Angel Be Good (13 page)

"Mrs. Jones?"

"Yes." Her voice sounded shaky, scared.
Shoot. Daphne had forgotten they were getting her up in the middle
of the night.

But Nat had it all under control. "I'm sorry
to awaken you, Mrs. Jones, but this is Lieutenant Danvers. I knew
your daughter before she was killed in Vietnam."

"Daphne? You knew her?"

"Yes, ma'am. I'm about to be shipped
overseas again and may never have another chance to call you. I was
going through my old ... er ... rucksack, when I came across a
letter Daphne once sent me. We were pals. It reminded me that I'd
never called you at the time ... and ... So I'm calling now."

"I'm glad you called. We miss her very
much."

"I'm sure she still thinks about you,
too."

"Excuse me, young man. But have you been
drinking?"

Daphne almost laughed. She kicked Nat's
shin.

He gave her a warning look. "I mean, I
picture her up in heaven watching over all of us. And, no, I
haven't been drinking."

"Oh. I see what you mean. Don't tell anyone,
but sometimes I imagine her with enormous white wings, though with
her allergy to feathers, I know it's not sensible."

Daphne threw her hand up to cover her mouth
and the fit of giggles that threatened to claim her. Her mother had
nursed her through several bouts with hives.

"I want you to know what a brave woman your
daughter was, Mrs. Jones. She gave her life to protect mine."

"I'd heard something about her death . . .
Are you the boy she threw herself in front of?"

"There are times when I've wondered if her
sacrifice was worth it. But I assure you, Mrs. Jones, I'm changed
because of knowing her."

"Thank you for telling me, Lieutenant. I'm
glad to hear her death wasn't for nothing. We do miss her so."

"I've got to go now. Merry Christmas to you
and Mr. Jones."

"Merry Christmas, Lieutenant."

Nat hung up the phone. "Do you feel better
now?"

"Yes, Nat. And thank you very much. I should
have known Mom wouldn't change much but I just had to hear her
voice."

She shivered and Nat rubbed her arms. "Let's
get out of here."

Nodding, she followed him back to the bank
of elevators. Nat punched the floor button, but instead of the
elevator climbing to the top, it stopped on a department store
floor. Daphne shot him a questioning look.

"I just had a fun idea," Nat said. He led
her to the linens department, then grabbed an armful of velour
blankets. "Let's have a picnic. We can set it up on the floor in my
office."

How could he be so callous? She was leaving
and he wanted to have a picnic? "You're not the one leaving your
whole life behind you."

"We have to make the best of it, Daph."

"How can you be so easily accepting of the
fact that I'm leaving?"

"I'm not." Nat tried to put his arm around
her, but she stepped out of reach. "I just don't believe Leonard
will make you go. In fact, I have a theory."

Daphne rolled her eyes. "Oh, great. Now
you're a scientist."

"Hear me out."

Like she could stop him? "What's your
theory?"

"Well, I'm kind of new to this whole angel
business, but it seems to me that since the Council sent you to
teach me to love—it all hinges on my loving you." He shrugged. "And
I love you so they can't pull the carpet out from under me, now can
they?"

"So you're denying the fact that I'm in some
temporary body and don't think I'm leaving after all?"

"Your body seems real enough to me." He
wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Denying it won't make it untrue, Nat. I
can't believe you're doing this."

"Whining about it doesn't change things,
does it?"

"No, but you don't have to celebrate my
leaving either." She knew she wasn't being reasonable, but she
didn't feel reasonable either. She felt robbed—and it was all his
fault. Somehow.

"Is that what you thought I meant? By a
picnic?"

"What would you think?"

"I'd think you wanted to enjoy our time
together, whether it's a few hours or a lifetime."

Daphne looked down at her feet, trying to
think clearly instead of emotionally. She should take whatever time
she had with Nat and live it to the fullest. "My stomach has been
rumbling."

Maybe a picnic wasn't such a bad idea. Even
a condemned man was granted a last meal along with a last request.
Rather than whining and moaning that she'd soon be gone, they'd
honor what time they had with each other.

