Hi all,

I had some odds and ends I was going to send today but I ended up going to our local safari park to see dinosaurs!  Okay, so they were animatronic but still...  Then a bit of a family situation came up so I'm not going to be able to tie those odds and ends together today.  Thus, I'm sending the next handful of scenes from "The Advocate."

If you're following along, the first scene can be found in JABB 648.

I hope everyone's doing well!

God bless,
Jenni


More Scenes from "The Advocate"

Andrew quietly closed Avi's door after he and JenniAnn had checked on the sleeping boy.  When he stepped into the light of the hallway, JenniAnn noticed that Andrew looked absolutely wiped out.  And how could he not be?  There had been this morning's scare followed by a rush to get Ed and Steve situated.  Then two shows, both with emotional audiences who asked lots of questions.  And looming over it all was that dratted church.

JenniAnn wished Andrew would immediately go to bed but the lingering threat of COVID... probably now renewed because of Steve's travail... meant they'd have to shower first.  Separately... as usual.  JenniAnn watched as Andrew entered their room and began to gather his pajamas and things.  She thought she saw him stumble a bit as he headed towards the door, intending to go to his old room.

"No," JenniAnn reached out and grabbed his arm.

Andrew blinked at JenniAnn.

"Laja?"

JenniAnn took the bundle from his arms.

"Stay with me?  Please.  Joshua said it was okay."

Andrew's eyes widened.

"Only... I mean... only if you feel comfortable with it," JenniAnn continued, her cheeks reddening. 

"You're sure?" the angel of death checked, gently lifting her chin.

"I am.  Yes.  Definitely.  You?"

Andrew gave a nod he hoped didn't come off as overly eager.  This simply had never been the concern for him that it had for her and he'd understood why but...

JenniAnn stretched up to kiss him.

"Okay."  She nodded.

They stood there awkwardly for a few seconds before JenniAnn handed Andrew back his things.

"Maybe... maybe you could get in first and I'll get my things together and join you?" she suggested.

"Laja... you're sure?" Andrew checked, squeezing her hand.

"Very," she confirmed.  "If you are?"

"Very," Andrew echoed.  He brought her hand to his lips then released it.  "I'll be waiting.  Take your time."

JenniAnn smiled at him and nodded.

It was hilarious, really.  They had five children and two grandchildren.  They'd faced down demons.  Been separated by war, by violence.  They'd spent almost every night of the last seven years sleeping side-by-side.  They knew things about each other that no one else besides God did. 

But now JenniAnn felt like an awkward, hormonal teenager.  And she suspected Andrew felt the same.  Or something close.

Shaking slightly, she gathered up her things then unbound her hair.  She made her way to the bathroom and set her nightgown on the counter.  She could make out Andrew's silhouette through the frosted door.  Hurriedly, afraid that she'd get self-conscious or that Andrew would fall, JenniAnn shed her clothes and jewelry then knocked.

Andrew turned the shower down and opened the door.

Once they were both inside, the two briefly stared at each other.  Then they giggled.

JenniAnn couldn't remember the last time she'd heard Andrew actually giggle.

Then they were embracing and kissing and all was as it should be.
*~*~*

Once they were settled into bed, Andrew focused on brushing out JenniAnn's hair.

"I hope I got all the shampoo out.  Do you know you have a lot of hair?" he teased.

JenniAnn laughed.

"I do.  And I definitely had the easier job... even if yours is longish for you."

Andrew pressed his lips against the back of JenniAnn's head.

"I love your hair," he murmured.  "I love... everything about you."

JenniAnn turned around and cradled the angel's face in her hands.

"Same...  Always."

Andrew's eyes flicked downward.

"I... Laja, I was so scared this morning.  Intellectually, I knew based on the tone of your text and everything Joshua had said that... that you were fine but..."

JenniAnn nuzzled into his neck.

"I'm sorry, love.  I... I was just so thrilled that things were coming together that I was goofy and thoughtless and..."

Andrew shook his head.

"No.  You were right to be happy.  A-and I'm happy.  Now.  For Ed and Steve.  For Joshua.  But I... I guess it made me realize... in some ways... October still isn't over for me."

"And that's okay, Andrew.  It is.  If the roles had been reversed... I would have panicked, too.  I know I would have.  All the progress in the world... all the counseling in the world... it doesn't just make trauma disappear."  JenniAnn's eyes welled.  "Six months ago, demons tried to tear us apart.  A-and they hurt you.  Badly.  That... healing from that... it's going to take stops and starts.  And especially when you're already under stress because of the show and that awful church..."  She rested her forehead against Andrew's.  "I actually think you handled yourself with a remarkable amount of restraint." 

"Thank you.  And... I did, umm, appreciate you... well, taking care of me after," Andrew admitted, his cheeks flushing slightly.

JenniAnn smiled.

"Good.  I enjoyed it myself although..."

"Although?"

"I realized after that there was a mirror behind us so... we may have put on a bit of a show for our new friends."

Andrew laughed and shook his head.

"I would have even been facing it and I just didn't think..."  He pressed his forehead to hers.  "My mind was more pleasantly occupied, I suppose."

JenniAnn shrugged.

