Lost Soul (24 page)

Michael’s body went still and his face became wax as he stared at her in disbelief.

“I’m so sorry, Michael!
 
I should never had made that decision without talking to you about it, and I should never have kept it from you for all these years!
 
It was terrible and I understand if you never want to see me again,” Jessica moaned, dropping his hand and her head and letting the tears fall unabated.

“That’s…not…possible,” Michael stuttered, shock still freezing his features, and he shook his head trying to release them.
 
He’d never given a thought to the virility of his human body.
 
Sure, it looked and worked just like real flesh, but was it capable of procreating?

“It is, Michael.
 
It has to be.
 
You’re the only one…..the only one I’ve been with since the moment I met you.”
 
Michael gazed at her, a look of sadness in his eyes.
 
How had he done this to her?
 
How had he led her on for so many years?
 
He knew he could never truly be with her, so why had he let himself fall for her, over and over again?
 
Why had he let her fall so completely for him?
 
How could someone who was created to help others bring such destruction wherever he went?
 
His face clouded with anger.

Jessica saw the despair and rage on his face and hated herself for being the cause of it.
 
No matter how upset he was, though, he had to know the rest of the story.

“Michael, there’s more,” she began, and forced him to look at her.
 
“A few days ago I had some visitors and the story they had to tell me was so outrageous I couldn’t believe it.
 
But they knew things, Michael, things they couldn’t possibly know.
 
Michael, I think your sons are still alive.”

Michael jolted in surprise at her statement.
 
“What…how….what do you mean?” he stuttered and listened in amazement as Jessica began to explain the unbelievable story the teens had told.

“Michael?” she whispered as he stared at her in awe, not moving a single muscle.
 
“Am I crazy for believing them, or is there something about you I should know?”

“Where are they, Jessica?” Michael finally replied, snapping out of his delirium.
 
“We need to talk.”

His face relaxed as he turned to look at the woman he loved.
 
“But first, Jessica, I want you to know that I forgive you.
 
It’s always been me who was in the wrong, darling, never you.
 
I should never have come home with you that first night, should never have tried to make you mine.
 
You were never mine to take, Jessica.
 
I’ve been telling myself that all your life, but I just can’t stay away from you.
 
You did what you did out of pain and desperation, and it’s my fault you were in that situation in the first place. I just hope you can forgive me when you find out what I really am.”

Jessica laughed, a soft sad noise that held all the joy and sorrow of her entire life.
 
She couldn’t believe he was so willing to forgive her for the offense she had agonized over for so many years.
 
She knew there had to be more to Michael that just a handsome, traveling business man in need of a warm bed and a woman to curl up with.
 
She wanted to hear his secrets, but was desperate to hang onto the lies that had let them be together.

“My request still stands, Jessica.
 
I want you to marry me. But I think it’s only fair if you hear my confession, too, before you make up your mind.”
 
Michael’s heart constricted as he realized he was about to reveal the secret that had the power to tear Jessica from his arms forever.
 
Would she understand why he had kept it from her all these years, or would she reject him and think it was all a lie?
 
He had no idea how she would respond to his secret, but he knew she deserved to finally know the truth.

Michael and Jessica sat silently on the couch, too nervous to talk to one another, as they waited for Zach and Paige to arrive.
 
Michael held her hand and memorized the way it looked in his, sure that this would be the last time he’d ever get to hold it.
 
He debated whether he should tell Jessica his secret before the kids got there, so she could absorb it in private, but he was terrified he would lose her the minute he did and he was desperate to prolong his time with her.
 
When the doorbell rang, they both jumped up to answer it, and Michael stared in amazement at the boy who claimed to share a body with his son.

“Hi Zach, Paige, and…Cody?” Michael greeted them nervously, holding out a hand to shake.
 
“I’m Michael Andrews.
 
Jessica’s told me a lot about you.”

Zach and Paige took turns shaking his hand and offered their own nervous smiles before Jessica suggested they all sit down in the living room.
 
Everyone nodded and shuffled over to the couch.

“Kids, there’s a lot I need to tell you, but I think it would be best if the others were here, too.
 
Would you mind calling them to find out where they’re at?”

“Oh, they went back to Indianapolis.
 
They had to go to school,” Paige explained.

Michael nodded.
 
“Yes, I understand.
 
But can you please find out where they are right now?”

Zach and Paige exchanged a strange look, but Paige pulled out her phone and dialed Rachel’s number.

“Ask them if they are free to talk with us for a little while this evening,” Michael requested, and Paige nodded, assuming he wanted to FaceTime.

“Call back later, she’s busy,” Rider answered Rachel’s phone and almost hung up before he heard Paige yelling at him to hold on.

“Wait, Rider!
 
It’s important!” Paige cried out.
 
She heard rustling and a few thumps before Rachel’s voice finally came on the line.

“You better be dying or something because I was enjoying the best kiss of my life, Paige Donovan!” Rachel announced dramatically.

“Michael’s here,” was all Paige had to say.
 
The line went silent and she thought Rachel had hung up on her, but instead Rider grabbed the phone.

“What did he say?” Rider demanded, sitting up on the bed.
 
All thoughts of the passionate embrace he and Rachel were enjoying evaporated from his mind.

“He wants to know where you are and if you’re free to talk tonight,” Paige explained.

“Of course!” Rider practically shouted.
 