"I'm certain there are leftovers from the
employee's Christmas party." He smiled reassuringly. "We'll raid
the fridge. But first, let's pick up a few necessities."

"Groovy." She grabbed a set of matching
placemats and napkins in a red and white checkerboard pattern. "You
don't mind if I help, do you?"

"Be my guest. Hmm. I think a candlelight
picnic, don't you?"

"Sounds perfect. Left over goodies, a candle
lit room and you." Ignoring the frantic note that had crept into
her voice, she was determined to get into the mood. "Nothing could
be better."

Nat led her to the sterling department where
Daphne chose mismatched candlesticks.

"Gives them more character," commented
Daphne.

Nat leaned over to kiss the tip of her nose.
"You're my kind of character."

"Who're you calling a character?"

Nat kissed her again, this time firmly on
her lips. He hadn't shaved in hours, and his five o'clock shadow
left her tingling and breathless. When she opened her eyes, he was
several feet ahead of her, calling for her to hurry.

Scrambling to catch up, she grabbed a wicker
picnic set—including plates, flatware and cups—while Nat selected
non-drip candles.

"Is that it?" she asked as she finally
rejoined him.

Nat leered at her. "How about visiting
ladies' lingerie on our way out?"

Daphne deliberately lowered her voice to a
sultry whisper. "Only if we stop and pick something appropriate for
you first."

"That's not a bad idea. I think silk
boxers?"

"Sounds delicious."

"Good." After they arrived in the men's
department, Nat stopped at a display counter while Daphne checked
out the boxers. "I'll grab an electric shaver and a change of
clothes, too. Can't have you seeing me at less than my best."

"Honey, I think you underestimate yourself."
She fluttered her lashes. "The silk boxers are more than enough for
any woman."

She held up a pair of deep red satin boxers.
"I like these. I especially like the idea of you in them."

Nat laughed. "Whatever the lady wants. Just
remember, turn about's fair play."

"Uh oh. I may be in trouble," she
grumbled.

Nat startled her by turning serious. "Daph,
you'll always be safe with me. I'll never give you more trouble
than you want to handle."

"Now you're underestimating me. I'm looking
forward to coping with anything you dish out."

