Until Next Time The Angel Chronicles Book 1 by Amy Lignor

Just remember to stop and smell the roses once in a while.”
    Emily wrinkled up her nose. “What does that mean?”
    “Just a little expression I’m trying out.” He winked. “I hope it catches on. It means…take the time to enjoy your life.”
    “Is it really that easy?”
    “Of course, it’s that easy. He made a paradise so that humans could live as wonderfully down there as He does up here. Nothing’s too good for them…or you. By the way, how’s the cat?”
    Jumping up quickly, Emily kissed him on the cheek. “I have to go. I’ll see you soon.”
    “I’m in every creature’s eyes! Just take the time to look,” he yelled, as she ran back across the field.
    Francis smiled. “She’s going to make a wonderful daughter someday.”
    The large robe fell to the ground and the animals burst forth into the fields.
    ***
    Emily raced out the door, nearly running over Michael and Gabriel who were standing in the hallway. She slowed her pace and shouted back over her shoulder, “Is Matt okay?”
    Gabriel nodded and took a step away from the rushing girl. “Just help him. He’ll do all right in the end.”
    Emily turned back, waving her hand in front of the marble wall. The solid partition quickly evaporated, and she somersaulted through the mist and into the clouds below.
    ***
    Michael stared at her acrobatics as Emily leapt into the air, and attempted to find some sort of peace.
    The clouds turned thunderous around the glass walkway, mirroring his gray thoughts. He worried about the two stray souls he’d sent out into the world. “ Was he okay?” he whispered to the warrior beside him.
    Gabriel set down his bronze sword and picked up the book beside him. Sitting in the chair that Emily had conjured, Gabriel set his spectacles on his nose. “He’s a warrior through and through.”
    “I know that. But is that a good thing?” Michael laughed.
    Gabriel looked up at the healer over the rims of his frivolous glasses. “It’s always good to have the fighting spirit when one is around a powerful angel, my brother.”
    Michael snorted. “There might be a little too much power for the little ones to handle.”
    “I wouldn’t worry—my student is not going for sainthood. One Matthew in that group is quite enough for all of us. Besides…Emily’s smart…she’ll help him control all that power.”
    “I hope so,” Michael replied.
    “You raised a sensible, stable—albeit, stubborn—girl. She won’t let her emotions outweigh her common sense. And Emily certainly has enough sense for the two of them.”
    Michael nodded, as Gabriel transformed into his usual amber tornado.
    The gleaming bronze sword became the center, as the flames wrapped around the weapon like a blanket of fire. With a rush of scorching wind, Gabriel disappeared into his room to finish his book.
    With a heavy sigh, Michael wiped the few stray embers from his now slightly singed robe, and rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. “I really hate it when he does that.”
    Laughter came down from above and flowed through the hallway, offering comfort to His frustrated archangel.

CHAPTER SIX
    Liz woke to an odd mixture of gentle purring and the distant rumbling of thunder. The strange numbness began to leave her body, as her eyes slowly opened to witness a black and white cat staring up at her.
    Smiling wide, she put her hand out to the animal sitting comfortably in her lap. A rush of oxygen flooded her lungs, as the painful headache finally disappeared.
    The cat’s small, pink tongue felt like sandpaper against her fingers, and Liz giggled. “Well, now. How did you get in here?” The cat answered with an intelligent purr. “You must be hungry.”
    Slowly getting up from the rocking chair, Liz steadied herself for a moment. Waiting for the tingling in her legs to cease, Liz stared down at the mysterious kitten before scanning her flesh for any bruises that might have appeared during her lost hours. “Well kitty—looks like it wasn’t too