Chapter 3

Three

REBECCA

I appear back in heaven with a huff, my golden hair falling in my face as I stomp down the celestial pathway. Two days on Earth, and what do I have to show for it? A grumpy human who’d rather hug her laptop than a Christmas puppy. Ugh.

The pathway shimmers annoyingly beneath my feet, all pearly and perfect. I roll my eyes. Everything here is so disgustingly cheerful, it’s like being stuck in a glitter factory. I can still smell the earthy scent of Benton Falls clinging to my clothes—a mix of pine, snow, and good old-fashioned human stubbornness.

As I march towards my apartment, all I can think about is Chloe Anderson and her stupid, perfect hair. Who does she think she is, anyway? Miss High-and-Mighty CEO with her designer suits and her “I’m too important for Christmas” attitude. It’s like looking in a mirror, and let me tell you, I do not like what I see.

“Well, well, if it isn’t our celestial weathergirl.” A voice calls out, dripping with sarcasm. Great. Just what I need.

I turn to see Gina, another angel-in-training, who lives a couple of doors down from me. She smirks at me. “How’s the forecast looking, Rebecca? Cloudy with a chance of failure?”

I paste on my fakest smile. “Oh, you know, just peachy. How’s the view from up there on your high horse?”

Gina’s smirk falters for a second before she recovers. “Better than being earthbound. Have fun with your little human project.” She grins, “And don’t worry, you can always try again in 100 years.” Gina saunters off, leaving me seething.

I kick at a celestial flower, immediately feeling guilty as it chimes sadly. “Sorry,” I mutter, before remembering I’m talking to a flower. This place is making me lose it. I don’t know how someone like Gina even qualifies to attend the Institute. I know we’re not all guardian angels just yet, but I thought you had to at least be somewhat nice.

“Tough day at the office?”

I jump, spinning around to find Henry standing there, his silver hair aglow. How does he always manage to sneak up on me?

“Henry.” I exclaim, trying to compose myself. “I was just... uh...”

“Taking out your frustrations on the local flora?” He raises an eyebrow, eyes twinkling with amusement.

I deflate, shoulders slumping. “Is it that obvious?”

Henry chuckles, the sound reminding me of my grandpa’s old truck engine. “Only to someone who’s been watching you mope down the path for the last five minutes. Come on, let’s take a walk.”

I follow him, dragging my feet like a sulky teenager. We end up at the Celestial Sea, which is doing its usual show-off routine with swirling colors and a sunset that belongs on a postcard. We sit on a bench that looks like it’s made of tangled Christmas lights.

“So,” Henry says, “how’s our friend Chloe doing?”

I groan, flopping back dramatically. “She’s impossible. I decorated her whole house, Henry. The whole thing. Lights, tree, garlands - the works. And you know what she did? She looked at it like I’d filled her living room with manure.”

Henry’s eyebrows shoot up. “You decorated her entire house?”

“Well, yeah,” I say, suddenly feeling a bit sheepish. “Go big or go home, right? I thought it might, I don’t know, shock her into feeling Christmassy or something.”

Henry’s silent for a moment, and then he laughs. Not just a chuckle, but a full-on, belly-shaking laugh that makes the nearby flowers start chiming in harmony.

“Oh, Rebecca,” he wheezes, wiping tears from his eyes. “You certainly don’t do anything by halves, do you?”

I cross my arms, pouting. “Well, what was I supposed to do? She’s allergic to joy, I swear. I invited her to the tree lighting ceremony, and you’d think I’d asked her to go dumpster diving.”

Henry’s laughter subsides, but his eyes are still crinkled with amusement. “And how does that make you feel?”

“Frustrated. Annoyed. Like I want to shake her until jingle bells fall out.” I throw my hands up in exasperation. “She’s just so... so...”

“Like you used to be?” Henry suggests gently.

I freeze, the words hitting me like a snowball in the face. “I... that’s not... I mean...”

But even as I try to deny it, I know he’s right. Chloe’s drive, her focus on success, her dismissal of anything that doesn’t fit into her master plan—it’s all painfully familiar.

“Okay, fine,” I admit grudgingly. “She might be a teeny tiny bit like I used to be. But that’s why this will never work. How am I supposed to help her when I’m still trying to figure this stuff out for myself? In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly Miss Christmas Spirit over here.”

Henry nods thoughtfully. “And why do you think that is?”

I shrug, picking at a loose thread on my robe. “I don’t know. I guess... I’m scared? What if I can’t do this, Henry? What if I fail and I’m stuck being the weather girl for eternity? Do you know how boring it is to forecast ‘sunny and perfect’ every single day?”

Henry’s hand comes to rest on my shoulder, warm and comforting. “Rebecca, my dear, has it occurred to you that perhaps this assignment isn’t just about Chloe?”

I look at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

“Sometimes, the best way to learn is by teaching,” he says softly. “In helping Chloe discover the true spirit of Christmas, you might just rediscover it yourself.”

And just like that, my chances of passing this assignment just decreased by 50%.

“So, what should I do?” I ask, feeling small and uncertain. “How do I help her when I’m still so messed up myself?”

Henry smiles, his entire face lighting up. “By being genuine. By showing her it’s okay to be imperfect, to struggle, to learn. Share your own journey with her, Rebecca. Let her see that change is possible, that there’s joy in the process of growth.”

I nod slowly, a plan forming in my mind. “So, no more sneaky decorating?”

Henry chuckles. “Perhaps ease up on the grand gestures. Focus on the small things—a kind word, a moment of understanding. Sometimes the biggest changes start with the tiniest actions.”

As we stand to leave, I feel a little lighter, a little more hopeful. Maybe, just maybe, I can do this.

“Oh, and Rebecca?” Henry calls as we part ways. “Remember, you have resources at your disposal. Your empathy, your intuition, even the Blessing Hotline if you need it. Use them wisely.”

I nod, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Thanks, Henry. For everything.”

As I walk back to my apartment, I actually notice the beauty around me for once. The star-speckled sky, the soft glow of the pearly buildings, even the annoyingly cheerful flowers. It’s all pretty amazing when you stop to look.

I flop onto my cloud-soft bed, my mind buzzing with ideas for tomorrow. No more over-the-top schemes. Just me, being real, trying to connect with Chloe human-to-former-human. Who knows? Maybe in helping Chloe find her Christmas spirit, I’ll find mine too.

And hey, if all else fails, at least it beats forecasting eternal sunshine.

If ads affect your reading experience, click here to remove ads on this page.