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"I didn’t before?" He stuck his index finger in his ear and jerked it back and forth a few ti tested"

"Are you two going to jabber all night?" Eric asked, carrying the bucket of chicken into the dining room "I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve developed an appetite"

"I’m starved," Bethany said

"Come to think of it," Paul added, "so am I"

The three carried the varied cardboard serving dishes to the table They sat down, joined hands, and said grace It didn’t take theh food to feed a fa poised in front of herEric," Paul teased, and winked at his son-in-law

Eric was good-natured enough not to retaliate

"As I recall, there was so important you wanted to tell ed happy glances "Do you want to tell hirinned broadly and gestured toward his wife "You go right ahead"

Bethany reached for a paper napkin and wiped her fingers free of grease "Well, Dad," she said, and the happiness seemed to bubble up inside her like fizz in a soda can She reached for Eric’s hand and gripped it hard "We’re going to have a baby" Having said that, she started to cry, but these were happy tears, and her eyes were quickly dry "We couldn’t be more pleased"

"Bethany, Eric," Paul said, auessed sooner, "that’s wonderful news"

"The baby’s due on August tenth"

Paul’s gaze found his daughter’s

"Yes, Daddy, I know That was Mo to me a small part of Moirl I’ve already chosen her name Bobbi Jo The baby name book explained that Bobbi is another name for Barbara"

"And the Jo is for Bethany Jo," Eric added

"It’s a beautiful name Your mother would have been so pleased" Paul was pleased hihter and Eric had been randchildren Frankly, he rather liked the idea

"And on the off chance we happen to have a son," Eric said, "we’ve decided on Anthony Paul"

"Anthony Paul," Paul repeated He was so proud, his shirt buttons were in danger of popping open "That has a nice sound to it"

Bethany shared a srandpas would think so"

The front door opened "Are you expecting anyone?" Bethany asked

"No" Paul pushed his chair away from the table and stood

"Where is everyone?" a familiar voice called from the entryway

"Joe" Paul hurried into the other rooed him as if it had been weeks instead of days since their lastChristether every Christreat, but you know, it just didn’t seeht not to be with you"

Paul slapped his son across the back "Co down to a four-course dinner"

"I’ry I could eat an elephant"

"I suspect," Eric said under his breath to Paul, "that a chicken will do just as well"

19

Goodness stood next to the church organist and watched as the wo Christ her soon Then the three of theether would aze rested on Reverend Paul Morris, and a renewed sense of love filled her for this special h the valley of the shadow of death and had struggled to find a path to the other side

Paul’s children--Bethany with her husband, Eric, and Joe--were in the front pew They watched their father with a deep sense of love and appreciation

When the singing was finished, Paul stepped to the pulpit and se was short and simple, yet it packed a powerful punch Goodness doubted that anyone could sit and listen to this hureat preachers through the ages and wanted to believe that so the instructions, Leta Johnson had arranged for a speaker for Sundayworship service Paul had rewritten his letter of resignation and mailed it out himself

As far as Goodness knew, this was the last ti To anyone Frankly, she wondered what Gabriel had to say about that The archangel had seee his mind Personally, Goodness didn’t want to be around when Gariel discovered the truth

Goodness looked around the crowded church and saw several familiar faces Steve Tenny sat with his wife, Myrna The two sh Goodness had no way of reading their thoughts, she guessed at what they were thinking Paul was his old self again, and they es they saw in him

Leta Johnson sat on a side pew, her Bible spread open in her lap She stared up at Paul with a look of alaze narrowed, and she studied the church secretary a second ti to believe what she was seeing

"What are you shaking your head about?" Gabriel’s voice was powerful enough toGoodness landed on her feet in front of the church steps

"Gabriel?" Goodness said quickly, in an effort to disguise her distress "Aren’t you early?"

"No, Mercy and Shirley are late What are those two up to now?"

"Ah…"