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  Maybe that was the problem. Arel’s amiability made her realize how vile she’d become. She’d been so rude around his friends and their children. That evening was the first time Arel had called her on her behavior. In response, she got even meaner and shut him out.

  “Really great, Elise,” she said as she took the damp paper towel to the kitchen trash. “You’re taking your crap out on babies and the sweetest guy around.”

  She folded her arms with fresh resolve. She couldn’t keep doing what she’d been doing. It wasn’t right. She was starting to hate herself, and she sure as heck wasn’t being fair to Arel. It was best for both of them if she broke off their relationship.

  She sat down again, confident that she was making the right choice. She’d met seemingly perfect guys like Arel before. They were wonderful at first. But as soon as she let herself trust them, things changed. In the end, she always felt betrayed and hurt. Truly gracious, caring guys were just part of fairy tales. And she should know all about fairy tales in her line of business. She was a successful, romance writer.

  Two

  AREL SAT OUT on the patio in a light jacket, staring at the yard. The late autumn weather was getting colder, but there hadn’t been a hard frost yet. The garden still had some roses in bloom. Michael, the garden’s caretaker, sat in a chair next to him.

  Sometimes, it still surprised Arel to think that his friend was an incarnate angel. But Michael looked the part. Tall, with blond hair and an ideal, masculine body, he reminded Arel of a Nordic seaman. However, Michael’s true nature differed drastically from that of a human.

  Michael was compassionate, but he never entertained emotional moods swings. His mind never strayed from positive possibilities. He was definitely powerful, but his power came out in subtle ways. He treated Arel like he treated his garden, with a kind, nurturing hand.

  Arel sometimes forgot to acknowledge how much Michael had helped him. As his gaze swept over the scene in front of him, he smiled. “You’ve transformed a once weedy patch of ground into something incredibly beautiful, Michael. Your flowers were a feast for the eyes all summer.”

  Michael returned Arel’s smile. “Yes, gardening has become quite a passion.”

  “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to share your enthusiasm. I guess I don’t have your green thumb.”

  “We’re all different.”

  Arel agreed about being different than Michael. His attention could easily be diverted into unhappy scenarios. The most recent was his disastrous situation with Elise.

  Michael returned a knowing glance. “I’m sorry about things not working out with Elise.”

  Arel gave the neighboring yard a fast once-over, making sure that the woman in question wasn’t around. “Unfortunately, at this point, I’m relieved that it’s almost over. Poor Peggy looked so upset last night. So did everyone else. I should have never accepted her invitation knowing that Elise was invited too. It was a nightmare. The way Elise treated little Sara was shocking. She literally pushed the child away with a hateful scowl. And little Sara just stood there, not knowing what she’d done wrong. Can you imagine what a horror Elise would be as a mother?”

  “Sounds like a very stressful situation.”

  “I should have been more careful, but I kept thinking that maybe Elise would change. Now I know she’s going to be more difficult as time goes by. I have no choice but to stop dating her.” Arel stood up. “Anyway, let’s go into the house. Maybe you can help me figure out what to say to her.”

  * * * * *

  Elise was down on her hands and knees in her back yard, ready to tackle the flower beds. She’d neglected them during the past couple of months. With the weather getting colder, she wanted to clear the weeds and leaves before winter set in. The yard wasn’t technically hers, but she felt an obligation to keep the house and grounds in the same carefully-tended condition she found them in when she rented the place.

  When she heard a door open and close, she paused. Someone had come out of Arel’s house. Whoever it was couldn’t know that Elise was listening. A five foot, wooden fence separated the properties. That didn’t stop Elise from being nosy. She peeked through a crack in one of the wooden slats. It was wide enough to see Arel sit down in a patio chair. Michael sat next to him.

  At first, she’d been tempted to get up and go back into the house. The moment passed as soon as she caught a scent of the captivating fragrance that Arel was wearing. It had a woodsy element, yet it was also exotic and laced with spice. Arel told her that he special ordered it from a shop in Paris.

  She inhaled deeply and hated herself for still being attracted to him. She hated that her heart started pounding when she caught of glimpse of his eyes. Their golden color was fluid and alluring, two open invitations to dream about how amazing it would feel to be in Arel’s arms.

  Without wanting to, she pressed her face closer to the fence and sighed. Fortunately, her little moan of wanton lust was overridden by Michael’s deep, soothing voice. He and Arel were chatting about the garden, but then Elise’s name came up. She knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, but she couldn’t help herself.

  A short time later, after hearing Arel’s remarks, she wished she hadn’t been so curious. Was he accurate when he discussed her fitness as a mother? Would she be a terrible parent? Her mind raced back to the night with Arel’s friends. After her awful interaction with Peggy and Carol’s babies, she had to admit that Arel was probably correct. But correct or not, that still didn’t give him the right to judge her.

  When the sound of voices died away, she took another quick peek through the fence. The chairs on the patio were empty. Arel and Michael had gone back inside. Sitting back on her heels, she could feel her cheeks go flush with hurt and anger. Arel was ready to break up with her, but she wouldn’t give him the chance.

