The Angel Store
Author's Note: Please be kind and rate this after reading. Even if you don't like it! All comments and critique welcome. Enjoy!
Thank You to
Madame Lunacy! 
for the awardicon!!!
Laura and her 6-year-old daughter Nicole stood in front of the store with the plain wooden door. There was no sign promoting its name or product and no window to allow passersby to look in.
"Is this the place, Mommy?" Nicole wondered, her sky-blue eyes looking up, searching her mother's face.
"Yep, this is it!" Laura answered, feigning cheerfulness. She heard the slight tremble in her voice that came from the fear inside and she hoped her daughter didn't hear it also. She honestly didn't know how she was going to find the strength to go through with this.
Having only been told that they were going shopping for 'something special', Nicole was eager to see what was inside of the store. Impulsively, she reached her hand out and turned the knob.
"Wait..." Laura stammered, but it was too late as the large, oak door swung open, its hinges creaking noisily. Laura's mouth fell open in amazement at the sight that greeted her through the doorway and Nicole’s sharp intake of breath told her that her daughter was just as stunned. Nicole tugged impatiently on Laura's hand.
"Come on, Mommy...Let's go in!" Nicole gasped with breathless excitement. "I've never seen such a beautiful place!"
"Neither have I, honey." Laura agreed, took a deep breath and allowed Nicole to lead her inside.
"Welcome to The Angel Store!" A man said, as he approached them from the far end of the store. "Can I help you ladies find anything?" Laura stared at him in wonder. He was, quite simply, the most beautiful man she'd ever seen in her life. He was very tall, standing at least 6'5. His chest was wide and muscular and he gave off an aura of strength that was almost tangible. His complexion was dark, a deep ruddy tan that glowed with life. His hair was black, as were his eyebrows, which gave his beauty a slightly hard edge that only enhanced the magnificence of his features. Suddenly, he smiled and his eyes seemed to say that he was reading Laura's mind. Laura blushed intensely, but was still unable to take her eyes off of his face.
"Ummm...No...I think we'll just look around...a bit...if that's ok..." She replied, nervously.
"Sure! That would be fine." He agreed enthusiastically, smiling. "Take all the time you need. You just give me a call if you need anything at all. My name is Michael."
"Thanks." Laura said, smiling back at him. His warmth and friendliness were contagious, and she felt herself relaxing a bit.
"Mommy!" Nicole suddenly squealed. "Look!" She pulled her hand away from Laura's and darted across the store.
"Nicole! Wait...Don't touch..."
"No, no...Let her go...It's okay." Michael said, and laid his hand gently on Laura's shoulder. "She can't hurt anything."
"Well..." Laura allowed reluctantly.
"She'll be fine. Go browse. Try on anything you like, Have some fun." Michael implored, still smiling that ethereal smile. "You just give a yell when you're ready." He said, then turned around and walked away.
Laura took a deep breath as she watched him walk away, then turned to find her daughter. She began to walk slowly through the store and inspect her surroundings more closely. Racks upon racks of wings hung everywhere. They were suspended on wires from the ceiling, and the walls. They were set up on gigantic display mannequins, and laid out across tables. There were thousands of them, surrounding Laura with their splendor and elegance.
As she gazed at them, first one set then another, small details began to come into focus. Intricate patterns of tiny pearls sewn into the wings, beads woven into complex and beautiful designs, delicate folds of pure white lace that looked as if it would shatter if you touched it, tiny flowers with petals embroidered from silk and satin. The closer she gazed at each set of wings, the more elaborate the creation appeared. Each set became a singular work of art in itself. A craftsmanship so perfect that it was breathtaking.
A surge of emotion rose up in her chest and tears blurred her vision, as she gazed incredulously around the store. Each set was simply incomparable to any other set in the room. What had at first appeared as vague detail, now seemed to jump out at her from all directions, announcing their distinctive individuality and taking on a life of their own. The entire experience was overwhelming and Laura was overcome with a sense of irony that these wondrous, beautiful creations could also mean such imminent loss, sorrow, and pain.
Feeling suddenly claustrophobic, Laura wanted to leave. She couldn't continue this. Her breath began to come in short, quick gasps, and she felt as if her throat was closing up. Tears welled in her eyes as she searched the room for Nicole. She saw her in the far corner of the store shuffling through a rack of wings and started towards her.
"Look at these, Mommy..." she suddenly called and pulled a set off of the rack. "These are sooo pretty!"
Laura stopped in front of Nicole. She opened her mouth to tell her that they had to leave, when she glanced down at the set of wings her daughter was holding.
"Oh, Nicole..." Laura sighed. "They really are stunning!"
"And they're so soft...and so white..." Nicole murmured as she rubbed the soft, delicate feathers against her cheeks. "These are the ones, Mommy."
Laura's heart seemed to slow it's maddening pace, then and her breathing began to even out. She looked around and a giant pair of wings on a display against the wall suddenly caught her attention and she walked over to them. They were at least six-foot height, and shimmered with a brilliant incandescence. Tiny specks like diamond chips blazed magically throughout. They looked as if the stars from above had been sewn into the feathers. They were absolutely exquisite.
"What about these?" Laura asked, and turned to Nicole. She gently caressed the edge of one of the enormous wings.
"Ummm...yeah...they're real pretty too, Mommy...but they're not right." Nicole shook her head decisively. "These are the right ones." She said as she lovingly stroked the set in her arms.
