Disclaimers: None. If you're still reading my stuff at this point, you pretty well know what you're getting into. If you don't have an open mind or if you find something you think needs disclaiming, you are still more than welcome to let me know. It won’t change anything, but it may make you feel better. Ugliness will earn you a smack to the back of your head.
Thanks: To Phil, Mac and Jeanne for reading through this for me to pick up Pink & Fluffy’s dropped letters. Their contribution to making this a better read is much appreciated.
Author’s Notes:
I’m not quite sure what to say here this time. This story came about because of a dusting conversation with Phil one Saturday morning. And though it stands alone, there will eventually be a prequel to it – go figure. :-P The Storyteller’s Cardinal Rule is in effect.Guardian Angel
By D
Prologue
Everyone has heard of guardian angels – we probably have the best PR department in the world. On the other hand, they're also very good about keeping the true nature of our job out of the press, so to speak. Oh, don't misunderstand – some guardian angels do exactly what is advertised. That is the job of a few... to uphold the myth that we are there for the protection of mankind. Most guardian angels don’t protect – they offer hope to the scared and the lonely and the wounded. But for a few even that is not their primary function.
No, for a very few guardian angels, their job is to be there at a crucial time in their charge's life. They are supposed to guide and help a person make the right choice. Only sometimes, they’re not in the right place at the right time and that’s where I come in.
My job is clean up. When the guardian angel misses their opportunity, my job is to determine if the charge can be salvaged in spite of the guardian screw-up or if there is another choice that can be made or another opportunity offered.
This is the story of one such charge.
Chapter I
“Jim, I don’t care what you have to do - just make it happen!” The woman snapped her phone shut with an aggrieved sigh and turned to the entourage standing next to her. “Opal, grab my day planner and meet me in the office. We have to rearrange a few things. Barbara, I need you to get Sen. Reynolds on the phone, please and make sure Kent is available to pick Adam up from school. Luke, I’d kill for a fresh cup of coffee,” nodding in satisfaction when her assistant and aides scattered. Then she walked into her office and slid behind her desk, kicking off her shoes and removing her jacket before settling into the day’s work.
************
Let me stop a minute here and bring you up to speed. I think you need to understand at least a little of the woman whose life I am now in charge of trying to salvage.
Charisma Tagherty is a smart, successful woman who has spent a lifetime in politics and as a Senator is counted as one of the up-and-coming leaders of not only her party, but the nation as well. She is as well-known for her charitable causes as she is for her political platform. She has worked hard to establish her reputation as a savvy politician, a smart businesswoman and a caring humanitarian and has succeeded beyond most expectations - except her own. She demanded success from herself and has done everything she could to ensure the results she was looking for.
Doesn’t sound like she needs to be salvaged much, does it?
Except she is a liar - a liar of the highest order... beyond what you would expect from someone who spent their life as a politician. Charisma Tagherty has spent a lifetime lying to herself and it is destroying her and those who mean the most to her... even the unacknowledged ones.
You see, a person can only pretend for so long - then the lies become real and one can no longer distinguish the lies from truth... happiness from make-believe. The up side to that is that there is happiness - whether real or simply perceived - for a little while. The down side is eventually it will all come crashing down like a house of cards and what is left in its wake is generally disastrous to everyone touched by the aftershocks.
The course she is on now is headed for catastrophe unless I can help her be honest. Let me take you back to the beginning. Then you’ll be able to see just exactly where we went wrong.
************
“You’re gonna do big things, Charisma. I have faith in you,” Patrick Tagherty said to his five-year-old daughter with a smile.
“What kind of things, Daddy?” Big blue eyes gazed up into eyes just like hers.
“Anything you want, baby. You’re smart enough to be anything you wanna be.”
“Really?”
Patrick smiled at her wide-eyed innocence. “Really.”
Charisma Tagherty was the fourth child and only daughter of Patrick and Okasa Tagherty. Doted on by her three older brothers as well as her parents, Charisma lived up to her name in personality as well as looks. Beautiful with the dark hair and skin tone she’d inherited from her mother and her father’s sparkling blue eyes, already she knew how to charm people. She was one of those who, it seemed, was destined to easily succeed throughout her life.
And so it went for Charisma, beautiful and gifted, she went through life always popular… always successful. Junior high school introduced her to politics and she decided then that would be her chosen profession. She liked the power and the elevated status it gave her, and she learned how to wield that power to accomplish the things she set out to achieve.
By the time she was a senior in high school, Charisma was well-versed in the art of illusion and presentation and she knew what image to show to the world at large. She was popular - president of the Student Government Association, a cheerleader, a track star, participated in glee club and band and spent her summers overseas as an exchange student, courtesy of her father’s contacts. Popular, but unwilling to sacrifice what little free time she had to having a regular boyfriend.
It suited her parents - none of the boys she hung out with in her social circle were good enough for their little girl, and as long as she had friends and didn’t isolate herself from everyone, they didn’t see a problem with not rushing into a relationship that probably wouldn’t last beyond high school anyway. Charisma had big dreams - Presidential dreams - there was no reason to give them up so early in her life for a tumble with someone she wouldn’t remember when their five year class reunion rolled around.
