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"Inventive," Goodness echoed "How do you , it’s obvious that you’ll have to step in with Beth and Peter"

"I will?"

"Yes" Mercy didn’t understand why she had to clarify everything for her fellow Prayer Ambassadors "Didn’t you tell me they still haven’t set a time to meet?"

"Well, yes…"

"And the reason is?"

Goodness shifted uncomfortably "Well, like I said, they’re afraid…"

"Afraid of what?" Mercy asked "Do you supposedisillusioned?"

"They could be," Goodness said "And I agree--they need help The last ti so well between her and Peter, and then he closed down for no apparent reason"

"Is there anything you can do about it?"

"I…Yes, of course there is" Her eyes darted from side to side "Unfortunately, I can’t think what it would be at this precise moment, but it’ll coaze on the for for duty" She stood ether Mercy wondered if Shirley wasfun of her

"How do you plan to help Carter?" she asked

Shirley’s shoulders sagged with defeat "I’ll ’s nowhere to be seen when he arrives for school to for Carter?" Mercy asked, her own heart aching for the little boy

Reluctantly Shirley nodded "His father said he couldn’t have a dog, no matter what I don’t have any choice"

All three considered this unfortunate set of circumstances

"Maybe I could steer Carter’s father toward a better-paying job," Shirley suggested

"That’s an idea"

Goodness turned to her "What’s happening with Harry?" she asked

Ah, yes, Harry and Rosalie "They visited Lucy Menard earlier this afternoon and got a tour of the assisted-living complex"

"And what happened?" Shirley asked

"Coether with her two friends, she descended on the house at 23 Walnut Avenue, where Rosalie and Harry sat across from each other at the dinner table

"I was surprised at how many of our friends havedown at her bowl of canned chicken stew

She seeed Harry The visit had gone even better than he could’ve expected Rosalie had ood friends she’d lost contact with in the last few years Each one had urged thee and become part of the community at Liberty Orchard

"Did you notice how most people said they were sorry they hadn’tsooner?" Harry waited for his wife to protest She hadn’t wanted him to know, but he could see that she’d been impressed with the facility

"What I liked was all the social activities," Rosalie reed He’d been ilad, too, because he felt that after he died Rosalie would have the social contact she needed A wave of sadness washed over hi his wife behind He tried not to dwell on the subject of death, but knowing it was i about it

Trying not to appear too enthusiastic about the assisted-living cooodness," Rosalie said happily, "those folks have so on every day of the week"

Harry nodded again, taking a bite of his stew

"Did you read the dinner menu?" Rosalie asked hione over it three or four times She’d had all kinds of questions for Lucy, too The hter one served at about five "Why, they had a choice of two soups and a salad, plus fish, chicken or meat loaf And Lucy said it’s different every day!"

"I took a look at itwas certain; the residents at Liberty Orchard weren’t eating any of their meals out of a can--unless they chose to He didn’t need to point out the obvious, however

His wife set down her spoon "Harry," she began shyly, "I’s now and then" The adun to wonder if one of the reasons is that my mind isn’t as active as it used to be"

"Lucy said the sa his wife of the conversation earlier in the day "Do you recall how she said that as soon as she spent tietful?"

Rosalie thought about this for a moment "She did, didn’t she?"

Harry was cautious about saying too much too soon Rosalie’s eyes had been opened when she’d seen the facility, and it didn’t hurt that a number of their friends had already made the move

"Lucy also said the unit closest to hers is available" He said this casually and waited for a response While his wife had been chatting with her friends, Harry had met with the administrator to see if they could secure that particular unit Naturally, he wouldn’tit with Rosalie first, but he was beginning to feel confident that she saw the wisdom of such a move

Rosalie looked at hio, when they’d considered purchasing this very house She loved this place and Harry loved her He would’ve moved heaven and earth to buy the house she wanted

"Do you honestly think we should give up our home, Harry?"