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The one thing he didn’t kno to run was the postageon Leta’s desk with a note that explained he had resigned He asked that she

Now that the decision had been made to leave the ministry, Paul experienced a sensation of freedo remotely related to alcohol, the sensation was heady

On the way back to his house, Paul wandered into the garage and rooted through his ca recently, he easily found the ca, tent, and other supplies he needed And since the car was conveniently parked there, he loaded up the gear in the trunk

When he was finished he walked into the house For the first tiry He paused in an attempt to remember when he’d last sat down to a meal Probably one Annie had cooked, and they’d left, what?…two days ago--no, three

He rus and cheese--a little dry and dark around the edges, but still edible An omelet He used to be fas into a bowl and whipped the Only an hour or so earlier he couldn’t force hile note of a well-loved Christ in an Italian opera

The ainst Annie, but Joe’s wife-to-be had a thing or two to learn about cooking He reain he smiled

He stacked the dishes in the sink, filled it with soapy water, and left to pack his clothes He intended on packing light A sweater and an extra set of clothes plus a few changes of underere all he needed, he decided

He checked the house one last tiht, he went back to the church He didn’t stay long, anxious as he was to be on his way

He re soht phone, and when she learned he’d resigned and no one knehere he ell, she’d worry about him and he didn’t want to spoil her Christmas

It was only fair, too, that he let Leta know that she’d been a good secretary over the years She deserved thata replacement for him As far as he was concerned, he hadn’t done the churchback down at his desk, his favorite fishing hat perched atop his head, Paul typed out a minor list of instructions for Leta He listed the naround where he was headed and wished everyone a Merry Christer to be on his way, Paul got into the car and was ready to leave when he re in the sink He sat for a moment, then decided to leave theround took him nearly two hours It was a peaceful drive, with only his thoughts to keep hirets about what a poor job he was doing seeing to the spiritual needs of his congregation

If he had any regrets, they all fell in the area of Madge Bartelli He loved the old woman But she was the straw that had broken him

God had asked too h to watch Barbara die, but to ask hih the ordeal a second time was unfair

"Unfair," he said aloud, and felt better for having said it

He paid his fee at the private caround and located the very campsite he and Joe had stayed at a few years earlier, or one he assu the tent on his oas no probleer without Joe there to lend a hand

He set up the caht on his way out of town

Dusk ca, his tent pitched, his dinner cooking, hu softly to himself He hadn’t felt this content in years

When he’d finished his ainst a backdrop of black velvet

Barbara had never been keen on caood sport, especially in the early years of their e Later, after the kids were born, Barbara had stayed home and Paul had taken the kids with hiht No responsibilities No obligations No clock to punch

How he missed his wife in those bittersweet ed to tuck his arainst his chest

His arht As empty as his heart

The freedo pain For the first ti

Betrayal God had betrayed hi, his face turned to the sky His back was as straight as a flagpole and his arled at his sides, and his hands were clenched into tight fists He’d wanted to run away Escape But his misery had followed him

"Damn you!" Paul shouted into the silence His words echoed back to hiradually they faded

Damn you Damn you Damn you

Sadly Paul realized he was the one da why I’ve called you all here," Gabriel said to his three charges

Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy glanced nervously at one another Gabriel could see that they were anxious about this , especially Goodness, whoht and tall, their wings folded neatly behind them Each one wore a worried, if not mildly curious, look

"I’ll adh to acknowledge

Mercy stepped forward eagerly "I want you to know, Gabriel, I haven’t been up to any of my old tricks None of that kid stuff for me!"

"You mean other than what happened with Edith?" he asked evenly

"Oh That was quite a while ago now"

Gabriel rubbed his chin thoughtfully "And as I recall, there’s the s in an elevator shaft recently Would you care to explain to me how that happened?"