  She quickly stood up and brushed the dirt off her pants. She had to set her neighbor straight. Tossing her gardening gloves on the ground, she turned and marched into the house. She paused in the foyer long enough to check her hair. It was just long enough to realize that she shouldn’t care about how she looked. Arel sounded like he never wanted to see her again. So what difference did her appearance make?

  She should have been happy with his decision. It’s what she wanted too, or at least some part of her did. But that other part of her, the one that still clung to their relationship was stubborn. It was the part that wanted to cry.

  Instead of giving in to her emotions, she threw her shoulders back and forced herself to remember that she was doing what was best. She would not let herself be hurt by a man again.

  With resolve, she headed for the door and let herself out. As she hurried over to Arel’s adjoining front yard and walked up his sidewalk, she was determined not to chicken out. When she got to his front porch, she gave the doorbell a quick couple of taps.

  She was surprised when the door opened almost immediately, and Arel stared back at her. But she wouldn’t let his open, handsome face distract her. She wouldn’t pay attention to her heart as it struggled to stop her from doing something she might regret. She blurted out what she’d planned to say. “I don’t want to see you anymore. Is that clear, Arel?”

  She didn’t wait for him to respond. She turned and quickly walked back to her house. Once safely inside, she knew she’d closed the door on any future she might have with the man of her dreams.

  * * * * *

  After watching Elise return home, Arel shut the door and wandered into the living room. As he took a seat on the sofa, his mind was reeling with relief. Elise had severed their ties in a way that left no doubt that they were finished. Before he had a chance to fully enjoy the moment, Michael came in and sat down too. Arel looked up at him. “I’m sure you heard what Elise just told me.”

  “Are you okay?” Michael asked.

  “I suppose I should be doing cart wheels. Elise has made things very easy. I don’t have to sit around for hours trying to find the right words for a break-up speech. I have to admire
her approach. It was short and to the point.”

  “Yes, for a writer, she didn’t waste any words.”

  “She barely looked at me when she made her announcement.” Arel paused and rubbed the sofa arm in a slow deliberate motion. “You know that I’ve been trying not to use any of my powers when I’ve been around her. I really want to be like Kevin and Tim, as normal as possible. But a person would have to be dead for three days not to feel Elise’s anger.”

  Michael smiled. “Everyone reacts to energy. People call it different names, like vibes or feelings, but it’s the same thing. It’s the way people know what’s best for them.”

  “Then my relief is a good thing, right?”

  “A person isn’t supposed to feel unhappy when they’re in a relationship.”

  Arel’s hand stilled, but he continued to study the white linen sofa fabric. “I understand that, but at times, I think I cheated. I looked deeper into Elise’s makeup. She does have a big heart as I’m sure you know. It’s just that she’s so wounded and miserable. I thought I could help her like you helped me.”

  “Do you think I saw you as wounded?”

  Arel laughed. “How else could you see me? I was some kind of long-suffering wretch when you came along.”

  Michael relaxed back into his recliner. “What I saw was an amazing human being. I saw a person who was capable of great things in his life, happy things.”

  “I wish I could see that for Elise, but I’m afraid her bitterness will keep her very isolated and hateful.”

  “Perhaps.”

  Arel looked up. “Maybe you or Carey could do something for her. What do you think?”

  When Michael didn’t respond, Arel ignored the angel and let a happy smile replace his concern. “Anyway, now that this thing with Elise is over, I might go back to London and even Paris for a while.”

  Michael nodded. “Seeing William and Rolphe might be a good idea. Both of them have been very busy these past few months.”

  “Yes, when I got that call from William, asking me to be his best man, I think it was one of the happiest days of my life. The wedding was simple and very private, but it was also beautiful. Annabel was like something out of a dream. And William has never been more handsome. When he put that ring on Annabel’s finger, he looked like he was visiting heaven again. They make a perfect couple. But I didn’t have time to visit Rolphe.”

  “I think Rolphe wants you to meet his lady friend, Myra.”

  “Yes, she sounds very nice too. So while I’m checking on the two couples, maybe I can get some advice about relationships. I’m obviously doing something wrong to end up dating someone like Elise.”

  “May I offer a thought?” Michael asked.

  “Of course.”

  “If you want to experience heaven, you have to leave hell behind.”

  Three

  AS LONDON'S FALL temperatures grew steadily colder, William knew his life was still changing on all fronts. Besides being a recently married man, he was still learning how to handle the angelic blood that flowed through his veins. In a more mundane area of life, he’d completed the first stage of remodeling the lower level of his home. It was a good project to keep his mind busy and his emotions steady and balanced.

  When he looked around the new entertainment room, he couldn’t help but admire his planning and handiwork. He was pleased that the area was finished in time for Arel’s visit. If there was anyone who would appreciate what he’d done, it was his expected guest. Arel didn’t have the know-how to drive a nail into a block of wood, but he did value beauty when he saw it.

  Of course, Arel didn’t have to know about handling carpenter tools. The man could create a world. It wasn’t a world that existed in a normal sense. A person had to travel to Arel’s creation in their astral body. However, that didn’t make Arel’s world less tangible to the person visiting. William could have died on Arel’s world. When Arel’s emotions took him down a path of insanity, Arel had turned his creation into a war zone, and he insisted on fighting William. The battle that took place was very real indeed.

