Genesis of a Hero by Chris Smith Page B

and their childhoods. In a sun filled meadow, they stretched out in a soft patch of grass and watched the blue sky. Few words were said as they prayed and just enjoyed each other’s closeness. When the sun was starting to dip behind the redwood trees, Denise propped herself up on an elbow.
    “John…” she said with a deep breath. “I don’t think I’m going to go.”
    John stared trying to control the mixture of feelings assaulting his insides. He hadn’t expected her to stay. He thought she would have followed him into the hellish fight. He’d seen the worrisome images over and over in his mind for the last two hours. Relief filled his chest. Knowing she would be safe cleared the shadows that had danced around his departure since she’d first said she wanted to go.
    “It’s not that I want to be away from-” she continued but stopped when he put his fingers over her mouth.
    “I understand,” he said with a smile. “ You are doing what God is guiding you to do.” He stopped and let the perfect curves of her face soak into his consciousness then continued. “I wanted tonight to be special. I bought the flowers to give to you at dinner, but it was more for my own courage…”
    “What do you mean,” she laughed and her hand rubbed his chest where it had been resting for the last thirty minutes.
    “Denise… I love you.”
    A sparkle twinkled in the whites of her eyes as they went as wide as he’ d ever seen them. Then a smile creased her face. It was a grin like no other he’d ever seen. Every drop of the sternness that usually persisted - even when she was in a good mood – vanished. “I love you too,” she cried with true tears spilling down her cheeks. She leaned on top of him and their lips came together. Passion wove through the kiss. The love of two angels and the Blessing of God burned in the meadow.
     
     
     
    The sanctuary in Madrid was as fancy as John had ever seen. Gold-plated pews faced the gate to heaven. An altar dressed with white sheets and silver chalices stood at the top of six wide steps. High windows with pointed arches were streaming silk curtains. The vaulted ceiling was forty feet overhead. Nearly twenty angels were worshipping in song. The deep chant settled into John’s chest.
    “You haven’t stopped smiling since we left,” Jan said as they passed through the sanctuary doors into a long hallway. Packed stores lined the walls. A candy shop with all colors and flavors of angel treats drew John’s attention first. Then a café where two regal angels were in a serious discussion. On the other side, a bookstore was stacked high in teetering piles of leather-bound books and thick scrolls. Excited giggles of delight bounced as angel children ran from place to place. A steady buzz of conversation in fast, dizzying Spanish hummed in the air.
    “I kind of officially have a girlfriend now,” John boomed more loudly than he expected.
    “That’s wonderful,” Jan said appreciatively. “Who’s the lucky lady?”
    “Denise Gibson,” Harold answered for John with a harrumphing chuckle. “And it’s about time they got together. It’s been on the horizon for about five years.”
    “I thought she was going to come with me,” John mused with a look at his old friend. “Can’t say the company wouldn’t have been better.”
    “Ah, you’d miss me more than her,” Harold joked as he peeked into a restaurant with a Spanish name John wouldn’t begin knowing how to pronounce.
    “Ed and I just ate a little bit ago,” Jan said as she joined Harold’s smelling of the spicy food. “But that smells delicious. Hopefully I don’t put on a bunch of weight. I’ve heard the food is really good here. Ed and I aren’t going to be able to take a honeymoon, or anything, until after this mess is over.”
    “Come on,” John laughed and dragged them away. “We need to get checked in. Who are we meeting again?”
    Jan looked around the Cathedral for a few seconds before waving at an