************
Me again - sorry, but I need to break in here for a moment. In fairness to everyone involved in this situation... angels and humans alike... they were absolutely right. Any involvement on Charisma’s part with anyone at this point would have been detrimental to her dreams. You see, fair or not, women are judged by a different set of standards than men are - they always have been. They are valued for their beauty and innocence and morality, while men are judged by their prowess and cunning and conquests. I’m not saying it’s right - God knows we’ve had more than our share of shit to clean up because of these archaic ideals - but it is the truth nonetheless.
What we didn’t know then... what we wouldn’t know until much later was there was a far bigger reason Charisma Tagherty wasn’t interested in the whole dating scene. But we will get to that... eventually.
Let me move time forward just a little bit - to Charisma’s foray into college. This was the first time her guardian angel failed her... something I didn’t learn of until much, *much* later.
************
“Are you sure about this, princess? It’s not too late....”
“Oh, Daddy... don’t be silly. This is going to be so awesome.”
“Awesome, huh?” opening his arms and wrapping her in a tight embrace. “You think you’re gonna like being a college kid?” chuckling when he felt her head bob up and down against his chest. He kissed the top of her dark head. “All right, just don’t forget to give your mama and me a call now and then, okay? Let us know how you’re doing and what’s going on.”
“I will, Daddy.” She tilted her head back and looked up at him with bright, blue eyes. “Thank you for believing in me. It means everything.”
“Always, Tiger... you know that. You really are going to do great things, and I’ll be able to say I knew you when.” He added the last with a crooked smile.
Charisma snorted at him and patted his chest as she pulled out of the hug. “You’ll be able to say you *changed* me when.”
Patrick guffawed and Charisma gave him her mother’s smile, blinding in its intensity. “You’re right, me wee lassie,” he agreed, affecting a thick brogue. “I’m sure all the newspapers are waitin’ for that particular scoop too. I’ll have your mama go lookin’ for some naked baby pictures.”
Now she swatted at his arm hard. “You better not!” horrified at the thought. Charisma knew her mother... the woman had pictures of everything. She didn’t want her naked baby butt out on the front page of every newspaper in the country for the whole world to stare at. She covered her eyes with her hand. “God... talk about embarrassing.”
“It’d be one way to meet the press.”
Charisma snorted. “Yes, but that doesn’t make it a good way.”
Patrick laughed aloud. “No, but it would certainly be memorable,” ducking when she swung at him again. “Parent abuse! Parent abuse!” he squawked around his laughter as he tried to slide out of her reach....
... then stopped abruptly when a blonde head cautiously poked around the doorway and halted at the commotion inside the dorm room.
“Excuse me... I was looking for my dorm room and...” she consulted the slip of paper in her hand, “... and someone named Charisma Tagherty.”
“I’m Charisma,” the young woman offered, pushing her father to one side to extend her hand to the owner of the blonde hair. “And you are...?” wondering if the eyes hidden behind the glasses were really as green as they appeared to be or if it was just the lighting in the room.
“Brianna... Brianna Walker - your new roommate.” She took Charisma’s hand and allowed the other woman to pull her into the room.
“It’s really nice to meet you, Brianna Brianna Walker,” Charisma offered with an impish smile. “This big oaf is my father, Patrick. I promise he doesn’t bite.”
“Hey!” glaring at Charisma before giving Brianna a dashing smile. “Only if you ask nice, lassie,” Patrick corrected, laying on the brogue as thickly as he could manage.
“Only until Mama hears him offer,” Charisma countered, rolling her eyes in Brianna’s direction and causing Brianna to smother her chuckle behind her hand. Patrick huffed.
“Well, I can see I’m not needed here.” He turned to Brianna and held out his hand, watching with some amusement as she hesitated momentarily before taking it in a firm grasp. “It’s been very nice to meet you, Ms Walker. I hope Charisma doesn’t make you as crazy as she had her mother and me for the past eighteen years. You’re gonna have your hands full with this one.”
“HA! Don’t believe a word of it, Brianna Brianna. I was the one bright spot of sanity in a world laden with testosterone.”
“And you,” Patrick turned back to Charisma. “Behave... and call your mother.”
“Yes, Daddy.” Charisma leaned forward and gave Patrick a hug, only to find herself in a near-crushing embrace. Brianna moved further into the room to give the two at the door a modicum of privacy.
“I’ll miss you, princess. Just remember that I believe in you.”
Charisma kissed his cheek. “Bye, Daddy... love you.”
“Love you too, princess.”
Charisma sighed as she closed the door behind Patrick after he left. Then she turned and looked at her erstwhile roommate. “Sorry about that,” she apologized, waving her hand towards the door. “I didn’t expect him to hang around so long, but I couldn’t tell him no when he asked to come with me.”
Brianna nodded. “You seem pretty close,” was her comment.
