“Well, I thought about just letting you bang, but I was afraid that any minute you’d come crashing through my door, and I’ve have to spend the day digging wood splinters out of you.”

Although he didn’t say anything, he nodded his head in agreement.

She smiled weakly. “Come on in and I’ll explain everything and then, if you want, you can kill me; that is, if I don’t get to me first. After that, you have to leave. My throat is sore; I’m running a fever and I don’t want you to catch this, whatever it is I have.”

“Am I missing something?” He hung his coat up on the hanger behind the door and turned to face her, one hand on his hip, the other in his pocket.

“Actually, this is all my fault. I was only joking with you, playing on your concern. You hung up without giving me a chance to explain what really happened.”

Zion listened to her recite her tale and the actual story before speaking up. “So, the truth of the matter is, is you actually only have a cold and here I come like a knight in shining armor to drag you to the hospital? Well, I’m the one who should be embarrassed, Angel.”

“Oh, there’s no need to be embarrassed. It’s my fault. And you did a perfectly noble and honorable deed, Sir Knight Thomas.” She waved a white tissue in the air and pretended to swoon. “Your act of kindness just overwhelms me, good sir. I think I’m feeling a little faint.” She was so beautiful, even with her red-tipped nose, that Zion was sure that he was the one who was feeling a little weird.

“You know who you remind me of right now?”

She eyed him cautiously. “No, who?”

“You look like Rudolph, the Red Nose Reindeer, with that pretty red nose of yours.”

She rolled her eyes and smiled. “Thanks a lot, Sir Knight Thomas. You just made your Princess Lady Angel swoon with ecstasy with your romantic love ballad.” She was joking with him but became more serious when she saw the intense look that he had on his face. “What?”

Zion recited the words to the poem that he’d been putting together ever since the first time he’d seen her.

“If I could see beyond your eyes

I’d see places I’ve never been;

They’re places that I’d like to go

But I’m stuck somewhere in between.

And I know that as for you

You could not do a thing;

I’m not good enough for you t’ choose.

You might just lose your wings.

Tis not a princess that comes to mind

As I look into your eyes.

There’s something Heavenly about you.

You’re an angel in disguise.”

Zion knew he’d definitely gone too far as he watched her wipe her eyes, her mouth agape with surprise. It wasn’t safe for her to love him, but oh, how he longed for that love! He knew he shouldn’t have called her this morning. He should have just left her alone, let her get on with her life. But he’d wanted to share his news with her. He’d wanted to let her know the truth about his life, and to let her know that, at least for right now, he couldn’t pursue a relationship with her, not when his own life was still a mess.

“Tom, that was beautiful,” she said softly. “No one’s ever said anything so, so romantic to me before.”

“I probably shouldn’t have.” He smiled. “I guess I just tossed the dark, tough side of myself out the window for you. But don’t tell anyone.”

She laughed. “Who am I going to tell? You’re not from around here, right?”

“Well, I never actually said I wasn’t from around here. I just said I don’t live here.”

“That reminds me, what are you doing here? I mean, right now? Why are you here?”

“Well, I was coming to rescue you, my dear.”

“No, I’m talking about the phone call this morning. You called me for a reason, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes I did, but with the circumstances that surround us, I’ve changed my mind. You’re sick and you need your rest so that you can get well. So,” he stopped to think for a minute, “since I’m here and I’ve managed to make a complete idiot of myself for most of the morning, I’m going to pay you back. Where do you store your extra blankets and pillows?”

“What? Are you planning on moving in?” Alarm came to her eyes. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t.”

“No, I know better than that, Angel. They’re for you. I’m going to tuck you in on that comfy couch of yours. I promise that by the end of the day, you’ll be so spoiled that you won’t want me to leave.”

~ * ~

That evening, they sat and watched the evening weather report together, eating hot chicken noodle soup and drinking a steaming cup of hot cocoa. After taking her over the counter medicine and the fever reducer, she was surprised at how much better she was feeling. She was sure most of the cure had come from spending the day with such handsome company. He seemed so intent on what the meteorologist was saying that she decided to take the time to study his masculine features. He was one of a kind. She didn’t think she’d ever been drawn so much to someone like she had him. When he wasn’t deep in thought, he was all smiles and his dimples completely diminished the bad boy look when he smiled. What was he doing still hiding up there in those mountains? “So Tom, what do you do for a living?”

“Me again, huh?” He teased her. “Why do we focus on me all the time? Other than the fact that you’ve been used and abused by men and that your mother raised you right. I also know that you’re committed to God and your love for Him. Beside that, I know absolutely nothing about you.”

“Oh yeah, that’s quite a bit more than I know about you.” She laughed. “I’ll tell you what. Let’s turn this into a game, Tom. How long are you going to be in town?

“I don’t know, why?”

“For the game, you big lug!” She waved her hand and grabbed a tissue. “Excuse me for a sec.” She held the tissue over her nose until she was sure the sneezy feeling had gone away. “Okay, now. The game goes like this: I’ll tell you all about me tonight. But everyday that you stay here in Rogersville, you have to call me, leave me a note, or even come by and tell me one personal thing about yourself.”

“But what if I decide that I’m leaving in the morning? Do I just forget it? You know that doesn’t sound too fair to me.” He winked at her when she made a pouty face. “I’ll tell you what. I promise I’ll stay at least two more days.”