"I wouldn't worry too much about it.  Who knows?  Maybe it even gave them some inspiration.  They've definitely been less... inhibited... than we were.  But maybe not entirely.  Mighta been nice to have an example of how... well, it's okay.  To be close.  Really close."

Andrew smiled as JenniAnn clung to him.  He wrapped his own arms around her and nuzzled her hair.

"You should really let me finish brushing.  Don't wanna deal with painful tangles in the morning."

"I know.  But... let's wait just a bit."

The angel nodded and ran his hands up and down her back, feeling their hearts beating together.

"Happily."

JenniAnn kissed Andrew.

"I'm glad... grateful... for earlier."  She tilted her head towards the bathroom.  "It was nice.  Really nice.  But also... after October, it did start to weigh on me that something could happen to either of us.  Something debilitating.  And it wouldn't even have to be something major.  I mean when I broke my right arm in third grade, my mom had to help me bathe and wash my hair.  We may not be married but... for better or for worse, in sickness and in health... it still applies.  And it was weird for me to think we'd have to bring in a third party to help out.  It was just... the stuff with Joshua and, to be honest, my own body image issues..."

Andrew brushed his lips against JenniAnn's forehead.

"Laja...  I know it doesn't just make that all go away but... you are beautiful.  I mean it when I say I love everything about you.  And I'm glad and grateful, too.  And... I noticed something."

Andrew's hand drifted down to JenniAnn's right hip.

"Hmm?" JenniAnn prompted with a dreamy smile.

"We both have birthmarks right here.  Mirror images.  Mine's on my left."

"But that's so cute!"

Andrew chuckled.

"I thought so, too.  Now... your hair."

JenniAnn grabbed the brush and dragged it through her hair a few times.

"I love how gentle you are with it, my love, but... no time for that right now.  You're exhausted and..."

"I definitely got a second wind," Andrew countered.  "Not even sleepy any more."

"Well, in that case..."  JenniAnn laid down and pulled Andrew with her.

The angel let out a contented sigh as JenniAnn nuzzled into his neck.  He didn't know what the days ahead would bring.  But, in that moment, his Laja was safely in his arms and all was well.
*~*~*

Loreena took another sip of her chamomile and smiled wistfully at Roger who was enjoying his own cup of tea.  Or, at least, she thought he was enjoying it.  He looked very pensive.  She gently patted his thigh.

"Are you all right, mi dulce nutria?"

Roger smiled at the pet name, its newness still not having worn off.

"Yeah.  Yeah.  Just thinking.  Listen... maybe... well, maybe... I could stay over?  I mean not... I mean I would stay on the couch, of course.  It's just... I'm still a little on edge and I think it would be safer if..."

"Yes," Loreena interrupted, nodding eagerly.  "Yes, I'd like that.  And, actually, it's a fold-out couch.  It's really very comfortable.  I've slept on it before.  Actually, you should take the bed and..."

"No.  You need a good night's sleep.  In your own bed.  Besides, I wouldn't want to sleep in your bed until... until we both do."  Roger's cheeks flushed.

Loreena giggled nervously.

"I mean... assuming that... that's somewhere down the road.  Not that I'm in any hurry or... or anything.  I just mean I wouldn't want to sleep there alone.  In your bed.  Of course, I'm used to sleeping alone but... in my..."

Loreena kissed Roger.

Once he pulled back, Roger chuckled.

"Sorry.  It's late and I get even more awkward than usual when it's late."

Loreena brushed some hair behind his ear and smiled fondly.

"I thought it was cute.  But it really is late.  So let's go get your overnight stuff and get settled in, hmm?"

"Yeah.  I'd like that."

After another kiss, the two trekked to Roger's apartment.  He filled his overnight bag with speed and the couple returned to Loreena's to set up the guest bed.

"I hope the sheets are okay.  I like jersey knit but if you'd rather..."

Roger squeezed her hand.

"Jersey knit is fine... whatever it is.  Is that the one that's like T-shirt material?"

Loreena laughed and nodded.

"Then it's perfect."

"Good.  Let me go grab the pillows from the closet."

"I'll go change while you do that."

"Sounds good!"

When Roger returned to the living room a few minutes later, he found two fluffy pillows had been added to the bed along with something else.

Loreena smiled expectantly at him.

"And what's..."  Roger plucked up the brown plush laying in the center of the bed.  "Aww!"

"I couldn't resist!  And now you don't have to sleep alone."

Roger beamed at the little otter and then hugged his girlfriend.

"Thank you."

"You're..."  Loreena yawned.  "Very welcome."

Roger rested his forehead against hers.

"I think we better get some sleep."

"Yeah..."

The two shared a good night kiss.

"Good night, mi dulce nutria."

"G'night, mi mariposa."

After an embrace, Loreena headed to her bedroom.  She paused in the doorway and turned back to smile at Roger who was looking at her with equal amounts of admiration and gratitude.

Whatever else was happening, in that moment all was well.
To be continued...


This newsletter is dedicated to John Dye for leading me to the hobby of writing.  Even when I get frustrated sometimes with the lack of time I have for it, it's nice to know it's always there, waiting to be picked back up.

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(Photo Credits: The photograph used on this page is from Touched by an Angel and owned by CBS Productions, Caroline Productions, and Moon Water Productions.  It is not being used to seek profit.)