“He’s my best friend,” Charisma confirmed. “He’s always believed in me. My mother too, but in a different way.” She shrugged. “I guess I’ve always been a ‘Daddy’s Girl’.”
“That’s not a bad thing. Did you choose...?” motioning between the two single beds.
“Not really... I dropped my stuff,” gesturing to the luggage on one side of the room, “but it really doesn’t matter to me. I learned a long time ago to pick my battles, Brianna Brianna. Sleeping arrangements don’t even make it into the top one hundred as far as I’m concerned.” She glanced at the small bag Brianna still held. “Is that all you brought?”
Brianna chuckled nervously and shook her head. “Oh... no. I just thought I’d carry the small one up first... until I found the right room. I’ll have to make a couple trips to get all my junk up here.”
“You want some help?”
“I couldn’t ask....”
“Maybe not, but you don’t have to - I offered. Pick a bed,” waiting patiently until Brianna dropped her bag on the bed opposite the one Charisma had already placed her bags by. “Great,” tugging on Brianna’s arm and leading her from the room and down the hallway bustling with activity as students began the process of moving in to begin the fall term. “Let’s get your stuff moved in.” The rumble of thunder caused a squealing outcry throughout the building and Brianna and Charisma hastened their steps in hopes of beating the downpour.
“So why didn’t your parents come?” Charisma asked conversationally as she followed Brianna to her car which was naturally parked on the north forty of the dorm parking lot. The thunder rolled even closer and she cringed, hoping they’d make it back to their room before it let loose.
“They wanted to,” she said as they reached her vehicle and she started lifting bags from the trunk. “Unfortunately, they *both* wanted to come.”
Charisma’s forehead creased into a frown. “And that’s a bad thing? I mean... the only reason Mama didn’t come was because my oldest brother’s wife went into labor and she was their midwife. Otherwise you’d have been pounced on by both of my parents - my father the charmer and my mother the interrogator.”
Brianna looked at Charisma as she slammed the trunk closed and hefted the two heaviest bags. Charisma returned the look and picked up the remaining two. “I can see that,” she said frankly as they headed back inside. “I’d say, if I had to guess without meeting your mother, that you have your father’s charm and your mother’s strength of will. It probably gets you pretty much everything you want.”
Charisma blinked, bright blue eyes staring at Brianna in amazement. “Are you psychic or something?”
Brianna laughed, her face tilted up to the heavens just as the bottom dropped out of the sky. “Not at all... just very observant.”
“I’ll buy that for now Brianna Brianna,” Charisma agreed. “But it still doesn’t explain why your folks aren’t here,” raising her voice to be heard over the rapid pelting of raindrops. They reached the building dripping wet, and stood in the common room shedding wet for several minutes before deciding to take things upstairs. Only when the door was firmly closed behind them did Brianna deign to answer.
“My parents are divorced... have been since I was about five. I don’t know what happened between them, but let’s just say the settlement was less than amicable. Everything about me became a competition between them, and I just couldn’t bear the thought of that following me into my adult life. So I put my foot down and refused to allow either of them to come here.”
“Wow! That’s impressive. How’d you manage that?”
Brianna snorted, removing a towel from her belongings while Charisma did the same with hers. “It was easy - I told them I’d disown them.”
Charisma’s eyebrows went to her hairline. “You’re not pre-law by any chance?”
Brianna laughed again and Charisma found herself smiling from the happy sound. “Better... I’m pre-law with a double major in theatre. I figure one will teach me the law and the other will give me the best tools for presenting a case. If I can act in the courtroom, I can own it.”
“You sound like a woman with a plan.”
“What about you?” wrapping the damp towel around her neck and turned her back to Charisma to slip out of her wet clothes. “What are you here for?”
“A degree in political science and a minor in the law.”
Brianna’s eyes widened. “Can you minor in law?”
“If you schedule right, you can.”
“So you wanna be a politician?”
“I want to be President. For now, though, I’m just going to settle for being a poli-sci student with a lot of extracurriculars to make me a well-rounded individual. It looks good to the press and on paper.”
“You’ve given this a lot of thought.”
“Ever since I was five. Daddy told me to dream big... figured I might as well start at the top. C’mon,” sliding into her dry clothes. “Let’s get unpacked and see if we can find some space to dry these clothes in this room. Then we can go find something to eat... I hope.”
With a laugh, they settled down to work and in short order were heading out to find food. It was the start of a beautiful friendship.
************
Did you see it? Did you catch what we missed? Don’t feel bad - it took me half a dozen reviews of this and months of other moments before I caught it. It is the only reason Rafe didn’t lose his job right away - no one was quick enough to catch it, and none of us could begin to imagine what was coming.
Let me show you what I mean... maybe you’ll be able to spot it faster knowing you should be looking for something. Then again, Charisma is still in denial, despite what she knows in her heart of hearts to be true - it ain’t just a river in Egypt, you know.
Who knows... maybe watching them *yet again* will help me to devise a solution to this ugly, convoluted mess.