Nat chuckled. "You may regret that when you
see the mint green gelatin and marshmallow pudding from the party.
It's enough to give an insomniac nightmares."

~~~~

Chapter Eight

When they entered the employee lunchroom,
Curtis remained in his position on the table. Grinning, Daphne
tiptoed over and folded one of the blankets she carried over
him.

Nat swung open the refrigerator door, hoping
there'd be plenty of food for their picnic. He wasn't disappointed.
It was crammed full of leftovers. The worst problem they'd have was
in figuring out what everything was.

Selecting a plastic dish, he pulled back the
lid to see the contents. Potato salad?

Daphne joined him, and soon they had a pile
of cubed meats and cheeses and a variety of breads and crackers
lined up.

Daphne sniffed the contents of a cardboard
box, crinkling her nose. "What is this? Raw fish?"

Nat looked to see, then laughed out loud.
She had that effect on him, making the mundane seem fresh and new.
"It's sushi."

"Shh," she insisted. "You'll wake
Curtis."

She took another sniff. "I think it's gone
bad, you'd better throw it away. This sushi really smells like raw
fish."

"Daphne," whispered Nat. "Sushi often is raw
fish."

Her eyes widened. "You mean people eat this
stuff? Isn't it poisonous?"

"Sometimes." Nat waggled his brows. "I guess
some people like a little risk in their lives."

"Don't remind me. Right now, I could do with
a little less risk. I think I'll pass on the fish."

"See anything else you want?"

"What's this at the back?" She pulled out a
pie pan. "Chocolate pie! Yum. Now this is the kind of risk I
like."

Nat gathered up all their goodies and placed
them in a Danvers and Son shopping bag he'd brought from the
showroom for that purpose. Again, they tiptoed from the lunchroom,
not wanting to awaken Curtis.

Within minutes, they returned to Nat's
office.

Entering the room, Daphne felt reassured by
the familiarity, like a lost dog returning home after a night at
the pound.

"How much longer do we have, Daphne?" asked
Nat as he laid down the sacks and blankets he carried.

She set the picnic basket on the floor, then
looked at the clock on Nat's shelf. It read four o'clock. "Leonard
said dawn. About two hours?"

"Think there's any chance we can beat this?
How about if we traveled west?"

Daphne shook her head. "Leonard said my body
is going to evaporate and that if I don't take a new body in time,
he's not sure what would happen to my soul. I don't want to take
the chance."

"What do you want, Daphne?"

"Originally, what I'd wanted is what every
woman dreams of: true love, a husband, children. The great American
dream." A bitter laugh bubbled over her lips. "I still want those
things, Nat. But now I only want them with you."

Nat wordlessly crossed the room, then pulled
on a picture frame on the wall. It soundlessly swung open like a
door, revealing a safe. Next he turned the knob, first one way,
then another and back again. The safe door popped open. Daphne
wondered what he was up to.

Nat pulled out a box.

Turning, their eyes met. His gaze held an
expression so intense, so loving and painful all at once that
Daphne felt forced to lower her eyes. How could she face him
knowing she must leave?

Was there a chance that life wouldn't be
worth living without him? Perhaps it would be best to return to
heaven. At some point, surely he'd join her there? Time in heaven
appeared to have little meaning. They wouldn't be able to join
physically but at least they'd be reunited. Surely Leonard would
allow her to wait for Nat there.

"I've made a decision." Daphne smiled and
met his gaze. "I'm not going to really be leaving you, Nat."

She laid one of the blankets on the floor
and began stacking food along its side. "I'm going back to heaven
and I'll wait for you there. With all my heart, I know we belong
together and a life without you simply wouldn't be worth
living."

"Will Leonard let you do that?"

"I don't know, but I can hope. That's all I
have left now."

"Hope is plenty for both of us." Nat gave
her a tentative smile. "I have something for you, Daph. I know you
can't take it with you, but I want to pledge my love to you in some
way and this is the best I can think of." He took a seat on the
blanket and placed the box he'd withdrawn from the safe in her
hands.

Daphne recognized it as a jewelry box,
probably one designed for a ring. Running her fingertips over the
dark burgundy velvet, she wondered if this was the ring he'd once
given to Constance. The thought bothered her, as if the ring itself
were tainted with the woman's lust for money and power. Yet, it was
coming from Nat and Nat's heart.

She opened the box.

Nat watched as Daphne opened the ring box,
hopeful she'd understand the sentiment. Hoping she'd recognize just
how much she meant to him.

A smile trembled on her lips, then she
emitted a soft exclamation of pleasure. "It's lovely, Nat."

"I know it isn't much. It was my mother's."
He held his breath, wondering if she'd prefer to have the ring he'd
once given another woman. His mother's ring was small, the diamond
less than a third of a carat, in material value worth far less than
the five carat rock he'd given Constance. But he felt sentimental
about his mother's ring and somehow, when he'd headed for the safe,
he'd known it was the ring to offer Daphne.

"It's perfect. I'd been scared you'd planned
to give me Constance's ring. I wouldn't have refused it, but your
mother's ring is special. Deep inside, it feels right." With a
laugh of pure joy, she asked, "Put it on me?"

He hadn't needed to worry about her
reaction; he should've realized that. But old habits were hard to
break and for a moment he'd doubted. He wouldn't make that mistake
again. He pulled the ring from the box, then slid it on her finger,
thankful that by some miracle Daphne loved him.

Tears filled her eyes, and Nat pulled her
into his arms.

"If there was any way possible, I'd marry
you tonight." Without a license and with being locked in the
building, it wasn't possible. He ran his palm over her jaw and down
her neck, wanting to memorize the feel of her.

"Right now, we both believe we belong
together, Nat. You feel that way now, but you won't remember me.
It's possible, even likely, that you'll find someone else to
love."

"I can't imagine anything ever coming close
to what we have. As far as I'm concerned, we are married. Does it
take a slip of paper for two people to be joined together? It has
to be our intentions, what's in our hearts, that counts. You belong
with me, Daph. You're my life."

"I think you're right." She leaned forward
and pressed her lips to his, then placed her left hand over
Nat's.