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Again all three nodded as one

Gabriel’s s to thank for that inner strength She gained it when he deserted her"

"They ain if it hadn’t been for those spilled crabs" Goodness enius

Gabriel didn’t look pleased--nor should he, Shirley reasoned But that one antic had worked beautifully She’d adh she hadn’t approved at the ti else to report?" Gabriel asked

The three glanced at one another and shrugged

"We’ve been to visit Matthias in the Seattle area," Mercy told hiest that Gabriel probably already knew about it "He still hates Greg, but he’s randson’s condition just now"

"Ah, yes," Gabriel said, frowning again "I’ve heard so about that Cancer, is it?"

Shirley nodded "The sarandel that their time on earth had been well spent, she said, "We’ve been to see Greg’s brother, as well Phil Bennett You remember him, don’t you?"

"Of course," Gabriel assured the in choirs as much as she does I’m sure she’ll volunteer to be part of the heavenly host next year--is that correct?"

"Ah…" Goodness waited desperately for Shirley to rescue her, but Shirley was in no ht have leaped in to save her friend, if not for that escapade with the hot-air balloon She feltwine had gone a long way toward teer, but…

"I’ll be happy to serve wherever assigned," Goodness stated with a woeful look in Shirley’s direction

Gabriel arched his brows as if to say her willingness surprised hie fro with the heavenly host isn’t my favorite Christmas duty," Goodness was quick to add, "but I’ll serve wherever you feel I’d do best"

Once again Gabriel’s expression i else you’d like to report?" he finally asked

"Not a thing," Shirley said, eager for hi I can think of"

He stared at the three of theht, then, carry on Just remember there are less than three weeks until Christmas"

"Oh, yes," they said in unison They’d made a lucky escape, Shirley felt Gabriel hadn’t even ood of you to check up on us," Goodness said

That was overdoing it, in Shirley’s opinion She resisted the urge to step on the other angel’s foot

"Oh, yes," Mercy chiood measure, she added a small wave

Shirley sent both Goodness and Mercy looks potent enough to perm their hair

Gabriel turned away, then abruptly turned back "I had no idea you three enjoyed wine"

Not one of theoing to be plucking harp strings on some cloud for the remainder of their careers

"I don’t suppose you happened to notice the label, did you?" he asked

No one answered

"That’s what I thought," Gabriel said "It was the Bennett label Greg Bennett is a talented wine o out of business, don’t you think?" Not giving them the opportunity to respond, Gabriel whisked back to the real Bennett had an aversion to the antiseptic smell that permeated hospitals It nearly overpowered hilass doors of San Francisco General His dislike of hospitals was linked to hisstay before her death, he supposed That, and his own revulsion to needles and blood

He paused at the information center

"Can I help you?" a ht I find Dr Edward Thorpe?"

"Oh, you’re here about the article That’s wonderful!"

Article? What article? Greg hadn’t a clue, but he played along as if he did His son had decided he didn’t want towanted to see Edward Needed to see hi to announce who he was He didn’t plan to cause a scene or even call attention to hiotten the better of hio, but he couldn’t leave matters as they were Not now that he knew Catherine had borne the child

Catherine hadfelt an urge to sie a word Without ever knowing hi

Like father, like son