D: Guardian Angel

"Tell me."

Chapter IV

Charisma's eyes took on a distant look and her lips creased into an enigmatic smile. She hugged the tiny body curled into hers a little tighter and kissed the top of her son's head. After a long moment, Charisma turned blue eyes to meet Esmeralda's green briefly. She shook her head a little and turned her attention inward again, shifting her body until she was laying down looking up at the ceiling.

"I don't remember much, really. I have impressions, mostly. The fog in London; the mist and scent of heather in Scotland; the Guinness in Ireland. I remember the sangria in Spain; the echoing caves on Gibraltar; the color of the Mediterranean; the reflection of the sun off the buildings on Santorini; the market in Istanbul. I remember freshness of the air in the Alps; the sense of timelessness in Rome; the amazing food in France."

Esmeralda waited but nothing more was forthcoming. "Do you have pictures?"

"Somewhere, I'm sure," Charisma replied noncommittally, though Esmeralda sensed a distinct tension suddenly present in Charisma's frame. Adam squirmed a little uncomfortably and Charisma forced herself to relax.

"It sounds like it was magical," Esmeralda offered with a smile in her voice.

"It was. I remember feeling happy then."

"So what happened?"

Charisma shrugged carefully so as not to disturb the child sleeping so peacefully again on her chest. "It was time to grow up. And life just became a roller coaster on the fast track."

"And what of your best friend?"

Charisma shook her head. "I don't know. I lost touch with her years ago." There was an inflection in her tone, but whether it was sadness or anger or something else again, Esmeralda wasn't sure.

"I guess that is part of growing up and getting older," Esmeralda commented. "We let go of the old as new friends and responsibilities enter our lives. It's a shame we can't hold onto both."

"Um," was Charisma's only reply. She had closed her eyes and her breathing was deepening and evening out in the first stages of sleep. But it couldn't stop the tear that trickled from the corner of her eye. Esmeralda stood and pulled the coverlet from the couch, tucking in Charisma and Adam before crossing back over to her cart to begin her night's work.

************

I had hoped when I asked her to share, Charisma would have been more forthcoming. I'm not sure if she really can't remember or if she just doesn't want to.

However, I don't need her to remember to know what happened to share it with you. Sometimes it's good to be an angel with the ability to rewind and review peoples' lives. I just wish it wasn't necessary - because utilizing that option means something's gone wrong.

Still, it's nice to have the ability when it's needed. So let me show you what happened on that trip to Europe.

************

Controlled chaos was perhaps the best way to describe the goings-on in the Tagherty household as Brianna and Charisma rushed through their final preparations. Over and over they packed and repacked their rucksacks, knowing everything they considered necessary provisions for the next few months needed to fit into their backpacks.

T-shirts, shorts, jeans, underwear, a thick sweater, a waterproof jacket and several pairs of heavy socks all managed to find a place. A few toiletries, a towel and washcloth and a notepad, a pen and a few addressed, stamped envelopes rounded out their supplies. They had determined to purchase sleeping bags once they reached Europe. Though the idea was to stay in hostels and mingle with others their age, they would both feel better about having something to protect them from the elements? just in case.

Charisma's brothers came to see them off before they left for the airport and Brianna's parents both called to wish them well in their travels. Then it was time to rush to the airport for the flight to London.

Okasa and Patrick accompanied the two young women to the terminal and waited with them until their flight was called. Then they embraced each girl in turn.

"Take lots of pictures and write once in a while," Okasa instructed them both. "And I tucked a couple phone cards into your bags for you to use, so don't wait for an emergency to call, all right?"

"Yes, Mama," Charisma confirmed with a nervous smile and Brianna backed her up with a brisk nod of her head.

"Take care of each other out there and live everyday as though it was going to be your last. This time will never come your way again," Patrick admonished them. Then he brushed a kiss over first the dark head, then the light and gently herded them towards the gate. He took Okasa's hand and together they gave the girls one last wave when they turned for a final glance before stepping into the jetway to board the plane.

Patrick and Okasa walked to the window, watching as the plane warmed up and rolled out of the gate, headed for the runway. It wasn't until the plane was a mere speck in the sky that Patrick glanced at his wife who returned his soft, knowing smile.

"Do you think they suspect? Do they have any idea?"

"Charisma doesn't," Okasa said confidently. "Or she would never have agreed to go on this trip."

"And Brianna?"

"I think she's a little more aware than our daughter, but I firmly believe Charisma doesn't see because she has deliberately turned her eyes away from that possibility."

Patrick shook his head and tugged on Okasa's hand, leading them away from the window and back towards the parking lot. "Sometimes I wonder if that is my fault? if she thinks she has to give up happiness to follow her dreams."

"Did you ever tell her that, Patrick-me-love?"

Blue eyes glared at twinkling brown for the moment it took for him to register the teasing in her voice. "You know I didn't," his voice growling though he couldn't stop the smile that flitted across his lips.

"You have to let her make her own decisions and mistakes, Paddy. You will always be her father, and she will probably always come to you for advice and direction. But she's a grown woman - it's time to let go. She's got to spread her wings and fly on her own."

"When did you get to be so smart?"

Okasa clutched his arm, squeezing lightly and smiling up at Patrick so brightly he was compelled to return the gesture. He covered her hand and waited for her to speak. "Probably when I decided to get you to marry me," Okasa admitted, causing laughter to spring forth from deep in his chest.

"So I had no choice in this, hmm?"

"Of course you didn't. I set my sights on you and you were a goner."

"Well," he said drolly, infusing his speech with a bit of a brogue as he pushed the door open to allow them to step outdoors. "If I had to go, I'm glad I went the way I did."

Okasa rolled her eyes and shook her head and together the Tagherty's made their way to their car.

************

I know what you're thinking - if they could see what was happening, how could an angel miss it? Trust me when I tell you that you're not the only one asking that particular question. The fact that Okasa was not only aware of the state of affairs between her daughters, but had accurately pegged their reactions has complicated things immeasurably for Rafe. *His* only saving grace is the fact that mamas seem to have a sixth sense about these things.

However, that is neither here nor there at the moment. The fact remains that even at this juncture, subtle as the signs were, there was at least some awareness of something between the two of them and heaven missed it. Talk about dropping the ball?.

Still, the signs remained subtle. They had to? for Charisma's peace of mind.

Let me show you what she doesn't remember.

************

It was actually sunny in London when the plane landed at Heathrow, and the two young women smiled in response as they exited the terminal. It was a wonderful omen for the start of their journey.