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Not once could Gabriel re it afterward Okay, perhaps regret was too strong a word Mercy alwaysout at the last second and he had to adh But Mercy with Harry Alderwood…

"Poor Harry," Gabriel whispered

"Harry," Mercy repeated fro up on him and Gabriel did his best not to leap back in surprise Controlling his reaction, he turned to face the Prayer Ambassador She was the picture of innocence, wide-eyed and hopeful

"Did I hear you ssounds This happened whenever she was excited Theto Earth had Mercy nearly breathless with anticipation

"You did," he said

"If there’s any way I could be of service," Mercy volunteered, "I’d be more than happy to help"

"I’m sure you would, but there’s the s her hand "If you’re going to bring up that unfortunate incident with the aircraft carrier, I want to point out that I’ve repented"

"Actually," Gabriel said, clearing his throat "I was thinking about the time you rerouted that 747"

"Oh"

Mercy’s cheeks colored, as well they should That had been the final straw as far as Gabriel was concerned "I don’t know if I can trust you back on Earth," he said pensively But the number of available Prayer Ambassadors was liive ed, hands folded

For all the trouble she caused, Mercy did have a certain knack for getting prayers answered What hurasp was that prayer requests usually required participation on their end God liked it when His children trusted Hihty Father welcomed human cooperation, too

"Harry’s prayer just arrived," Gabriel said with so time on Earth is brief"

"Doesn’t he realize he’ll receive a new body once he gets to Heaven?" Mercy asked, see surprised by the older man’s reluctance to leave Earth "It’s so much better here"

"He knows," Gabriel said Perhaps it would be best if he allowed her a view of Harry and Rosalie "Coel invited and with one wide sweep of his arm, he whisked away the veil between Heaven and Earth A moment later the two of them were able to look down upon the town of Leavenworth

"Harry, is that you?" Rosalie called when he stepped into the house and closed the door against the bitter December wind

"It’s me," Harry replied in a strained voice He felt short of breath, and his rove had told him He knew Rosalie couldn’t cope without him; he also knew he’d have to trust that God would answer his prayer

"I have lunch ready," his wife said as he entered the kitchen

He had little appetite, but Harry couldn’t disappoint Rosalie, since she’d e, she only remembered a few of her favorite recipes Almost always, they had canned soup for dinner No doubt that hat she’d made for lunch, too

Food didn’t interest Harry much anymore He ate because it was necessary but without any real enjoyuessed correctly Rosalie had heated up soup Two steaht red tomato soup sat on the kitchen table What was left in the sthe silverware to the table, Harry reached over and switched off the burner

Soon he joined his wife at the round oak table in the srace When he finished, Rosalie s go at the doctor’s, sweetheart?"

Rather than worry her, Harry sie"

Rosalie looked back at hied her mind He’d told her what she wanted to hear

"Is soup all right?" she asked

"It’s perfect" Not sure how to broach the subject of , Harry sed three spoonfuls of his lunch, then paused This wouldn’t be the first tiht it up--far from it He carefully set his spoon on the place rove?" Rosalie asked, shakily lifting a spoonful of soup to her mouth She helped herself to crackers from the box and crumbled them in her bowl, one cracker at a tiive you another prescription?"

Harry shook his head As it was, the visiting nurse, who stopped by the house every second day, had to use a chart to keep histo be fine, aren’t you?" his wife asked

Harry saw that her face had tightened with fear "Of course I a the proper rest"

She instantly relaxed "Good I don’t knohat I’d do without you"

Harry didn’t, either He sighed Perhaps he should take this opportunity to introduce the subject--again "I was thinking that the upkeep on the house is too much forto assisted living as so her

Rosalie ignored the coe, Harry saw her as he had that first tio She’d worked at the lunch counter at a Woolworth’s store in Seattle Harry had gone over frootten an underwriting position with the insurance company He’d worked for the same company for more than forty years

It had been his first trip to the big city, and the crowds and noise had overwhelested they stop at the lunch counter for a bite to eat One look at Rosalie, and he was completely sht of love at first sight He never did again One look and he’d fallen head over heels for his beautiful Rosalie