Angels at Christmas Read Free

grumbling sound. Shirley glanced up and with a look of panic realized she was sitting in his chair. She bolted upright, then leaped to one side.
    It was such a rare sight to see Shirley ruffled that, had she not felt so worried about her friend, Goodness would’ve been amused.
    Once his chair was vacant, Gabriel sat down, ignoring the prayer request. Instead, he removed the massive book from the shelf behind him. With a soft grunt, he set it on his desk. He opened it to the section marked F , and ran his finger down a long list of names inscribed there.
    Goodness wasn’t going to risk standing on tiptoe andtaking a look. Even she understood when it was best to restrain her curiosity.
    â€œAnne Fletcher,” Gabriel said thoughtfully. “It’s been five years since the divorce.”
    â€œAnne’s divorced?” Shirley whispered. “Oh, my, I didn’t know. How’s she doing?”
    â€œActually, quite well,” Gabriel told her. “She’s adjusted far better than we’d expected.” He nodded, smiling gently. “She’s gone back to her art and that’s helped her. It says here that she’s living in Washington State, on a small island in Puget Sound.”
    â€œBurton always discounted her talent,” Shirley said, and leaned on her palms against the desk, daring to read the huge volume that documented human lives. “She could’ve been a successful artist had she continued her studies.”
    â€œStill might,” Goodness threw in, implying that she was in the know. She hated being left in the dark when it came to earthly matters. Humans intrigued her. They were the very pinnacle of God’s creation, fearfully and wonderfully made, yet so obtuse. It was hard to believe free will could cause such problems.
    â€œAnne Fletcher is indeed talented,” Gabriel said, “but fame and fortune were never important to her. She’s had to deal with various losses, but as you already know, for every loss there is an equal or greater gain. Often humans have to search for it, though.”
    Goodness nodded in full agreement, although she couldn’t begin to guess what God had in store for the fifty-nine-year-old divorced woman. “God has another man for her, doesn’t He?” she ventured.
    Gabriel frowned as if Goodness’s comments were starting to irritate him. “No, Goodness, not another man. Frankly, Anne isn’t interested.”
    â€œI don’t blame her for that,” Mercy added. “After whatBurton did to her, she’d find it very difficult to trust again, and who could blame her?” She seemed to think that was all anyone needed to say on that subject.
    â€œThe prayer is for her son,” Gabriel pointed out as he read the request.
    â€œRoy,” Shirley said. “You remember Roy, don’t you?” she asked mournfully. “He was such a sweet child, so willing to please, so anxious to follow in his father’s footsteps.”
    â€œBurton never forgave him for not pursuing a law degree,” Gabriel commented absently. “Roy is gifted, but he works too hard.”
    â€œI’m sure Anne would like grandchildren,” Shirley said, studying the prayer request.
    â€œOf course she would,” Mercy agreed.
    For the first time since they’d entered the room, Shirley smiled. “God provides,” she whispered, and then said in a louder voice, “Isn’t that what you were just saying?”
    Gabriel glanced up. “Roy isn’t interested in marriage.”
    â€œNot now he isn’t,” Goodness chimed in. The possibility of romance rose before her—it was such fun to steer humans toward one another! Creating romance was by far her favorite duty on Earth. “We want in on this,” she announced.
    Gabriel leveled a fierce gaze on her, and she swallowed hard and took a step back.
    â€œBut only if you feel it’s for the best,” she