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You’d think Beth had just announced that she’d set her wedding date

"We ame?"

"Yes, Mom I found out he lives in Seattle"

"What’s his name?"

"Peter"

"Invite him to Christet the potluck I’ll entice hi--and I promise to teach you how You knohat they say about the way to a man’s heart"

"Mom!"

"I used to be scornful of those old wives’ tales, too," her mother continued undaunted, "but so many of them are true Now, don’t worry, I’ll downplay the fact that you don’t cook Leave everything to ht

"Mother, no!" Good grief, for all she knew, Peter was married She didn’t dare ask for fear he’d assuht, she was interested, but only because her ot one week to ask him"

"Mother!"

"I insist"

Beth closed her eyes and before she could protest further, Joyce disconnected the line Sighing, Beth hung up the phone It was either arrive on Christain as she recalled that Joyce had resorted to prayer in order to find her a husband

Beth loved her sister and she treasured little Jaela hadn’t done her any favors bytwo perfect grandchildren

Trying to forget her woes, she logged back on to the game and was pleased to see that her partner was still online She joined Peter and soon afterward he sent her a o?

Okay She wished she hadn’tto her family She was more concerned hat had happened while she ay Fro when I was AFK?

Yeah I teamed up with level 41 Dwarf Warrior and defeated the last two Ware quest

Beth sat up straighter Wow Great going

You should’ve been here I started pounding my chest

You Tarzan? she joked

Only if you’re Jane, came his reply

Beth read the line a second ti with her Nah, he was just teasing, which they often did, bantering back and forth and congratulating each other It would be easy to misread his intentions, and she didn’t want to make more of this than warranted

When she didn’t respond to his coed off and headed for the shower, did Beth pause to reconsider

If Peter had been flirting, and that was a huge if, perhaps she should make an effort to learn more about hihts of a desperate wons of so a date for Christaazed at Joyce Fischer’s prayer request, which had appeared in the Book of Prayers a few days earlier The book rested on his desk, spread open, filling up alnhter would finally ht ainst the page It would help if Beth was amenable to a new relationship After her divorce, Joyce Fischer’s daughter had coht be an interesting prospect

"Gabriel?" He heard the timid voice of Goodness behind hined Mercy to Harry Alderwood’s request, Mercy’s usual companions wouldn’t be far behind It would be just like Shirley and Goodness to want a piece of the action, too Far be it fronment on Earth

"About Beth?" Goodness pressed

The Prayer A eyes Eyes so blue they seelow Gabriel wasn’t surprised to discover that Goodness had been reading over his shoulder Apparently she was interested in the Beth Fischer assign the plea in her eyes

"She could use some help, don’t you think?"

"All humans have fallen short," Gabriel explained, and while it was true, he took no pleasure in saying so

"Which is why God assigned us to help"

He couldn’t disagree with that

"What’s going on with Beth?" Goodness asked, stepping closer to Gabriel’s desk and eyeing the huge Book of Prayers

The Archangel stepped aside so Goodness could read Joyce Fischer’s entire request He pictured Joyce in St Alphonsus Catholic Church, kneeling by the altar rail and lighting a candle as she bowed her head and prayed for her daughter Although Joyce had referred to grandchildren, the real desire of her heart was to see Beth happy Joyce believed that a relationship, a e and fahter Gabriel felt reasonably sure she was right