“So you think she behaves like that because of some deep-seated issue stemming from somewhere in her past?”
Dex shrugged and leaned back against the window. “Don’t we all?”
Rolling her eyes, she instantly knew he was teaching her a lesson within the lesson. Yes. She had behaviors that seeped into her present life that came from her past.
“Okay, so she has issues from her past.”
“Maybe. I don’t know for sure. Maybe she’s just plain old mean. That’s not my job to find out. It’s yours. Or it is until someone brings you more information.”
“Like Titus?”
He nodded. “Like Titus.”
George’s stomach shifted in anxiety. “Do I tell her I’m an angel? Because can you even imagine how that’ll go? You did hear her ream me out for not being in my office and at her beck and call even though my hours don’t start until nine, didn’t you?”
He nodded with a sigh. “I did. She was definitely annoyed, but she’s always annoyed.”
“Exactly. She’s always annoyed. I’m not sure how you’d expect me to cozy up to someone like that and confess I’m an angel here to help her with whatever she needs help with. It’s like asking to snuggle with a python.”
Dex grinned and chucked her under the chin the way he had when she still didn’t know he was her guardian angel. “You don’t have to snuggle with her, George. Just find out what she needs and then help her find out, too.”
Leaning her head back on the headrest of the car, she looked up and out of her sunroof, where clouds chased one another and the day grew gloomier.
“So the question remains, do I tell her I’m an angel? I’m not exactly aces at glowing. I mean, I almost blinded Nina, and making my wings appear didn’t go so well either.”
He shrugged. “You can if you want to, but it doesn’t usually go over so well at first. Not until you’ve actually helped them, that is. They’re way more open to believing in our existence once we’ve helped, if you get what I mean. I haven’t run across many who’ve been open to me glowing and showing them my wings until I’ve wormed my way into their lives and there’s at least a modicum of trust.”
She took a sip of her bottled ice tea. “Is that why you never told me you were my angel? You’ve been my guardian for almost a year and never said a word.”
He stared out the windshield. “Sometimes it can be pressure to know you have someone trying to help. In some cases, it hinders more than it helps. I felt like maybe it would be added pressure you didn’t need.”
George bristled, sucking in her cheeks. “Right, and we wouldn’t want poor, fragile George to feel pressured. Who knows what she’d do?” she asked with a sarcastic edge to her words, hating herself for feeling so defensive.
That he knew her troubled past embarrassed her. She hated the thought.
Reaching over, Dex placed his hand on hers, like he’d always done in the past when she’d been frazzled, except now it felt very different. “That’s not what I said at all, George. I said, sometimes knowing there’s someone in the wings waiting to catch you if you fall doesn’t always help, it only makes things harder. That’s what I said. Please don’t twist my words to suit.”
Sighing, she shook her head and gave his hand a light squeeze before returning hers to her lap to squelch the tingle in her fingers. “I’m sorry. That was bitchy of me. I’m just nervous. I don’t want to screw this up. I need to get this right—even if it involves Effie Sampson.”
“You don’t need to be perfect, George. This is your first case. Being perfect isn’t the goal.”
“When I say I want to get it right, it’s not out of ego. I need to get it right because this is someone’s life and the people upstairs seem to think Effie’s in enough need to send a guardian angel. It’s not about me.”
Dex appeared to like that answer. “Okay then, let’s focus on that. And here’s what you can do. Listen. Listen to what she isn’t saying. Listen with your heart.” He patted his chest.
“Okay, but if she punches me in the face—and believe me, I wouldn’t put it past her—I’m holding you responsible.” Then she turned to him and asked, “Speaking of bruises and broken bones, do I magically heal like the OOPS ladies?”
He gave her a puzzled look. “You know, I dunno. I do. However, you’re still half human. But hey, you want me to get someone to punch you in the face to find out? Bet Nina’d volunteer.”
She chuckled as she pulled the handle of her car door. It opened, and the cold she no longer felt rushed in to swirl about the interior. “Funny angel is funny. I have to get back to work. I’m still straightening out the Cabo mess. I’ll catch you later, Dex.”
She hurried toward the building, her mind preoccupied with how she’d weasel her way into Effie Sampson’s very small, very crabby world and what she needed help fixing.
Other than her personality, that is.
“Hey, Lizzie, how’s it going?” Dex asked the young girl who was bathing a three-legged mixed-breed mutt found just off the highway last night, covered in mange and freezing.
She grinned at him and waved a soapy hand. “Good, Mr. Bridger! Oh, and hey! Guess what?”
He cocked his head as she used the sprayer in the overly large stainless steel sink he’d had put in especially for bathing dogs and cats, and said, “You won the lottery and you’re gifting me a million bucks?”
She frowned, her round face scrunching up as she cocked her blonde head. “I’m not old enough to play the lottery, Mr. Bridger…”
He laughed out loud. Lizzie didn’t quite