Chapter II
I’m actually going to skip ahead three years - if you have to sit through each and every subtle nuance between Charisma and Brianna during this time, you’ll be here for a lifetime and we really don’t have time for that right now. So I’ll give you the cliffs notes version - if you want to go through the nitty gritty details later, there’ll be time for that then.
The first year of college was an eye opening experience for both young women and they gravitated towards one another to keep from falling into temptations that would sidetrack them from their respective goals. It helped them cement their friendship.
Not to say there weren’t a few dalliances, but for the most part they were both too focused on their studies and the extracurricular activities they were involved in. Charisma became a cheerleader and Brianna never missed a game. And Brianna’s involvement in the theatre insured Charisma attended every new performance the drama department put on.
Charisma met Brianna’s parents, separately and then together and immediately issued a standing invitation for Brianna to join her on breaks and holidays. Patrick and Okasa welcomed Brianna as another daughter and Charisma’s brothers treated her as though she was the coolest thing since sliced bread. Charisma could have gotten jealous, but she was too busy enjoying Brianna’s reaction to a family life that was so different from her own. Brianna was soon immersed in what a real family was like - the good and the bad.
Some of their breaks they spent traveling - Europe, Asia, Australia - but they were very brief sojourns as both women were enrolled in courses every term. They were inseparable and their friends knew to include both of them in any activity they planned. Suffice it to say they spent a majority of their time together for three years, creating a friendship and family both knew was unbreakable.
That brings us to their senior year - and the next step in their ever-evolving relationship.
************
"Brianna Brianna, you in here?" Charisma called out as she entered their apartment.
"In the kitchen."
Charisma dropped her backpack on the sturdy furniture they'd gotten from the secondhand store when they decided to rent an apartment together for their senior year. It wasn't much, but it did give them each a tiny bedroom and a kitchenette that had seen as many failures as it had successes. Judging from the scents coming from that direction, it seemed that Brianna was well on her way to another success. Charisma took a deep, appreciative breath.
"Smells good. But wasn't it my turn?"
"Uh huh. But if I had to wait for you to get done with all those extracurriculars you've got going on, I'd starve to death," motioning to the cheerleading outfit Charisma was currently encased in.
"I know... sorry."
"It's all right, Ri. I understand what you're doing and why. How'd it go?"
Charisma shrugged. "Same shit...."
"... different day. Take a seat. It's about ready."
"Guess this means I've got clean up duty."
Brianna laughed. "Pretty much. Besides, I’ve got rehearsal tonight.”
“Damn, I’d forgotten about that. The performance is this weekend, correct?” Charisma rose and snatched her backpack from the floor.
“The first one, yes,” Brianna answered with a twinkle in her eye.
“Well, since I’m a confirmed first nighter....” Charisma replied teasingly.
“I think Professor Mac is ready to gild your seat.” Brianna blushed and bit her lip, looking away from her best friend. Charisma noticed her withdrawal immediately and covered her hand.
“What is it, Bri Bri?”
“I’m nervous about this one, Ri. It’s just....” She shrugged.
“Just what, Bri?”
“You ever feel like you’ve gotten in over your head? I never meant for this to go public. I never wanted to be a writer... not like this, anyway. I never expected for people to be performing my work. That’s not why I took drama.”
“Bri, what are you worried about? It’s good... really good. I read it, remember?”
“I know... it’s just....” She stuttered to stop once more.
“Just what? C’mon, Brianna Brianna - this is me you’re talking to… you’re very best friend in the whole world. What is bothering you so bad about this? You were so excited about the prospect when Professor Mac first offered you the opportunity.”
Brianna let out a shaky breath. “I feel exposed... like the whole world can see right into my mind... into my soul. It’s unnerving.”
“Are you sure it’s not just a case of really cold feet? Bri, you have a beautiful mind and an equally beautiful soul. Hell, girl... you’re beautiful inside and out. If we weren’t both women....” Charisma let the thought fall, knowing she couldn’t let it go any farther. Besides, she was absolutely straight - there really wasn’t anywhere else for that thought to go, right?
Brianna tilted her head thoughtfully. “Would that really stop you?” She smiled sadly at the mask of confusion Charisma forced onto her expression. “Never mind, Ri. That wasn’t a fair question. Just forget it.”
“No, I want to understand what you were asking, Brianna Brianna,” picking at her own discomfort at what she *knew* Brianna was asking and trying to put a little levity back into the conversation.
“It doesn’t really matter, Ri... honestly.”
Blue eyes glared into green and Charisma held onto the hand she still covered when Brianna tried to pull away. “Would *what* really stop me Bri?”
“Would the fact that we are both women really stop you if we fell in love with one another? Or any woman, for that matter - would the fact that you’re a woman keep you from allowing yourself to love another woman, even if you had feelings for her?”
To her credit, Charisma didn’t pulled away; she held on to Brianna as tightly as she had before, wanting her to understand that nothing would change between them because of this conversation. They would still be... would always be... best friends.
They sat in silence for a moment - Brianna confident of what Charisma would say and Charisma framing her answer. Finally....
