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"But you just got home"

"Yes, I know"

"But, Dad, I need to talk to you"

It was unusual for Joe to raise his voice "All right, son" Paul pulled out a chair "Let’s both sit down and we’ll talk"

Joe and Annie sat across the table from hiaze couldn’t seem to settle in any one place, as if the subject he wanted to discussabout heading to Oregon in the ," Joe announced without preamble

The news hit Paul like a rock square in the chest Joe leaving, with Annie So soon It seemed he’d barely arrived They’d barely had a chance to talk

All the things he’d planned with his son had fallen by the wayside The anticipation, the exciteht Joe had his own life, and he didn’t need his fatherit up

"You don’t mind, do you?" Annie asked in that velvety sweet voice of hers

"Of course not There’s not that ine you’re anxious to see your fahtened i all week She can’t wait for us to arrive so she can introduce Joe to all o if you’d rather we stayed here with you," Joe was quick to add "Then…" He let the rest fade, apparently unsure what to say

"Don’t be silly," Paul said,on here" He i people were bored

Joe looked down at his hands as if he weren’t sure he was doing the right thing "The Christmas decorations are all up, and you’ll be with Bethany and Eric, and--"

"It’s fine, son, don’t worry about me"

"Annie and I put a couple of presents to you under the tree," Joe said next

Gifts Sweet heaven, Paul hadn’t purchased a thing for the two of theht to buying Christifts Barbara had always seen to the task, and he’d been so plagued with his own troubles that it had slipped his mind He felt like an utter fool

"You didn’t need to do that," he told his son and Annie He really did wish that the two had saved their ettingwhat little funds they had for their wedding But he said none of this

The minute he could, Paul escaped the house and hurried over to the church office He nearly stumbled over a chair on the way to his desk in his hurry to reach the phone

Funny, he’d worked with Leta Johnson more years than he could re her at hoht to contact

She answered on the first ring "Hello"

"Leta, it’s Paul Morris I’m sorry to call you unexpectedly like this, but I need a favor"

"Of course"

"Joe and Annie are leaving for Eugene in theoff until the last ifts for them"

"What is it you want me to do?" Leta asked

Paul swore the woifts, especially for a young woo out and purchase whatever you think would be appropriate and wrap the presents forsilence

"If you’d given ht have been able to help," Leta said without censure, "but I already have plans for this evening"

Paul sank onto the chair, thoroughly discouraged He’d counted on Leta to come to his rescue the way she had a thousand ti," hewoman"

"I’m sure the sales clerks will be more than happy to help you"

Paul didn’t share her confidence "There isn’t any way you could change your plans?" he asked hopefully

If Barbara had been his right hand all those years, then Leta was of equal value when it came to church s of his church than he did himself He had come to rely on her more and more of late, perhaps too much

"I’ret in her voice, and so else Sadness? Paul couldn’t be sure

"I can’t help you this time"

"I understand" He replaced the headpiece and leaned forward and propped his elbows against his desk top Well, she’d certainly told hily suspected that he deserved it Heaven help hiifts It would have been reed to do it for hi?"

The prayer ambassador looked up from her perch on top of the elevator and exa?"

"Don’t pretend you don’t knohat I’ about, either," Goodness cried