Christmas 2011 Trio A. Кейт Хьюит

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СКАЧАТЬ and comfort of your home.”

      For a moment he was sure she was going to reject the idea; then she turned to him with a tentative smile. “All right. We’ll order pizza and I like anchovies.”

      “Pizza it is. I like anchovies, too.” He’d never met a woman who did; once again she’d surprised him.

      From the expression on her face, he wasn’t convinced she believed him.

      “I’m just a regular guy, Julie.”

      Muttering, “That’s what Benedict Arnold used to say,” she climbed out of the car and closed the door.

      Roy joined her on the concrete walkway that led to the front steps. “I’m really not so bad, you know.”

      “That remains to be seen, doesn’t it?”

      He chuckled. “I guess it does. Friends?” He held out his hand.

      She looked at his extended hand, sighed and gave him her own. “Don’t think this means I’m going to change my mind about the settlement check.”

      “We’ll see about that,” he said as she inserted the key into the lock.

      “Yes, we will,” she responded with equal determination.

      Roy grinned. This might not be so bad. A girl who liked anchovies on her pizza was obviously reasonable some of the time.

       Ten

      Exhausted, Mercy flung herself onto a passing cloud. “This romance business is hard work,” she complained.

      “But Julie’s having dinner with him.” For her part, Goodness felt encouraged. She had to give Dean Wilcoff’s daughter credit; Julie had spunk, which was something Goodness admired.

      The young woman hadn’t been willing to accept Roy’s settlement because money wasn’t important to her. That was a rare human trait. The issue of earthly wealth confused Goodness. Money couldn’t buy the things that were truly important. Roy owned a fabulous condo on prime waterfront real estate. The three of them had gone to it and investigated, needing to learn what they could about him. Goodness had hardly ever visited a more beautifully decorated place, but it wasn’t a home. By the same token, Roy was surrounded by all kinds of people, employees and yes-men, but he had few friends. Those he’d once considered friends had drifted away out of neglect. While Roy was looked upon as rich, he was one of the poorest humans Goodness had ever seen.

      “He likes Julie,” Shirley said with a rather smug smile.

      “She amuses him.” Goodness wasn’t fooled. Roy had no real feelings for Julie. She wasn’t typical of the women he’d known and he wasn’t quite sure what to make of her. The laughter had been good for him. It had felt good, too, and that feeling had left him with the urge to laugh more. She suspected it was the reason he’d pursued Julie during her long walk home. Their shared pizza dinner had come about unexpectedly, and yet he was enjoying himself. They both were.

      “Her stubbornness intrigues him,” Goodness added. “He can’t understand why she isn’t interested in the settlement.”

      “Julie has principles,” Shirley announced, “and Roy hasn’t seen that in a woman in quite a while. Since before Aimee.”

      Mercy agreed. “What should happen next?”

      The other angels looked at Goodness as if she was the one with the answers. “How should I know?” She shrugged, as much at a loss as her friends. This relationship was a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants affair. “I’m making this up as we go along.”

      “Yes, but you’ve done such good work so far.”

      “Me?” Goodness cried. “This is a team effort.” She peered down through the cloud cover and stared into the house below. “They’re eating their pizza now.”

      “And talking,” Mercy noted with delight.

      “No one seems to be yelling, either,” Shirley said. “That’s a good sign, don’t you think?”

      Goodness nodded. “He should ask her out next,” she told the others, suddenly inspired. That seemed to be the most logical step. Not that she was convinced this relationship had much of a future.

      “Out?” Mercy repeated. “You mean like on a date?”

      “Yes, a date. He implied that he was interested in getting her on neutral turf, remember?” That was the way humans generally did those things, Goodness reasoned, because then no one had an unfair advantage. She gave a rueful grin. Humans tended to be so competitive….

      “Roy doesn’t date,” Mercy pointed out. “Not in years. He’s forgotten how. Besides, he’s got this thing about women.” From the exasperated look she wore, one might think Goodness had suggested Roy propose marriage as his next move.

      “Then he has to believe it isn’t a date.” Goodness’s head was spinning. Surely there was some social event he was obliged to attend. December was the month for that sort of function.

      “Think,” Mercy demanded.

      Suddenly the air brightened and with a sound like thunder the Archangel Gabriel joined them. He held a massive volume in his hands. The Book of Lives. “How’s it going, ladies?” he inquired.

      The three of them rushed to give him brief updates. “Great,” Goodness said cheerfully.

      “Yes—very good,” Mercy seconded.

      “We think Julie Wilcoff is the answer to Anne’s prayer,” Shirley told him. “They’re together now.”

      Gabriel seemed impressed. “And you three arranged that?”

      Goodness swallowed hard. If she admitted their role in the bike accident, it could mean trouble. Much better if Gabriel didn’t know about their little scheme. “Not entirely,” she said—which was the truth. Still, it sounded becomingly modest.

      “How’s Anne?” Gabriel surprised her by asking.

      Shirley, Goodness and Mercy froze. If he found out that Shirley had appeared to Anne, they could forget ever coming to Earth again. “Fine,” Goodness said, and to her horror her voice squeaked. “She’s painting Roy’s office windows on Wednesday.”

      “An angel scene, if I remember correctly,” Gabriel said, studying them carefully.

      “What a nice idea.” Mercy looked frantically to her friends for help.

      “I can’t imagine where she came up with that idea.” Gabriel’s eyes seemed to bore straight through them.

      The three of them huddled close together. “It’s that time of year, isn’t it?” Goodness asked. “I mean, humans seem to associate Christmas with angels.”

      Mercy spread her wings and stepped forward. “Glory to God in the Highest,” she said.

      “Glory to God,” СКАЧАТЬ