“In all honesty, Bri? I can’t see myself falling in love with another woman. And frankly, it’s just not a part of my political plan. Even if I had strong feelings for a woman, I’m not willing to give up everything I’ve worked for... my entire political career... just to be with her. Hell’s bells... I’m not willing to do that with a man either at the moment.”
“Maybe you just haven’t met the right one, Ri,” Brianna offered with another sad smile.
“Oh, I’m certain of that. If... *when*... I get married, it’s going to have to be to someone who is willing to be second fiddle to my career. These college boys are still boys and they are much to full of themselves to be of any use to me. But,” she said, pulling her hand from Brianna’s and slapping her thighs before she stood to take the dishes to the sink. “We’re pretty far afield of what started this whole conversation which would in point of fact be your play.”
Charisma moved back over and knelt at Brianna’s side. “Trust me when I tell you that this play of yours is going to go off without a hitch, and if you’re not careful, you’re going to become a sought-after playwright instead of a kick-ass attorney.”
“Oh... no way!” Brianna exclaimed, pushing their previous conversation out of her mind. She rose to her feet and pulled Charisma up to stand beside her. “I have worked too damn hard for that law degree to let the lure of the theatre sway me now!” shaking her fist at the ceiling.
Charisma snorted. “Um... you don’t think *that* was a little theatrical?”
“Nah,” Brianna said with a straight face, though her eyes twinkled merrily. “That was aggressive posturing.”
“Oh, is that what they’re calling it in your law class now?”
“Well, no,” Brianna replied sheepishly. “Professor Hayes calls it theatrics, but she has admitted their effectiveness in the courtroom if used sparingly and to good effect.”
“So she approves of your drama classes now?” remembering the sarcasm Brianna had been subjected to by that particular professor for her choice of minors.
“Hardly, though at this point I think it has become more of a teasing argument than anything else. Why would she bother to attend every new performance I am a part of at least once?”
“Perhaps she is a theatre lover like I am.”
Brianna pouted. “And here I thought you came just for me.” Her eyes slid to the clock. “Shit! I’m gonna be late! You’ve got this?” motioning around the kitchen. Charisma rolled her eyes.
“I’ve got this. G’wan... get out of here before Professor Mac sends out a search party for you. You know the roommate is always the most likely suspect.”
Brianna laughed and slung her backpack over her shoulder. “If your study group finishes early, drop by the theatre. You can have a sneak peek at what the piece you read at the beginning of the term has evolved into.”
“That different, huh?”
Brianna opened the door. “You tell me. See you later?”
“Yeah... wait for me. We’ll go for ice cream or beer when rehearsal’s over.”
Brianna made a face and crossed the threshold into the breezeway. “Hopefully not together. Bye, Ri.”
“Later, Bri.”
************
Now, I know what you’re thinking - you’re thinking that Charisma’s and Brianna’s little discussion about loving another woman made them self-conscious about one another and drove them apart. Actually, it didn’t. It opened up their communication with one another even more, though that particular subject never came up again. That is the main reason Rafe missed the importance of it.
He, like you, expected things to be awkward and for it to put distance between them immediately and when that didn’t happen, he disregarded it as a fluke.
For our two players in this little drama, however, it was anything but a fluke, and eventually, it would have far-reaching consequences.
************
“Brianna Brianna, that was amazing!!” Charisma exclaimed as she wrapped her best friend in a tight hug. “Are you sure you’re destined to be a lawyer?”
“That’s what I keep asking her,” Professor Mac MacAvoy commented as he walked up behind the two women grinning like a maniac. “She has a real gift for storytelling.”
“All the better to convince a jury of her position in court, Mac. Leave my star student alone and get your own protÈgÈ,” Janice Hayes commented to Mac with a smile. Brianna just blushed at the perceived rivalry over her between her two most important professors.
“I have one - she just has to get the law bug out of her system first.”
“All right, you two,” Charisma cut in. “That’s enough. You’re embarrassing Brianna and this is her night.”
Mac and Janice looked at the two young women with surprise, then they exchanged glances. “You’re right, Charisma,” Mac said with a charming smile. He turned to Brianna. “Fabulous effort, my dear. Absolutely exceptional work. I think it’s safe to say your grade for the year is in the bag. And if you should ever change your mind on making drama your major....”
“Thanks, Prof,” Brianna said with a smile.
“It really was wonderful, Ms Walker. I enjoyed it very much. Now, don’t you have an opening night party to be the center of attention at?”
“As a matter of fact.... Thanks, Professor Hayes.” The two young women made their way out the theatre door under the watchful eyes of the two teachers.
“Okay... that was pretty cool, Brianna Brianna. Why are you shaking?”
“That was the most nerve-wracking thing I have ever been through.”
“But...?”
“It really was pretty cool. Nice to know the profs probably won’t fail me.”
Charisma snorted. “Not that that was even a possibility with your grades, Bri. Now c’mon... let’s go celebrate your success with your colleagues for a little while. I’ll make sure you get home before you crash or go crazy.”
