“I don’t understand why,” Annabelle said.
“There’s no why.” Zing handed Annabelle her pillow, saying, “Hit me with it.”
Annabelle took the pillow and tapped it on Zing’s shoulder.
“Come on. You can do better than that.” Zing hit Annabelle over the head with her pillow. Surprised into action, Annabelle hit Zing over the head.
The pillow war began.
They jumped on the bed, whacking each other with pillows, laughing and fighting until they both lay gasping on the bed. They lay side by side, panting, staring at the ceiling.
“That was fun,” Annabelle said once she caught her breath.
“See, there’s all sorts of fun to be had. Maybe you should stay awhile. I bet Bertha would let you if you asked.”
“Zing, you know I can’t. Bertha would have a fit,” Annabelle said. She bit her lip. “But I did find a way for you to stay a little longer.”
Zing sat straight up. “What?”
“It’s an obscure clause in the book,” Annabelle said. She grabbed the handbook and thumbed through it quickly until she found the page she was looking for. “Here it is.”
Zing leaned over. “What does it say?” She was too impatient to read it herself. Her reading comprehension went right out the window when she was overly excited.
“It says that once a guardian angel has entered the physical world—as you have—that a furlough of thirty days is allowed if, in the line of duty, the guardian must watch over her charge because of some continued endangerment.”
Zing picked up her pillow and squeezed it against her chest. “What kind of endangerment? The doctor released Nell from the hospital. I don’t think hair loss counts as further endangerment.”
“The danger is her broken heart. Which was why she fell in the manhole in the first place, right? If she hadn’t been arguing with that Dove woman, she would’ve been paying attention where she was walking.”
“So I’m supposed to guard her heart? That’s the danger I’ve got to protect her from—a broken heart?”
Annabelle nodded. “It caused her an accident once, it could happen again.”
Zing’s eyes lit up. “That’s brilliant.”
“You really should read the book. It would help you,” Annabelle said.
“How do I tell HQ? Bertha will not be happy.”
“It doesn’t matter. The book supersedes all other opinions. I’ll put in the paperwork for you. Bertha will have to sign off, but she’ll do it.”
“She’ll probably do it just to get me out of her hair for a month,” Zing said.
Annabelle laughed. “Whatever works, right?”
“I’m starting to like this book,” Zing said, giving it a pat.
“You better. I need to get back,” Annabelle said. “I miss you, kiddo.”
“I miss you, too. Come anytime. You know where I am. Miracle said I could stay here as long as I want. She’s awesome. She’s teaching me all sorts of things.”
“That’s what worries me.” Annabelle blew her a kiss and disappeared.
Chapter Three
Delicious smells wafted from The World’s Best Donut Shop. Zing’s mouth watered as she waited outside the locked door. According to the sign taped on the door, she was one minute early.
She saw movement inside the shop, then the lights came on and Nell unlocked the door. She greeted Zing with a big smile. “Come in, Zing. I was hoping you’d come by this morning.”
Zing stepped through the doorway and inhaled deeply. “It smells great in here!”
“Have a seat anywhere,” Nell said.
Zing chose a table in the corner and Nell joined her. Nell was dressed in her bakery whites. Fortunately, her chef’s hat covered up most of her bandaged head. Zing thought the pastries and donuts lined up inside the glass case looked fantastic, but that Nell looked even fantastickier. There was something so yummy about Nell when she had powdered sugar smudges on her face. Zing had a sudden urge to lick the sugar off.
Nell asked, “I guess you’re here to collect on that free donut I offered you. What kind would you like?”
“I would like the world’s best donut, please,” Zing answered. “Which one is the best?”
“Well, that depends. What kind is your favorite?”
Zing shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never had a donut before.”
“What, guardian angels don’t eat donuts?” Nell teased.
“No, we’re supposed to eat a lot of kale. I don’t like kale.”
“Can’t say I do either,” Nell said. “You know, I almost didn’t recognize you without your candy stripes.”