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"What about Blythe Holmes?" Mercy was anxious to learn what she could about the younger woht wife for Ted?"

Gabriel folded his ainst his back "I don’t have the answer to that But I’m sure within a short amount of time you’ll discover that for yourself"

"You knoho I think he should marry"

"Who?" Gabriel’s head bent back with surprise

"Well, we just met her for a moment or two, but I think Joy Palh to ruffle Mercy’s delicate feathers Soer he was than a mere prayer ambassador

"I realize we only justshe is toward Catherine and the other residents at Wilshire Grove?"

Gabriel studied Mercy for a lengthy, uncomfortable ood wife"

"Catherine likes her," Mercy felt obliged to remind him

"She’s also fond of Emily, Thelma, Lucille, and the other ladies on the library co Ted with any of them"

"That would be ridiculous," Mercy said, not understanding Gabriel’s lack of insight All this should have been obvious to hie Joy Paler"

Gabriel crossed his ar better than to end their conversation

"Furthermore, I saw the look that came into Joy’s eyes when Ted first arrived It’s clear to me that you’re simply not that well versed in the area of human romance"

"And you are?"

"I know a little about roh to know interested when I see it, and Joy was definitely interested"

"I won’t have you pulling any of your funny business Understand?"

Mercy put on hera--"

"Yes, you would," Gabriel interrupted testily "I’ht noon’t put up with any of it"

"Haven’t I given you ood that did me last year," Gabriel mumbled under his breath Then, with little fanfare, he lifted histhe thick clouds, and ushered them back into the prayer roo for her

"Well?" Goodness asked

"Gabriel was right," Mercy said, aler to tell her friends everything she’d found out about Catherine Goodwin She could handle this prayer request with one wing tied behind her back! "I’m really pleased to ith such a wonderful older woman"

"Just wait until I tell you what I learned," Shirley said, slu her feet onto the ottoled over the sides as if it de to need help Lots and lots of help"

"You’ve got it," Goodness assured her "Really, Shirley, this is the beauty of the three of us working together"

"We’re a team"

"A teaned to the sahten up, Gabe," Goodness said, and pressed her hand against her hip "We’re going to be so good you won’t even knoe’re on assigneles could use a bit of our help," Mercy said, thinking about all she’d seen in those brief moments allotted her

"I don’t think California’s prepared for the likes of you three," Gabriel grumbled

"None of these prayer requests should take long," Mercy said, feeling confident As far as she could see, all she had to do was subtly steer Ted Griffin’s interest toward a certain service director and leave the rest up to the two of therief, either She was, after all, an angel of her word

"I need all three of you back here soon," Gabriel reminded them

"How soon?" This came from Shirley

Mercy didn’t know the full extent of her friend’s assign Shirley When she’d finished with hers, which shouldn’t take any ive her friend a hand

"Before Christmas," Gabriel told them sternly

"Before Christmas?" Goodness repeated "But that’s i is iel reh "I wonder how long it’s been since he visited LA"

4

Maureen tossed a frozen entrée into her grocery cart with a decided lack of enthusiasal fees were paid in full, she was going to enjoy the sheer luxury of eating in a restaurant again One aiters and real plates

"I can’t tell you howKaren for me," Maureen told her mother, who pushed the cart next to her own