“Glad you’ve got my back, Ri.”
“Always, Brianna Brianna.”
************
Brianna’s play was the hit of season, but despite Mac’s greatest efforts and most eloquent pleas, she continued on her chosen path to law school.
When commencement rolled around, there were a number of tears and hugs between Charisma and Brianna as they packed up four years of living together. A lot of their time was spent reminiscing over the good times they had shared and the bad times they had helped one another through.
“You know,” Charisma said, laughing through their latest round of tears. “We’re acting like we’re never going to be together again.”
“Ri, we probably won’t be together again... at least not like this. I mean, I’m heading off to law school in September and you’ll be headed to DC to start your political career as a White House aide. You’re going to do big things, you know, and I expect to be invited to the Inaugural Ball when you become President.”
“Invited? I expect you to attend as a member of my new cabinet if not as my running mate!”
“You’ve got yourself a date, President Tagherty.” Charisma grinned at Brianna’s words.
“I like the sound of that.” Brianna chuckled.
“Somehow I figured you might. But you see what I mean?”
Charisma sighed. “Yeah, I know. But we’ve got mail and phone and if Bill is telling the truth, we’ll soon be using a computer to keep in touch.”
“That could be pretty cool... if he can make it work.”
“In the meantime, we have one more trip to take together and this time, we have almost three months. I plan to make a lifetime of memories with my best friend.”
“That sounds great, but we gotta finish packing up all this stuff first,” Brianna said, motioning to the mess still scattered around the room.
“Always something getting in the way of our fun,” Charisma grumbled. “C’mon... before my parents get here and Mama decides she needs to help.” Brianna’s eyes widened. She loved Okasa Tagherty as much as she did her own mother, but she knew exactly what would happen if Okasa took a notion to help.
“I’m on it,” and soon the two were working in tandem once more, packing up four years of life together.
************
I’m going to pause right here because the next bit is going to be a bit involved and you probably need a break at this point to review all the evidence so far. Can you see what we missed? Is it apparent to you what is happening... what has already happened between Charisma and Brianna?
It is so obvious to me now - the signs were there. They were just so subtle, so innocuous that they were impossible to see until it was too late and I was called in on a salvage operation. Sometimes I wonder if there was any way to keep this from becoming a salvage operation, but I guess we’ll never know now.
Now the only thing I can do is give my best effort to fix this cluster.
Chapter III
You want to know one of the most interesting things about being a guardian angel - especially a guardian angel on clean-up detail? I spend time in the world of men as a human being. And while it’s generally not glamorous, it is fascinating. I get to interact with a number of people on a more personal level - something I find intriguing. Human beings are so different from angels... so different from one another, and yet you are all the same as well. Not in a bad way. All of you think and feel and bleed and breathe, and those are good things. True, there are varying degrees of success in the thinking and feeling departments, but that is part of what makes you all human. It is one of the reasons guardian angels stay so busy, though thankfully, I am not called upon too often - only in cases of dire need. But when I am, it gives me a chance to be a part of the world.
Why am I telling you this? This is very rare for me - both the opportunity to be part of the human experience as well as the drama involved in this particular situation. You have to understand - until recently, we never had drama in heaven. That thing with Lucifer doesn’t count. He was a moron, and frankly, most of us were glad to see the obnoxious prick go. The other - that’s personal and a story for another time. Maybe I’ll share it with you one day.
For now, however, let me briefly take you back to the present day Charisma Tagherty. I need you to see where she is before I can take you back to where we were. Don’t worry - we will go back. There’s still a lot more ground we have to cover.
************
“Senator Tagherty?” When there was no answer, Esmeralda stuck her head into the office, noting the dark head bent over a file on the desk. A single lamp near her left elbow provided the only illumination in the room, its small circle of light leaving the rest of the room in virtual darkness. “Charisma?” Esmeralda called out again, knowing no one was around to object to the familiarity in which she referred to the senator.
Charisma’s head popped up at the sound of her name - so few people actually referenced her as anything besides her title. It had been one reason, though not the only one, that she’d given Esmeralda leave to do so. She had no problem skirting protocol and getting right to the heart of things. A smile formed on Charisma’s face and she beckoned Esmeralda into her office.
“Come in, Es. How are you? How’s the family?”
Esmeralda pushed her cleaning cart ahead of her into the room, then walked around the desk to greet the now standing senator with a brief, fierce hug that was returned wholeheartedly. Then Charisma motioned to the chairs across the desk from hers and resumed her seat.
Esmeralda accepted the unspoken invitation and took a chair across from Charisma, who sat waiting with her arms propped on the desk and an expectant expression on her face. “Well? How are you?” she repeated when Esmeralda didn’t reply immediately. “How’s the family? We’ve missed you around here.”
“I’m doing much better, Sen... Charisma,” she corrected herself when Charisma held up a hand to do so. “It’s slow progress, but at least it’s progress. And Saphira has been so patient with me.”
“She loves you, Es. Why wouldn’t she be?”