“We’re at Rachel’s house, hanging out.”

Michael gestured to Paige and she glanced at him.
 
“Ask them to go outside.”

Paige raised an eyebrow in confusion but relayed the message, and a few minutes later Rachel confirmed that they were standing in the middle of the backyard as requested.

“Take my hands,” Michael said, holding out his palms to Zach, Paige, and Jessica.
 
The three stared oddly at Michael.
 
“Please, you’ll see why.”
 
With a shrug, they reached out and formed a circle.

“What’s going on?” Rachel asked, her voice a tiny squeak coming from the phone Paige had laid on the table.

“I’ll explain in just a moment,” Michael replied, and instantly he, Zach, Paige, and Jessica were standing in Rachel’s back yard.

“HOLY COW!!” Paige and Rachel both screamed in unison as they saw each other and realized what had happened.
 
Zach and Rider both grinned at each other with goofy smiles, and Jessica stared at Michael like a mother seeing her newborn infant for the very first time.

“I’m Michael, and I hear we might be related,” he announced and held out his hand to Rider who shook his head in fascination and took Michael’s hand.

“I think maybe so,” Rider replied with a smile.

“Is there somewhere private we can talk?” Michael asked, glancing around the wide open yard, hoping no one had seen their dramatic entrance.

Rachel nodded and led the way into her house which was empty for the next few hours while her parents were still at work.
 
“Can I, uh, get you something?” she asked, not sure how to entertain a supernatural being.

“I think I need a soda to calm my nerves,” Paige replied and pulled a Coke from the refrigerator.
 
“Anyone else?”
 
A few others nodded and soon everyone was sipping soda in the living room, anxiously awaiting Michael’s explanation.

“I guess it’s obvious I’m something…more…than human,” Michael began nervously, wiping the cold pop can across his forehead.
 
“Actually, I’m not really human at all.”
 
His voice dropped to a whisper on the last few words, but the others still heard and responded with a collective gasp.
 
Every face mirrored the same stunned look.

“I’m an angel,” he continued softly, “a guardian angel to be exact.”
 
His eyes bore into Jessica’s begging for acceptance and understanding.
 
All he saw was surprise.

“I was Jessica’s guardian when she was young, but then I had to leave.
 
I spent a lot of years missing her after I was…reassigned.
 
When I saw her again many years ago, I couldn’t resist making her acquaintance.
 
It wasn’t my place to love her like I did, but I couldn’t help myself.
 
She’s had my heart from the very start.”

Jessica’s gaze broke into a hesitant smile.
 
She understood the feeling.
 
Michael’d had her heart from the beginning, too.

“I never realized it was even possible for her to get pregnant from our time together,” Michael explained.
 
“If I had I would’ve made sure….”

“It’s my fault, Michael.
 
I’m just as much to blame,” Jessica interjected.
 
“I should’ve spoke up from the beginning, but I was young and foolish and I just didn’t think.
 
When I found out I was pregnant I couldn’t think of any other way to make it work.
 
I didn’t think I’d ever see you again, Michael, and I was too afraid to try to make it on my own.
 
I’m so sorry for what I did, Cody, Rider; I’ve regretted it ever since.
 
And the fact that I let it happen twice….there’s just…no excuse.”
 
Jessica dropped her head in shame and Michael reached to embrace her.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you, Jessica.
 
I would’ve been, if I had known.”
 
Michael glared at Falla.
 
Why hadn’t Jessica’s guardian at least clued Michael in?
 
Obviously he wanted to keep Michael away.
 
“I would’ve done whatever it took to take care of you….and our sons.”
 
The two sobbed in each other’s arms as the pain swelled to the surface.
 
The teens looked on in astonishment, trying to comprehend the incredible story.

“So, the reason you could never stay is because you’re someone else’s guardian angel?” Jessica asked, finally pulling away from their embrace.

Michael nodded.
 
“There’s a man in New York named Maxwell Covington I’ve been guarding for most of his life.”

“But you said you were my guardian for a while.
 
Why don’t I remember you?”

“Guardian angels are spiritual beings, Jessica.
 
We’re not meant to be seen.
 
This body isn’t real.”

Jessica blushed, remembering the sensation of caressing his skin.
 
It felt plenty real to her.

A lightbulb popped in Rider’s head.
 
“So are you immortal?” he asked.

Michael nodded.

“So, do you think that means I’m immortal?” Excitement lighted Rider’s face.

“The fact that your spirit survived two fatal injuries, would indicate as much,” Michael offered.

“So, you can just generate a body at will?” Zach asked.
 
“Do you think Cody and Rider could do that?”

 
“I really don’t know.
 
I’m sorry I can’t give you more information,” Michael apologized.
 
“I’m sure you were hoping for a better answer, but I’ve never known any other half-angels before, so I’m not really sure what they might be capable of.”

“Wait a minute, isn’t there a story in the Bible about the sons of God coming down and bearing children with the daughters of man?” Rachel piped up, remembering the tale from her Sunday School days.
 
“Wouldn’t they be half angels?
 
Whatever happened to them?”

Michael gulped, hesitant to answer.
 
He wished he knew the story better, wished he hadn’t skipped the years of training that most angels received.
 
“I believe God destroyed them all, in the flood.”

Everyone gasped, and Michael noticed the girls cling tighter to their boyfriends.