ANGEL

As she attached the flight label to her hand luggage, excitement turned to doubt. Am I bravely facing the future or turning my back like a coward. 

Bridie was the youngest daughter and had been exposed to tragedy and loss from early childhood. 

On the day she and eleven year old sister Cathleen were placed in the orphanage, Mattie, Bridie’s godmother and loyal family friend placed a porcelain figure of an Angel in the child’s arms, telling her to imagine the figure was her friend. 

At sixteen years of age she crossed the water to Liverpool. The shy innocent Bridie 0’Hara who had never had a boyfriend was bowled over when she met twenty year old streetwise Billy Clarke. 

Billy, only son of the bigoted formidable Ivy and timid henpecked Bill, was instantly attracted to the slight red haired girl. When Billy discovered he was going to be a father his immediate thoughts were of Ivy and the expected volatile reaction to his Irish catholic girlfriend. 

Their marriage produced two children, Rosie, warm and affectionate and devious, sadistic William. 

During the dysfunctional and often lonely years of married life, the serene face of the Angel statue comforted and gave inner strength to Bridie as she confided her darkest secrets. 

When the much feared and disturbed William brought heartache and devastating shame to the family, Bridie’s spirit was broken. 

Then a chance meeting with an old lady provided the miracle that would restore Bridie’s willpower and give her the courage to make a life changing decision.