Esmeralda shook her head. “The last few months have been so hard....”
“Yes, but isn’t that when love becomes the strongest?”
“Thankfully in our case - yes. Sometimes though... so many times I’ve seen something like this break up a couple. But she has been my rock.”
“And you’ve been hers as well, I’ll bet.”
“As much as I can. It’s nice to get back to work, though.”
“Well, you’ve definitely been missed around here.”
“And how would you know?” Esmeralda asked archly. “You’re not supposed to be here this late. Aren’t you supposed to be home with your family at this time of day?”
For the first time, Charisma’s eyes shuttered and her head dropped. Esmeralda stood from her chair and walked around the desk to kneel at Charisma’s side.
“Talk to me, Charisma. What troubles you, my friend?”
Charisma smiled weakly at the address Esmeralda used. “You’re one of the few friends I have ever had, Es. Almost everyone I know is a colleague or an employee or an acquaintance. I hope Saphira knows how lucky she is to have you.”
“We’re lucky to have one another, Charisma, but that is not answering my question, is it? Is there something I can help with... something I can do to make things better?”
“Why would you want to, Esmeralda? Do you think you can get something out of me?”
The attack was unexpected and green eyes burned brightly with anger. Charisma was visibly startled. She’d never seen Esmeralda anything but helpful and friendly to everyone and her rage was shocking. She watched in fascination as Esmeralda deliberately put her anger aside and returned her eyes to meet Charisma’s squarely. “I think you know how unfair that was,” Esmeralda said softly. “But I’m guessing the reason behind it has nothing to do with me and everything to do with whatever it is that is bothering you.”
Esmeralda rose from her place beside Charisma and extended her hand. “C’mon. I can’t stay on the floor and I think you really need someone to talk to.”
Charisma took the hand Esmeralda was holding out to her and stood, following the smaller woman over to the couch. Then she curled into one corner while Esmeralda folded herself into the other.
“I’m sorry,” Charisma said quietly. “You’re right; that was completely uncalled for. You’ve never been anything but honest and upfront with me.” She paused. “Are you happy, Es?” Charisma held up her hands to prevent Esmeralda from answering before she was finished. “I mean - you’ve been through so much recently what with Saphira’s job issues and your illness. And yet, you seem to have a sense of peace.”
“I do have peace, Charisma. And I am happy.”
“How? You have so little and you have been through so much. How is it you have happiness?”
Esmeralda smiled and propped her head on her hand. “Do you think that I shouldn’t be? Charisma, you yourself just pointed out, despite everything, my relationship with Saphira has grown stronger. Everything else is just so much chaff that has to be sorted from the wheat.”
“But don’t you find the struggle draining? Don’t you ever wish it was easier... that you had more?” She broke off, not sure how to ask what she wanted to without sounding condescending.
Esmeralda smiled. “Charisma, we can’t all be leaders and college graduates. Someone has to do the physical labor that gets things done. If there weren’t custodians and garbage men and housekeepers, the world would be a perpetual dump. And what about the truck drivers and the sales clerks and construction workers? I’m proud of what I do and I’m good at it.”
Charisma chuckled. “Trust me - I understand that. I know how impossible my life would be without all those people and so many others that take care of day to day drudgery I don’t seems to have time for. But that’s not what I meant exactly.” She bit her lip and looked away from Esmeralda, blue eyes studying the office cast in darkness and shadow.
“Charisma, you’re not going to offend me. Just spit it out!”
The chuckle this time was wry with an underlying hint of sadness. “Why are you happy?? I look at what you have and what you’ve been through, especially recently - and I wonder what I’m doing wrong. You do work many sneer at; you live paycheck to paycheck; your lifestyle and companion is a subject of derision and criticism....”
Esmeralda remained silent, knowing Charisma was talking to herself as much as she was to Esmeralda. “I have everything - power, influence, wealth, a nice home and a picture perfect family. And yet....”
“Yet?”
“I’m not sure I’m happy.”
Silence reigned for a time, until Charisma turned to face Esmeralda, only to find Esmeralda gazing at her compassionately. It was nearly her undoing. Esmeralda reached out and covered the hand closest to her.
“Who are you living for, Charisma Tagherty?”
A frown crossed her face and she turned away again. “I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking, Es.”
“The Senator lives for the vote or the power or the constituency. The humanitarian lives for those in need or the fundraising efforts or the next charity event. The wife lives for her husband,” noting the flicker that passed over Charisma’s face, “sharing a life and love and a home. The mom lives for the child as a provider and teacher and guide. Then there’s the woman - the person Charisma Tagherty is deep in her heart - the one who thinks and feels and laughs and cries.”
“I haven’t seen that Charisma Tagherty in a long, long time. There’s not room for her in my world.”
“You’ll never find happiness then, Charisma. Until you’re happy with the person you are, the most you will ever find is contentment.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
Esmeralda laughed. “If only it was. The truth is, it’s the hardest thing in the world. It’s easy to live for others - you only have to be honest as far as their expectations are concerned. With yourself - you can lie to yourself, but you still know that you’re lying.”
