Angels In Red (38 page)

Jenna huffed. “You have no idea how happy I am.”

A whimper drew her attention downward, to a smaller version of Sasha at her feet. “Who do we have here?”

Angel knelt. “This is Chubby, and he’s all mine!”

Jack shrugged. “Like I could say no.”

Jenna wanted to sob in relief and dance with joy, but she had to rein in her emotions, not wanting to upset Angel if she didn’t understand her confused reactions. Her jaw dropped as Jack moved aside to reveal a line of people.

Charles and Twyla, John and a man she’d never met before, and Dr. Gilmore, grinning sheepishly, his hands rest on precious, Sweet Pea’s slight shoulders.

“What are you...  How did you all... Why are you all here?”

She spotted someone peeking out from behind Charles. “Buffy? I don’t know whether to hug you or strangle you to death.”

Jack stepped between them. “Before you start swinging, there’s more.”

Her hand flew to her chest. “I don’t know if my heart can take much more.”

“Are you ready, Angel?”

“Ready!” Her voice came out of the darkness.

“One…two…three!”

Bright lights momentarily blinded her. She squinted, and as things came into focus, she gasped. “What have you done?”

Jack pulled her to his side. “Jenna, I saw your struggle—thinking you had to choose between me and Angel.  I had already started making some changes when the whole Meed fiasco went down. I thought to myself, why not bring Angel to live here, with us? One thing led to another, and before we knew it, we’d come up with a plan to keep everyone together…and happy.”

“Is it true? Angel is really going to live here with us?” Jenna struggled to wrap her head around it all. “Charles? Did you know about all of this?”

He grinned. “Yes, and I’m sorry I had to tell a couple of white lies. Shortly after you found Angel, Jack came to me with a plan to create all of this. I was sworn to secrecy while we figured out if we could actually make it work. We didn’t want to get your hopes up until we knew, without doubt, we could pull this off.”

“What about Daniel? I saw his signature on Angel’s release form.”

Jack snickered. “Once we confronted Daniel with the evidence we had against him, he was only too happy to oblige. We had him sign a waiver, handing Angel over to us, and step down as CEO of the ranch. He also agreed to move away and never take a job in the same capacity. If he tries, we’ll happily hand him over to the police.”

“What about Howard? I wouldn’t put it past him to try and take Angel from me. We can’t let our guard down, not even for a second.”

“Relax. You don’t ever have to worry about that man ever again. I guess you could say we gave Howard Meed a taste of his own ‘blackmail medicine.’”

“I don’t understand. What blackmail?”

Angel returned with Chubby dancing around her feet.

Jack pulled Jenna closer to his side. “We’ll have plenty of time later to go over all the details, okay?”

“So, what you’re saying is, it’s over. Angel is really here to stay, for good?” She briefly closed her eyes, struggling to keep it together.

“Actually, we’re all here to stay.” Buffy added. “That is, if it’s okay with you?”

Jenna looked at each of them in turn. “I don’t quite know what to say?” Her attention was drawn to the spot where the shed they kept the pups in had been. In its place, a proper stable painted red and white, the carbon copy of the one at the ranch, undoubtedly done with Angel’s transition in mind. Off to one side were several cabins in various sizes and stages of completion. The beautiful, wrap-around porch she stood on, substantially bigger than the step up into the cabin as before. She couldn’t fathom what she’d find on the other side of the new door.

Jack lifted her chin to gaze into her eyes. “This can be a safe haven for people like Angel and her friends back at the ranch. Of course, we’ll have to start small, and eventually take on more residents.” He wiped the tears from her face. “So, what do you say? Are you in?”

Jenna took in the group now gathered around her. How blessed she was to have such amazing people in her life. “Are you sure about giving up your solitude?”

He kissed her softly before he held her face in his hands. “My life changed forever the day I uncovered my angel in the snow. You opened my heart to love again. I no longer wish to hide away from the world. I want to participate in life, a life with
you
, and everyone who loves you as much as I do.”

Jenna threw her arms around him.  “I love you, Jack Davis.”

The porch erupted in cheers. Angel squealed in delight as she ran down the stairs with flashlight in hand. She stopped next to something covered by a large tarp.

Jack gave her two thumbs up, prompting her to grab hold of one corner of the cover. She stood proud. Spotlights in the ground shone up on the covered object.

“I’d like to welcome you all to our new home.” She pulled the canvas off of a rustic wooden sign. Inset in the upper half’s center were glass angel wings, and burned in the heavy wood beneath them...

Safe Haven

Where Angels Fly

Ad
elle Laudan lives in Southern Ontario with the last of her four children still under her wing. She is keeper of one little diva dog named ChaChi who always manages to make her smile. Adelle is a multi-published author, spanning many genres.

Adelle invites you on the many twists and turns of being a published author. Be sure to fasten your seatbelt, as it’s sure to be a ride you won’t soon forget.

“If I can evoke emotion from my readers, whether it be laughter or tears, I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.”

www.adellelaudan.com