The magic veilallowed him to become completely invisible to humans in flightmode, not only his wings, which were masked by the veil all thetime for living amongst them, but he still had to keep an eye outfor aeroplanes and the odd flock of birds in the daylight.
But it was darknow and getting darker, so he kept a look out for bats instead.Clouds shadowed the moon and stars as he headed towards Raphael andOphelia’s house, rain dampening his clothes. A rumble of thundersounded in the distance.
His mindwandered to another time, decades ago, recalling a weatherman fromthe time when they used to have cardboard cut-outs of raincloudsand suns. The fellow would stick them onto a map of the BritishIsles, along with varying sizes of arrows to represent thewind.
Ah, the goodold days. Evie called him old-fashioned, and she was right. He madea mental note to work harder at moving with the times.
Maybe Opheliaand Raphael could help. They seemed to manage fine, and they hadhundreds of years on him.
He shook hishead. A date with a mermaid and a screaming banshee—what had hebeen thinking?
Caleb landedsoftly on his friends’ front porch and checked his watch. Half pasteleven. He shouldn’t have come. He went to fly away again, but theporch light flashed on.
A few momentslater, two shadows appeared behind the glass front door.
“Who is it?”asked Raphael.
“It’s me,Caleb.”
The dooropened. Ophelia and Raphael were dressed in their nightwear.
“Sorry. Ididn’t realise it was so late.”
“It’s fine,Caleb,” said Ophelia, a knowing smile gracing her lips. “Why don’tyou come in and tell us what’s worrying you. We were about to havea nightcap.”
He smiled.Trust Ophelia to pick up on his mood. A revered psychiatrist, shetended to read too much into every situation. “If you’re sure youdon’t mind?”
“Of course not,dear fellow. Come on in,” said Raphael. “I could do with some malecompany. Ophelia has been nagging me all day about painting thespare room again.” He offered his wife an affectionate smile.
She nudged hisshoulder. “I have not been nagging. I’ve been negotiating.”
Caleb laughedas he stepped inside, folding his wings, so they lay against hisback, his wingtips brushing the back of his thighs. “Did itwork?”
“Not yet, buthe’ll have to do it eventually,” Ophelia replied. “He knows I won’tshut up until he agrees.”
Raphael rolledhis eyes and sighed. “What colour, dear?”
Ophelia smiledas she cupped his jaw. “I thought we’d go with the palest blue,darling, so I can be reminded of your beautiful eyes every time Igo in there.”
He chuckled.“Flattery will get you everywhere.”
“I know.”Ophelia planted a kiss on his cheek.
“Is that all Iget, a peck on the cheek?”
“For now, yes.”She arched an eyebrow. “We have company.”
Caleb clearedhis throat. “I should go.”
Ophelia linkedher arm with his. “I’ll hear nothing of the sort. Come along.”
Raphaelfollowed as Ophelia led him to the drawing room and sat him on thesofa like one of her clients.
“Drink, Caleb?”asked Raphael, chuckling.
“Make it alarge one.”
“Tell yourAuntie Ophelia what’s wrong.”
Caleb waiteduntil Raphael poured brandy into three crystal glasses and thenhanded one to him. “Thanks, Raphael.” He took a mouthful andswallowed. “I signed up to a dating agency,” he confessed.
“Whatever for?”Ophelia asked.
“It was Evie.She confessed to being afraid of spending eternity on her own, andthen she said she felt selfish for wanting more out of her newimmortal life.”
“So what’s thatgot to do with a dating agency?”
Caleb swiggedhis brandy, savouring the burn as it slipped down his throat. “I’mgetting to it. I told her it wasn’t selfish, and angels are allowedto be happy too, like you two. The next thing I know, I’m showingher the dating agency website you told me about, Raphael. I thoughtit might make her feel better.”
“How would youknow about a dating agency website?” Ophelia asked her husband, notaccusingly so, more in a curious way.
“From one of mywards.”
“Did they haveany luck finding a date?”
“I don’t know.I’ll ask when I see him again.”
Ophelia claspedher hands, her eyes full of excitement. “Ooh, I do hope so. I loveit when couples find their way to each other.”
“Anyway,” Calebsaid, clearing his throat. “Evie somehow managed to convince me tosign up too. I’m not even looking for anyone. I’m happy as Iam.”
Raphael walkedover and slapped his shoulder, grinning. “You’ve got it bad, dearfellow.”
“What are youtalking about?”
Ophelia andRaphael nodded their heads sagely.
“You’ve fallenfor Evie, haven’t you?” said Ophelia.
“What?” Heshook his head vehemently. “Evie’s a good friend, I’ll admit that,but first and foremost, I’m her teacher. I will not risk thedisapproval of the Powers That Be. They put their trust in me—thinkof their disappointment. No, I will not even consider it.”
“You protesttoo much, Caleb,” Raphael remarked.
The sympathy inhis friend’s tone ignited a sudden explosion of anger. “I do not.Evie is a beautiful girl, stunning, in fact, and who wouldn’t becharmed by her sweet nature? But there’s absolutely no way I thinkof her like that.”
“Are yousure?”
Now thesympathy from Ophelia too. This was not going how he’d hoped.
“Yes, I’msure.” He baulked at the loudness of his voice. Maybe he wasprotesting too much. He pushed the thought to the back of his mind.“Even if there was the remotest possibility of anything happeningbetween—”
Ophelia’swaggling eyebrows stopped him mid-sentence.
He glowered.“Which there is not, so you can stop with the matchmakerlook.” He downed the rest of his brandy. “Evie’s not interested inme. She’s a free spirit, and I’m a fuddy-duddy who’s stuck in myways.”
He stood, theanger in his belly about to boil over. “I wish I’d never mentionedit. Thanks for the brandy, but I’m going before I say something Iregret.”
“You must dowhatever you think is right, Caleb, but take care,” Ophelia said.“Don’t do anything stupid or reckless.”
Caleb snorted.“When have I ever done anything stupid or reckless?” Except for thetime he’d accidentally flown into a flock of birds. It hadn’t beenpretty; he got himself covered in bird shit, blood, and feathers.And the smell… not pleasant. He did manage to save one poorsparrow, though, took him home and tended to his broken wing untilthe little fellow was able to fly again.
He offered acurt goodbye, marched