  William would always have a reminder of that day. It hung on his wall. Rolphe had sent him a large painting as a present. Rolphe’s note explained that it was a tribute to William’s courage and dedication. Rolphe felt that William had acted as a protector of all that was good and holy when he fought Arel.

  William admired the painting. He even enjoyed Rolphe’s thoughtful sentiments, but he still had his moments when it came to Rolphe himself. The man was six foot, five inches tall with a powerfully-built, intimidating body. When he stared at William with his piercing, green eyes, he could still send a chill down William’s spine.

  But there was another reason for being cautious when he thought about Rolphe. Rolphe had been a very dangerous enemy when he was still a vampire. He repeatedly tried to kill William and nearly succeeded. However, after Rolphe’s change of heart, the man had tried to atone for what he’d done. Hopefully, the painting was an example of Rolphe’s true spirit.

  William leaned in to examine the piece of art more closely. Rolphe could rival the masters when it came to skill. His rendering of William in battle was magnificent. It was so magnificent that William’s heart began to pound with exhilaration. He remembered how he’d commanded an army of angels. The thrill of such a glorious experience made him smile, but his thoughts were interrupted. Annabel called out to him from the upper level.

  “William? Arel is here!” Annabel announced.

  William took a deep breath and backed away from the painting. “Coming,” he said as he quickly walked to the stairs. The scenes of battle were replaced by the reality of the moment. He and Arel were finally at peace with each other. They enjoyed each other’s company. When Arel had come to London for William and Annabel’s wedding ceremony, he appeared healthy and content.

  William climbed the newly-carpeted stairs to the upper level, hoping that he looked just as content. As soon as he had the thought, his eye twitched. The incident made him hesitate. That type of thing hadn’t happened in a long time.

  * * * * *

  Arel was still smiling at Annabel and how happy she looked when William came walking into the living room. The man whom Arel considered a brother looked his usual tall, serious self. “Will! It’s good to see you again,” Arel said as he extended his hand.

  William grasped it firmly. “You continue to look like you’ve been surfing.”

  Arel shrugged as they all got seated. “Not surfing, but I still play a lot of tennis with Carey when the weather permits. He loves the game and can’t get enough of it. I have to admit, I’m getting pretty good myself. He only beats me half the time.” He sat back on the sofa. “But enough about me. I want to hear about the two of you.”

  Annabel reached out for William’s hand. “We haven’t been playing in the sun, but we are as happy as can be.” She paused and glanced at William. “Right?”

  William’s distracted, blue eyes had strayed in a preoccupied sort of way, but he smiled as soon as Annabel nudged him. “Right.”

  Arel tried not to think about the feeling he was getting when he studied William’s overall manner. He’d given himself a number of strict orders after his last emotional foray into insanity. No reading other people’s minds. No interfering in other people’s lives. If Michael could view everyone as capable of handling themselves, so could he. Yet, he noticed that William’s eye twitched when he responded to Annabel’s question. The little spasm was probably nothing, but Arel felt his chest tighten anyway.

  Annabel seemed oblivious to anything but her own exuberant mood. “Arel, you won’t believe how William has transformed the lower level. It’s beautiful.”

  Arel sat up attentively. “When I was here the last time, it was still in the hammer and nails stage.”

  “Then you’re in for a treat,” Annabel said as she gave William’s hand another squeeze. She stood up and looked down at him. “I have to clean up my sculpting station. So why don’t you show
Arel what you’ve been doing downstairs.”

  William remained in his seat. “Are you sure that you don’t want to show him around too?”

  Annabel laughed. “I’m sure. Besides, I bet you two could use some ‘man’ time. Anyway, that’s what Peggy and Carol call it.”

  Arel got to his feet. “I can’t wait to see what you’ve done, Will. I’ve been curious.”

  William stood up too and started out of the room. “It’s just a bit of remodeling, nothing too exciting.”

  Annabel called back to them as she headed down the hall in the opposite direction. “When you’re finished, come back to my studio. I have a little present for Arel.”

  Arel stared back. “For me? A present?”

  Annabel turned and put her hands on her hips. “Yes, I know you didn’t care for my knitting, but maybe you’ll like the clay figures I’ve made.”

  Arel felt his cheeks go flush. “I’m sorry if you got that impression about your knitting being—”

  “Never mind,” Annabel laughed. “Now go with William and look at what a beautiful job he’s done.”

  Arel did as he was told, remembering the first time he had followed William down the stairs to the lower level of the house. He’d come to London, hoping to help William. The man was going through a rough transition after Arel had passed on Michael’s blood. Unfortunately, things didn’t go the way he’d planned. In fact, he’d nearly killed William a couple of times with his well-intentioned blunders. But he had to remind himself that those unfortunate incidents were all in the past. He’d learned a lot since then.

  He skipped down the carpeted stairs, determined to stay focused on the present. Luckily, when he was ushered into the new living area, he felt his energy shift. He knew William had excellent taste, but the newly remodeled lower level was a surprise. He let out a low whistle of admiration. “Great job, Will, you’ve outdone yourself.”