"Angels- 01 - A Season Of Angels" - читать интересную книгу автора (Macomber Debbie)

УJody?Ф Glen said, interrupting her thoughts.
УIТm sorry, I got distracted.Ф
УI know itТs short notice and all, but how about a movie? I understand thereТre several good ones playing. How would you feel about that? I could meet you at the theater if thatТd make you more comfortable,Ф he added, rushing the words together in his eagerness.
So soon. It was happening so fast, much faster than sheТd expected. Much too soon, long before she was ready. Then she remembered her motherТs words about placing the love she shared with Jeff in the most tender part of her heart. She didnТt know what to make of Glen finding her number pasted on his telephone.
УA movie,Ф she repeated. There was a six-plex less than a mile from her house. УAh, all right.Ф
УGreat,Ф Glen said, sounding a little like Timmy when sheТd given in on something heТd really wanted. УThis is just great. I promise you, you wonТt be sorry. Just you wait and see.Ф
Jody wondered if that were possible.

Five
Shirley loved old white churches with tall steeples and huge bells. In the Reverend Lloyd FischerТs church she felt a certain kinship with this righteous man of God. She was waiting for her two compatriots in the choir loft, which was situated up the winding stairway in the back of the old church. The freshly polished pews gleamed in the moonlight and the scent of lemon oil wafted toward her.
She frowned as she viewed the magnificent old organ. It would take a minor miracle to keep Mercy away from this. The public address system didnТt bear thinking about.
УShirley?Ф Goodness arrived first, agitated and impatient, racing up and down the center aisle.
УUp here.Ф
Goodness joined her, hurling herself over the wooden railing of the choir loft. УWhereТs Mercy? She should have been here by now.Ф
УIТm sure she will be soon.Ф
No sooner had Shirley spoken than Mercy appeared. УIТm up here. No one bothered to tell me Leah LundbergТs a night owl.Ф She sagged into one of the choir chairs and tilted back her head. УIТm bushed. Leah had me running from one end of the shopping mall to the next. After she found her friend an absolutely delightful party dress, she took off on her own and shopped for hours. I didnТt know a single human being possessed so much energy.Ф
УWeТre all learning lessons about earthlings,Ф Shirley maintained. Her own experiences had been exhausting as well.
УYouТre telling me,Ф Goodness joined in. УAll MonicaТs done since Chet kissed her is stew in the juices of her self-righteousness. SheТs convinced God never intended a good Christian woman to experience desire. I think it must be the first time she was ever kissed, I mean really kissed. I donТt mind telling you, this whole situation has got me plenty worried.Ф
УYou?Ф Mercy cried, and a look of frustration and bewilderment marked her face. УHow am I supposed to help Leah when she crams every spare minute of the day with mindless activity? It isnТt any wonder the woman has no peace. She doesnТt take time to listen to herself, let alone anyone else.Ф
УThis must be a common trait with humans,Ф Shirley added thoughtfully. УHave you seen JodyТs yard? Why, itТs meticulous. The woman must spend every available minute maintaining those flower beds.Ф
УIТd hoped to make a real difference in LeahТs life,Ф Mercy continued, Уand now I wonder if thatТs possible.Ф
Shirley surveyed the small group of prayer ambassadors. She was new at this and uncertain herself, but then they were all relatively inexperienced and it made sense that they help each other.
УWhat about you, Shirley?Ф Mercy asked, her gaze skittering past the organ and then drifting lazily toward the huge pipes. Shirley could all but see MercyТs mind feverishly devising ways of getting at that organ.
УAs it happens, things are developing nicely with Jody and her son, Timmy,Ф Shirley said, walking directly in front of the organ, cutting off MercyТs view. УJody went out on her first date in years this evening and afterwards Glen asked her out for dinner and she agreed.Ф
УGlen? WhoТs Glen?Ф
УAn attorney. They work for the same law firm. GlenТs hardworking and sincere. From what I was able to learn about him, heТs interested in settling down and starting a family. IТm sure once Timmy meets him everything will fall neatly into place.Ф
Goodness slapped one disgruntled wing against her side. УIТm going to do my very best to remain angelic here, but it seems to me you received a cushy assignment while Mercy and I are at our witsТ end.Ф
Mercy chimed in in agreement. УIn case you havenТt guessed, Goodness and I are experiencing some minor difficulties.Ф
УIt might help,Ф Shirley said in gentle, forgiving tones, Уif you stayed away from escalators and television screens.Ф
УYou heard?Ф Goodness ventured.
Shirley nodded. УAnd so has Gabriel.Ф
Mercy closed her eyes. УIs he furious?Ф
УHe hasnТt pulled you off the assignment, has he?Ф Shirley asked. УI heard what you said this afternoon, and youТre right. Gabriel doesnТt have the angel-power to replace you just now and IТm sure all will be forgiven if, and itТs a big if, Mercy is able to help Leah find her peace. Goodness, youТve got to help Monica find a decent husband.Ф
УI thought itТd be easier than it is,Ф Goodness confessed in a small voice.
Mercy joined her friend, sagging defeatedly into a chair. УWe could both do with some suggestions. This prayer business is difficult work.Ф
Goodness agreed with a sharp nod. УBeing around humans for any length of time is enough to make any angel go stir-crazy.Ф
Shirley did a poor job of containing a smile. How well she understood her friendsТ frustrations. Most of her career had been spent working with humans. УJust donТt ever volunteer to work as a guardian then,Ф she suggested. The stories she could tell!
УCan you help us, Shirley?Ф Mercy asked.
Her friendsТ faces were both tired and gloomy, and Shirley didnТt know if she had any words of wisdom to offer them. УI can try. Tell me whatТs happening.Ф
Mercy and Goodness exchanged glances. УYou go first,Ф Goodness suggested.
УIТve already told you about LeahТs day. IТve spent most of my time observing her, and frankly, I havenТt gained a lot of insight into her personality. She holds her pain deep inside herself, unwilling to give up even the smallest portion of it, as if it were something of value.Ф
Shirley thoughtfully mulled over this information. УIf thatТs the case, it seems to me she must find joy before she finds peace.Ф
Stubbornly Mercy folded her arms and frowned and her chest lifted with a gigantic sigh. УGabriel didnТt say anything about joy. All he mentioned was peace. Who exactly does he think I am, St. Peter?Ф
УPerhaps that was the problem with the other prayer ambassadors. They were looking for shortcuts as well.Ф
УOh, all right,Ф Mercy said ungraciously. УBut how am I supposed to teach her about joy? Joy, peace, whatТs the difference?Ф
УWhat are LeahТs favorite things?Ф
Mercy frowned. УItТs difficult to tell. She enjoys her home, but sheТd gladly relinquish it for the chance to be a mother. While she was with her friend this afternoon, they talked quite a bit about PamТs kids. A spark shone from Leah as they discussed the children, especially her friendТs three-year-old. I think she said his name was Scotty.Ф
УChildren,Ф Shirley repeated, her thoughts deep and grave.
УBut thatТs the crux of the problem, donТt you see,Ф Mercy said, and the expression in her eyes changed, becoming more intent. УShe doesnТt have a child so she holds fast to her disappointment. The child will bring her the true joy, and I doubt that anything else will.Ф
Goodness had grown especially quiet. УWhat if you brought a child into her life for a short time, like a weekend or something? You could manage that, couldnТt you?Ф