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

УHow very sad,Ф Mercy said softly.
УThe Lundbergs are deeply in love.Ф
УThat helps.Ф
GabrielТs chuckle caught Mercy off guard. She swiveled her attention to the archangel, who was clearly amused.
УWhatТs so funny?Ф Mercy demanded, irritated and not taking time to censure the thought. Gabriel, after all, was an archangel and she was in no position to be questioning him.
УNothing,Ф he said, smiling broadly.
Gabriel wasnТt one to smile. He did so only rarely. Mercy wasnТt convinced it was even in his personality profile.
УIТll give this prayer request my best effort,Ф Mercy said, thinking it was important that Gabriel know that.
УI trust you will. Just promise me one thing.Ф
Here it came, the long list of offenses sheТd managed to rack up in the short while sheТd been serving as a prayer ambassador. УYes?Ф she said, straightening for the coming lecture.
УStay away from scooters and escalators this time.Ф
Mercy grinned. УI will.Ф

Two
It was a disgrace, a downright disgrace the way Providence Hospital continued to use the same weatherworn figures in their nativity scene, Monica Fischer mused. The colors had faded and the animals, why, it was a travesty how dilapidated theyТd become. If the hospital insisted upon decorating the grounds for Christmas, then they should do so properly.
УDid you see the nativity scene at Providence Hospital?Ф she asked her father as she joined him and the other choir members outside NordstromТs department store, downtown Seattle.
УI adore the crшche,Ф Lloyd Fischer said with a beaming smile. УMaryТs seen better years, I know, but I canТt help thinking that battered stable must be much closer to the way it actually was that night in Bethlehem than we realize.Ф
Her father was right, Monica knew. He generally was. She tried to be as charitable in thought and deed as he was, but it seemed beyond her. That was the crux of her problem, Monica realized. Every man she met was measured against her fatherТs goodness and none had withstood the evaluation. Not even Patrick, whom sheТd dated off and on for the last two years. Apparently their relationship was more off than she realized. HeТd phoned two weeks earlier to tell her he was engaged to someone else.
That hurt and it hurt deeply. Monica had been dating Patrick all this time and assumed theyТd enjoyed one anotherТs company. She hadnТt a clue he was seeing anyone else. True, they hadnТt spoken of love or commitment, but theyТd shared something special, at least Monica had thought it was special.
To make matters worse Patrick had finished by saying he would always think of Monica as a special friend. Monica had wanted much more than his friendship. It was time for her to marry and start her own family, and sheТd foolishly set her sights on the wrong man. Now sheТd need to make up for lost time, but by heaven, she vowed sheТd marry, and soon. There was a man for her, she was convinced of that, and she fully intended to find him.
УAre you ready?Ф her father asked, cupping her elbow.
Monica nodded. She enjoyed these Christmas performances the church choir gave each December in the busy downtown streets. The harried shoppers would pause and listen to the joyous music, enjoying the short respite from the hectic holiday rush. For a few short moments peace would descend like a warm blanket upon the milling crowd.
Monica climbed to the soprano section on the back row of the risers. She was tall, nearly five nine, and stood a full head above the majority of the sopranos. Unlike the others, she opted for sensible flats with her dark blue suit. Her hair, although shoulder length, was tucked into a tight bun at the base of her neck. She wore no cosmetics and frowned upon women who did.
This was the first year their music was provided by their own church band. To MonicaТs way of thinking they should have made a point of practicing more often. The bandТs mistakes stuck out in an otherwise flawless program.
She played the piano, and as a favor to the choir director, Michael Simpson, sat in for a couple of weeks in their practice sessions. She hoped her dedication and example would inspire the small group. Her plan hadnТt worked and no one seemed to appreciate the rigorous practice schedule she set for herself and the others. Eventually sheТd gone back to the choir, and was pleased she had. Michael, as a means of making amends, asked that she sing a short solo in one of her all-time favorite Christmas carols, УSilent Night.Ф
When everyone was positioned on the risers, Michael raised his baton. The choir snapped to attention. Monica was proud of the professionalism of their small ensemble. Their voices rose in melodic harmony, blending smoothly. MonicaТs clear, high soprano voice escalated gloriously with the others. When she sang, she felt closer to heaven than at any other time, even when she prayed, which was something sheТd been doing a good deal of lately. She needed a husband.