“You think I’m lying to myself?” Charisma said, turning intent blue eyes towards Esmeralda.
Esmeralda smiled. “Only you know if you’re lying and what you’re lying about. You wanted to know why you’re not happy. I’m just offering you an explanation based on my experience and observations.” She took a deep breath. “Maybe you should consider Charisma’s happiness first for a change.”
“I’m not sure I know how to do that anymore.”
“Do you remember the last time you were happy?”
Charisma sighed. “I was happy when Adam was born. He’s brought such joy into my life. I almost gave up my career then.”
“But...?”
“But it’s not enough. It wasn’t enough then.”
“What would be? What would bring you happiness, Charisma?”
“I don’t know, Es. I really don’t know.”
Esmeralda was silent for a while. “Go home, Charisma. Whatever you’re working on here will wait for another day. Go home and spend some time with your family. Maybe it will help you remember what happiness is.”
“And if it doesn’t?” her smile wry and a little sad.
“I’ll be here tomorrow night. We can talk some more then.”
“Promise?”
“Absolutely.”
Charisma stood and offered Esmeralda a hand up, then pulled her into an unexpected hug. “Thanks, Es.”
“Anytime, Charisma. You know that.”
Charisma moved to her desk as Esmeralda walked to her cart, retrieving the supplies she needed to begin her work. Charisma slid into her jacket, picked up her purse and walked to the door before turning back to look at Esmeralda.
“Es?” waiting for the green eyes to meet hers. “Do you think I could met Saphira sometime?”
“Do you really want to?”
Charisma appeared nonplussed at the question. “Yes, I would really like to.”
Esmeralda nodded. “All right. I’ll ask her.”
“Thanks,” was Charisma’s only response before disappearing out the door.
************
Being a janitor isn’t glamorous work, but it is one of the best ways to learn about a charge and gain their trust. Custodians see and hear a lot of secrets - it’s all about dissemination and discretion. Fortunately, as a guardian angel, I learned those skills early in my existence. And I’m a clean-up angel - I’m all about making things neat and tidy. It is a job I do with great success.
One reason I was chosen for this assignment was the truth I had shared with Charisma Tagherty. Saphira is my mate and we have been through our share trials and tribulations. Not for the reasons you think - heaven is not nearly as uptight as some human beings would like to believe. It really doesn’t matter at the moment. What does matter is that it added a sympathy on my part I had never had before and a depth of truth that Charisma could feel in my words and actions.
Now I just had to use all that to help Charisma find her own truth... and maybe even happiness.
************
The following evening, Esmeralda tapped on Charisma Tagherty’s office door. “Charisma?” she called out as she crossed the threshold, then covered her mouth when she realized what she was interrupting. Charisma Tagherty lay on her sofa cradling her young son reading to him. Esmeralda started to back out of the room when Charisma looked up and motioned her closer.
Esmeralda pushed her cart to its customary place, then walked to the couch and knelt beside Charisma. “Sorry. I didn’t realize....”
Twin pairs of blue eyes met Esmeralda’s green and she smiled at their equally guileless stare. They returned her smile and Adam reached for her. Esmeralda took his hand, tickling his palm and chuckling at the laughter it elicited. Without warning, he lunged for her and only lightning fast reflexes allowed Esmeralda to catch him.
Instinctively, Charisma lunged for her son, then relaxed when she realized that Esmeralda had him well in hand. Instead, she sat up and leaned back to watch their interaction.
“Hello, little man,” Esmeralda greeted softly. “My name is Esmeralda.”
The boy smiled big and reached for her long hair. Esmeralda pulled her head back quickly, catching the child’s hands and looking at Charisma who was laughing quietly at the two of them.
“Great reflexes,” she commented. “Meet my son, Adam.”
“Hi Adam,” tweaking his nose and making him squeal. “He’s beautiful, Charisma.”
“Adam big boy,” he said proudly.
“Mama’s big boy?”
“Mama’s big boy,” he agreed with a scrunched nose grin, jumping back into Charisma’s arms.
“I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“It’s all right, Es. I wanted you to meet him. We were waiting for you.”
“Well, I’m glad you did. He’s precious,” stroking the dark head tucked under his mother’s chin.
“Yeah, he is. He’s the best part of my life.”
“So, he is what makes you happy?”
“I’m happy when I’m with him.”
“Only then?”
“At least then.”
Esmeralda shifted, sliding from the floor and slipping into the chair closest to the head of the sofa. “Tell me the last time you were happy, Charisma.”
She frowned and looked down at the body she cradled. “I told you....”
“Before Adam - when was the last time you were happy?”
“I don’t... I don’t know.”
“Think about it, Charisma. It’s important.”
She slid back down on the couch, resting her head on the arm and tucking her son onto her chest. “It’s been a long time,” she confided after an interminable silence. “I think it was after my college graduation.”
“What happened then? What made you happy?”
“I took a trip to Europe with the very best friend I had in the world.”
“Tell me.”