Even in the worst situations, Evey had grace. I put my arm around her as we walked out. “You did good,” I told her.
That marked the end of the Tracey era for Evey and me.
TWO MONTHS LATER, I was doing odd jobs to make money, losing more feathers here and there, and feeling less angelic by the day. Meanwhile, Evey carried on as though it wasn’t unusual at all to be married to something that wasn’t human. I didn’t know what I was anymore.
We had saved enough money to float us for a few months until Evey could get her business off the ground. I had to assure her that I had taken the money from really bad people. She wasn’t always convinced, and then I would just remind her that I personally knew Jesus Christ. We would both laugh because it just didn’t seem like that was the reality anymore, even though I knew him in my heart still.
We were cleaning up a loft in the city, getting it ready to become Evey’s workspace. It had taken us a while to find the perfect spot. The loft was a huge high-beamed space with concrete floors and floor-to-ceiling windows that spanned almost the entire side of one block.
“I think we should try to buy this place,” she said while we swept dust into giant mounds. “The neighborhood is being overhauled. It’ll probably be worth millions in a few years.”
I started coughing and tried to clear my throat. I had to stop sweeping to catch my breath; the place was filthy. I felt like we were in over our heads, but she was happy. That was all that mattered. “Let’s look into it.”
“We can convert it to a live/work space,” she said.
“That’s a great idea. We’ll work on it.”
“With a nursery.”
I stopped sweeping and looked up from the floor. Evey had stopped sweeping too. I scanned her from head to toe. She was wearing a timid smile, leaning on the broom.
“Evelyn,” I said in a warning tone.
“You put a baby in me, Lucian.”
“Jesus.”
“No you,” she said.
The ongoing joke was no longer funny. I was terrified inside, afraid that we’d have to endure the pain of loss all over again.
Stalking toward her, I dropped the broom with a thud, took her in my arms, and held her close. I could hear the baby’s heart beating, like I’d had with Evey’s last pregnancy. Although beautiful, I wished that the sound I was hearing was more reassuring. It would be for normal people. I buried my face in Evey’s neck.
She held me tight and whispered, “Tell me you’re happy.”
My throat tightened. “I’m happy, Evey. Worried but happy.”
“Please don’t worry. Let’s just take this one day at a time.”
I nodded into her neck, but quickly pulled out of her embrace. It hit me, the possibility of it really happenening. I felt intense joy that overshadowed the fear. Real joy that Evey and I could become parents. “I have to go tell someone,” I said excitedly. “How far along are you? How do you know? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m probably about seven weeks. I just wanted to wait until after I missed my period. I wanted to be sure. Brooklyn brought me a test when you were out one day.”
“I’m going to be a father. I have to go tell someone.” I was practically jumping out of my skin.
“You’re so cute. Go, go tell someone. While you’re out, you should look for a suit for Brooklyn’s wedding. It’s in three weeks.”
“Right,” I shouted as I headed for the elevator. I turned on my heel and ran back to Evey, took her in my arms, and spun her around. “I am so happy. I love you so much, but you should be wearing a mask or a ventilator here, okay? I’ll bring you back one. No more sweeping.” I set her down and headed back for the elevator.
“Get a suit, Lucian!”
Running out to the sidewalk, I cloaked myself and took flight, though not a steady flight with my now-very-depleted wings. I called for Zack or Mona and looked around for other angels but found no one I recognized. I really wanted to tell someone, and the only person I could think of was the bartender, Han. I headed for the Star Wars bar, and sure enough, he was working.
He pointed at me as I walked toward the bar. “Bullet neat?”
“Sure,” I said a bit apprehensively. It was only eleven in the morning, but I wanted to celebrate. I sat on a red vinyl bar stool. “So, Han—”
“The name’s Greg,” he interrupted.
“Greg, I have some news.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah.” There was something unusually familiar about Greg.
He poured my drink and smiled in a knowing way. “What’s happening to you?”
“What do you mean?”
He shook his head. “Never mind. So what’s your news?”
I took a sip. “So, um, remember Evelyn? The girl that I walked home that one night? She used to come in here once in a while?”
“I remember,” he said, laughing.
I didn’t understand why he was acting so strange.
“She’s pregnant. We’re going to have a baby.” I shot him an ear-splitting grin.
He didn’t smile back. He refilled my drink and then leaned over the bar. “You don’t have a clue, do you, Lucian?”
Had I ever told him my name? I didn’t think so. “Clue about what?”
As he moved an inch closer to my face, I recognized something in his greenish eyes. “Who are you?” I asked.
“I got banished. I tried to sleep with Brooklyn, and Mona caught me.”
“Zack?”
He rolled his eyes and nodded. “You’re really losing it, man. Like, what is wrong with you?”
“Why do you look like this guy? And you were so good! How could she banish you?”
“I’m this guy forever. It’s part of my punishment.” I didn’t want to tell him that his new look was actually an improvement. “It wasn’t just the Brooklyn thing,” he said. “They found out I was zapping my couple pretty bad so they would stay in the house and be a little confused.”
“Wow! That really is pretty despicable, man.”
“Yeah, I know. I feel bad,” he said, but I wasn’t sure he really did. “So I hate to break it to you, Lucian—because you’re my friend—but you must know that things will eventually drop for you. Storm clouds are forming.”
“Geez, Zack, why don’t you be a little more cryptic? You’re starting to sound like Mona now. And don’t tell me bad things are going to happen if you have no clue at all.” I looked around to see if anyone was in earshot of us. “Why do you want to ruin this for me? I think I’m becoming human. I think it’s really happening.”
“You’re definitely losing your gifts, that’s for sure. You should have spotted me in a second.” He started wiping down the counter as he continued. “I don’t know. But I can’t be in this dude’s body, in this shitty bar for an eternity while you’re off living the life. Where’s the justice in that?”
I stood and pushed the stool back forcefully, sending it screeching back a few feet. I threw a twenty on the counter. “Thanks for being a good friend. Sorry, you got thrown out. Don’t blame me though, Zack. I had nothing to do with it.”
When I turned to walk away, he said quietly, “Storm’s coming.”