Page 20 of Chloe

I spot Chloe sitting near the back, looking like she’d rather be anywhere else. But as the service goes on, I notice her relax as the choir sings “O Holy Night,” I swear I see her eyes get misty.

After the service, there’s a pageant rehearsal. Chloe tries to make a break for it, but gets roped into helping by a harried-looking mom with an armful of angel wings. I stifle a laugh as Chloe awkwardly tries to attach a pair of glittery wings to a squirming five-year-old.

“Hold still, sweetie,” Chloe says, her voice gentler than I’ve ever heard it. “We want to make sure you’re the prettiest angel in the pageant, right?”

The little girl beams up at her, and I feel a weird twinge in my chest. Is this what progress feels like?

Just then, Oliver walks in, his arms full of more costume pieces. The tension between him and Chloe hits like a heavenly thunderbolt. But then some kid trips, sending tinsel flying everywhere, and they both rush to help. Their hands touch, and for a second, I think this might be it. But nope, Chloe pulls away faster than Lucifer fell from heaven.

I slump in my seat, groaning internally. This is harder than I thought it would be. Why can’t Chloe just get with the program already?

As the rehearsal goes on, I keep my eyes glued to Chloe. She’s trying so hard to keep up her ice queen act, but I can see it slipping. When she helps a kid with his lines, her smile is genuine. When the kids sing “Away in a Manger,” her eyes get all misty again. It’s like watching a glacier melt, painfully slow but definitely happening.

When Chloe sneaks out the side door after rehearsal, I follow her. Time to work some angelic magic.

“Oh.” she jumps when she sees me. “Rebecca. Where did you come from?”

I paste on my best ‘just a normal human’ smile. “Oh, you know, I was just... around. The rehearsal’s looking great, huh?”

Chloe nods, but her smile’s about as real as my human disguise. We step outside, and I notice her shiver. Without thinking, I unwrap my scarf and hold it out to her. “Here. You look like you’re freezing your designer boots off.”

She hesitates, then takes it. As she wraps it around her neck, I can practically see some of her walls coming down.

“Thanks,” she says softly. Then, “Rebecca, can I ask you something?”

“Shoot,” I say, trying not to sound too eager. Is this it? Is she finally opening up?

Chloe fidgets with the scarf. “Do you ever feel like... like you don’t belong somewhere, even when everyone says you do?”

Oh boy, do I ever. Try being the only angel more interested in Earth’s stock market than harp lessons. But I can’t say that, so instead I go for, “All the time. But here’s the thing - sometimes the place where you feel most out of place is exactly where you’re supposed to be. It’s where you grow the most, you know?”

Since when did I start speaking “Henry”?

Chloe looks at me like I’ve grown a second head. “That’s... surprisingly deep, Rebecca.”

I shrug, trying to play it cool even though inside I’m doing a victory dance. “I have my moments. Hey, want to grab a coffee? I hear Maggie’s peppermint mochas are killer.”

For a second, I think she’s going to bail. But then she nods, a tiny smile appearing. “You know what? That sounds nice.”

As we crunch through the snow towards the café, I send up a little prayer of thanks. It’s not much, but it’s progress. And right now, I’ll take what I can get.

Later that night, as I’m getting ready to head back to the celestial realm, I can’t help but feel... different. I’ve learned a lot about Chloe today, sure, but I’ve also learned something about myself. Maybe being a guardian angel isn’t about grand gestures or miraculous interventions. Maybe it’s about being there, offering a scarf or a friendly ear when it’s needed most.

As I feel the tingle of celestial energy whisking me away, I take one last look at Benton Falls, all lit up for Christmas. “Don’t screw this up, Chloe,” I mutter. “Some of us have wings riding on this, you know.”

The heavenly realm materializes around me, all shimmery and perfect as always. I decide it won’t hurt to check in with Henry and head down the pearly path towards Henry’s office, trying to ignore the curious looks from other angels. Yeah, yeah, the weather girl’s heading to the big boss’s office. Take a picture, it’ll last longer.

Just as I’m about to enter the building, I hear a voice that makes me want to teleport right back to Earth.

“Well, well, if it isn’t our little earthbound forecaster,” Gina says, landing in front of me with annoying grace. “How’s the weather down there? Still cloudy with a chance of failure?”

I plaster on a smile so fake it would make a pageant queen proud. “Actually, Gina, things are going great. But thanks for caring. Really. It warms my heart.”

Gina looks like she’s just bitten into a lemon. Before she can come up with another zinger, Henry appears along the path.

“Rebecca,” he says, eyes twinkling like he knows exactly what he’s saving me from. “Just the angel I was looking for.”

I smile and meet up with Henry, but not before shooting Gina a smug look. Take that, Miss Perfect Wings.

---