а
УMonicaТs the tall one on the top riser,Ф Gabriel said, pointing out the earthling to Goodness. Like Mercy, Gabriel held a special fondness for this prayer ambassador, who, again like Mercy, possessed certain character traits that left him with misgivings. If it werenТt for the business of the Christmas season, he wouldnТt have assigned Goodness such a difficult case.
Unfortunately he had little choice and of those ambassadors left, Goodness was his best chance of seeing this prayer to fruition. If only he could guarantee that Goodness would stay away from television and movie screens. The incident of her showing up on an in-flight movie and using John WayneТs voice to warn everyone of approaching turbulence continued to rankle. HeТd counseled her on a number of occasions, but to no avail.
УI know what youТre thinking,Ф Goodness said, looking up at him with eyes filled with innocent promise. УI wonТt pull any more stunts with humans. IТve learned my lesson.Ф
УYouТre sure this time?Ф
Goodness glanced toward Monica and nodded eagerly.
Gabriel wished he shared her confidence. His own gaze drifted toward Monica Fischer. Her name was a familiar one, as her father, a man after GodТs own heart, often included her in his prayers. Monica came from a strong religious background. With her father serving as the pastor, Monica had been raised in the church. It was ironic that what the young woman lacked was faith when she was surrounded on all sides by it. Instead Monica was deeply religious and had yet to distinguish the differences between faith and religion.
УSheТs lovely,Ф Goodness claimed, locking her wings together. УFinding Monica a husband wonТt be the least bit difficult, not when sheТs so outwardly beautiful. God must have a special man in mind for her.Ф
УHe does,Ф Gabriel agreed with some reluctance, wondering just how much he should explain to this inexperienced ambassador. Goodness would learn everything she needed to know soon enough, he decided. The information he had would overwhelm her now. Soon enough Goodness would recognize exactly what God had planned for Monica Fischer.
The angel focused her attention on him, her eyes wide and questioning, awaiting an explanation. УWhat is it I must teach her?Ф
Gabriel drew in a deep breath and explained. УI fear MonicaТs steeped in the juices of her own self-righteousness. She struggles to be good under her own power and ignores all the help made available to her through faith.Ф
Goodness sighed with heartfelt sympathy. УShe must be miserable.Ф
УNo,Ф Gabriel returned without hesitation, Уshe just makes everyone else feel that way. MonicaТs complicated her life with a long list of rights and wrongs and dos and donТts. Her headТs so clouded with matters unrelated to faith that sheТs lost sight of what it means to be a child of God. Her struggles are useless when everything has already been done for her. All she need do is ask.Ф But Gabriel wasnТt telling Goodness anything new. The earth was populated with those who looked for redemption through religion.
УThe poor dear.Ф
Gabriel didnТt view Monica in those terms. It was her type that caused him the greatest concern. While Monica struggled to lead people to God, her sanctimonious ways often steered them in the opposite direction.
УShe sings very well,Ф Goodness commented.
Gabriel nodded. УSheТs gifted in several areas.Ф
УI shouldnТt have any trouble teaching what she needs to know before Christmas.Ф
How confident Goodness sounded, Gabriel noticed. He sighed inwardly, wondering once more how much he should explain, then decided it would be best not to discourage GoodnessТs enthusiasm. SheТd discover everything she needed to know soon enough.
УThe man God has for her is ready for a wife?Ф
Gabriel was beginning to feel a twinge of guilt. УYes, and eager. Very eager. Only he doesnТt know it yet, but you wonТt have to worry about him. MonicaТs the one who needs you.Ф
УThen IТll do everything within my power to help her.Ф
УYouТre ready?Ф Gabriel asked, thinking heТd best send her soon before he said too much. This request would be a learning experience for this young prayer ambassador as well as for her charge. All he could do was hope for the best.
УLetТs go,Ф Goodness said, impatient to leave the splendor of heaven and walk incognito into a dull, sin-cloaked world.