Laura watched her daughter quietly, as she gripped the wings possessively, and rubbed them softly.
"You know what, pumpkin? I think you're absolutely right." She smiled at Nicole and lifted the wings from Nicole's embrace. "Well...I guess we got what we came here for.... Let's go find Michael."
"Right here." He said and suddenly appeared from around the corner.
"I...I think we'll take these." She said, suddenly hesitant, then thrust the wings at him.
"A perfect choice!" Michael said, admiring the set as if he had never seen them before. "This is truly a glorious set."
"Now...I...I'm not to sure about size..."
"Don't worry a bit." He told Laura softly, then glanced over at Nicole, who had wandered a few steps away. "When the time comes, these will be hand-delivered, and they'll fit perfectly. I promise."
"Oh...thank you so much!" Laura exhaled with relief. She didn't think she could have endured a 'trying on' session.
"Mommy! Look what I found!" Nicole suddenly called. Laura turned to see her daughter running towards her.
"This will go perfect with the wings!" she cried excitedly, and held up an elegant golden halo.
"Oh..." Laura breathed in awe. "It's... incredible!"
"You're absolutely right, cherub." Michael said, and crouched down to Nicole's height. "Why don't you let me take that and I'll put it with the wings. I think they'll go marvelously together!"
***************************************************
Laura woke up. She rubbed her eyes groggily, the dream fading before she could grasp it. She could only recall that Nicole had been in it and that her daughter's presence had given her the strength she had needed.
The room was dark and silent except for the constant humming and beeping of the various machines that filled it.
"Hi Mommy!" Nicole looked up. Her eyes sparkled with happiness to see her mother awake. "Did you have a nice nap?"
"I sure did, pumpkin." She watched as Nicole played with her favorite doll. She didn't see her husband but was too tired to ask her daughter where he was. Probably just went down for coffee or something. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over as she watched Nicole.
How am I supposed to let go?! Her mind screamed in desperation. I love her so much!
Suddenly, a bright brilliant light filled the hospital room. It was like a spotlight aimed directly at Laura and she cried out as the brightness stung her eyes. She threw her arm up over her face to shield herself.
"NO! NOT YET!" She screamed frantically. "NOT YET!! I CAN'T DO THIS YET! I'M NOT READY!"
Nicole gasped and jumped up, her doll suddenly forgotten on the floor. She climbed onto Laura's hospital bed and looked curiously into the light.
"Mommy...look..." she cried in wonder.
"No...No...Not yet...please...please not yet...." Laura pleaded, shaking her head in terror. She grabbed Nicole's arm suddenly and pulled her daughter to her chest. She hugged her tightly as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"But Mommy...it's just Michael. He's brought your wings!" Nicole explained, and pulled away from her mother's grasp.
"Michael..." Laura whispered, puzzled, then her eyes lit up as the dream came flooding back and she remembered.
"Michael!" Laura gasped in recognition.
"I'm here, Laura." She heard his soft, gentle voice, and then he was there. A beautiful dark figure stepping out of the light. He was dressed in a resplendent white gown and his wings spread out majestically behind him. He was even more radiant than before.
"It's time to put your wings on." He told Laura gently. His voice and his manner filled Laura with a sense of peacefulness and calmness that she hadn't felt before.
"Hi, Michael!" Nicole chirped. "You are so beautiful!"
"Why thank you, cherub. You remember those pretty wings you picked out for your Mommy?" He reached out and gently stroked her cheek, as she nodded. "Well, it's time for your Mommy to be an angel now." He explained softly.
Nicole turned to her mother.
"My baby..." Laura choked, and began to cry again. Nicole threw herself into her mother's arms and hugged her tightly.
"I love you so much, Nicole." Laura whispered into her daughter's golden curls. "Promise me you'll be a good girl for Daddy."
"I will, Mommy. I love you, too!" Nicole cried, suddenly unsure and scared. "I'm going to miss you, Mommy."
"Oh baby..."Laura pulled Nicole back and held her face between her hands. "Mommy will always be with you...in here..." she gently tapped Nicole on the chest. "Don't ever forget that, or how much I love you." She kissed Nicole's face, wiping away the child's tears, feeling the soft texture of her skin. "Now Mommy has to put on those beautiful wings you picked out for me."
"And the halo." Nicole whispered, shakily.
Suddenly, Laura felt herself rise off of the bed. The pain and the sickness that had ravaged and tortured her for months was immediately and blessedly gone and she felt...warm. For the first time in a long time, she realized, she was truly warm.
"Mommy!" Nicole gasped in awe. "You're an angel! You're so lovely!"
"I love you, baby girl!" Laura said, and blew her a kiss.
"I love you, too, Mommy!" Nicole cried, and then her mother was gone.
*************************************************
Nicole sat quietly for a moment, then jumped off of the bed. She looked at the still body of her mother. It was her mother's face...but her mother wasn't there anymore. She picked up her mother's hand and kissed in softly, then placed it back on the bed.
With a deep, shaky breath, Nicole turned and left the hospital room that she'd spent so much time in over the past months. She headed to the elevator and down to the lobby, where her father was getting some coffee.
She needed to tell him all about Mommy, and how beautiful she was with her angel wings on.
And she needed him to hug her.
Previously published in the April 2001 issue of 'Dragon's, Knights and Angels' Christian/Science Fiction Digest
