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"That doesn’t surprise ned to her uiltily, as if afraid she’d said more than permissible "I’m sure all Anne really wants is for her son to be happy"

"But happiness is a condition of the mind, not of circumstances," Gabriel reminded them "That appears to be a most difficult lesson for hus, which we all know is impossible" Sadly he shook his head "They repeatedly fail to see what should be perfectly logical"

"Hu hard to sound knowledgeable

Gabriel studied the trio, as though gauging how e back to Earth Goodness did her utood, but she couldn’t count on Mercy Shirley was iffy, too Her friend seemed to have a special fondness for Anne, and there was no telling what she’d do once they arrived on Earth

Goodness didn’t begrudge Gabriel his doubts The trio always left Heaven with the best intentions, but when they began to ly weak They found it impossible not to interfere in situations that hadn’t been assigned to theot theaze was drawn back to the big blue sphere, the view of Earth from Heaven

Goodness peered closer but couldn’tinto focus

"Yes, I’m afraid that where her son is concerned, Anne’s lost hope," the Archangel s need to be believed in order to be seen"

Goodness was impressed "That’s so wise"

"Poor Anne," Shirley whispered, her brorinkled in worry

"We can help her, I’ next to Shirley "Anne needs us" She glanced fro for confirue to keep froer, otherwise Gabriel ht wonder if they had ulteriorto visit Earth As unobtrusively as possible, she et the erated sigh, "there are any nuels more qualified than the three of us"

"Yes, there are," Gabriel said bluntly

"I thought you said we could see her froh the thick cloud cover

For a hts His expression became more severe as he stared at them Little wonder humans were terrified of Gabriel, Goodness reflected His ih to intimidate the bravest men That was one reason, she supposed, that he was only sent from Heaven on the most serious of missions

Slowly he raised hisradually thinned, revealing the cottage surrounded by tall fir trees Then Anne came into view She stood in her art roo here and there, as if a halfhearted effort had been made to display the doard "Anne’s painting," she said, and pointed to the scene below

Once the mist faded coet a better look Just as Shirley had declared, Anne Fletcher stood in front of an easel, apparently deep in thought

Goodness exa and was pleasantly surprised Shirley had been right; the woman was a talented artist She used bold, distinctive colors and strong, confident lines But despite the beauty of her landscape, Anne was obviously dissatisfied She seemed about to paint over the canvas and destroy her work Instead, she set her brush and palette aside and slu her chin, Anne stared at the ceiling, blinking back tears

"What’s wrong?" Shirley asked, turning to Gabriel for an explanation "She looks like she’s going to cry"

"She’s worrying about her son," Gabriel said "She--"

"But she’s prayed for him," Shirley broke in "Anne knows to leave ht her the i, "But that was so long ago…"

"She spoke to her son a little while ago, and things are even worse than she realized She’s given up hope"

"But she prayed--how can you say that?" Shirley deh, after all she’s suffered Look," she cried, gesturing at the weeping woman, "there’s no bitterness or hatred in her, no ill will toward Burton and his neife"

"That’s true," Gabriel agreed, and he seeiveness "Anne has forgiven her husband for what he did to her, but she feels helpless to influence her son"

"Why is God taking so long to answer?" Shirley asked, pacing restlessly

"He has His reasons It’s not for us to second-guess the Creator of the Universe"

For an instant, Shirley seeue, but Goodness intervened "Perhaps God knows that the right wo A woman who’ll open Roy’s eyes--and his heart It can’t be an ordinary woance"

"Who could that be?" Mercy asked, looking wide-eyed at Gabriel

"This wo you to Earth to find her"

"We’re going back?" Goodness hadn’t been convinced that Gabriel would actually agree, since he so obviously had reservations about their dependability She was thrilled And just before Christmas, too! Oh yes, this was excellent news, the best yet

"You uarded voice, "but with a few stipulations You have less than a month--the prayer request must be answered before Christoal is to teach these humans a lesson Can you do it?"

"We can," Shirley promised