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"Are you, now?" Gabriel asked, eyebrows raised Mercy and Goodness exchanged a sly glance They had both agreed that Shirley’s was by far the least conments

"It’s Carter," Shirley said after a "

"And the probleed uncomfortably "The problem is that his father still insists the fa to work around that"

"How?" Gabriel asked

"His father worked overti and that money will coether nervously "Only…"

"Yes?" Gabriel pressed

Mercy had to admit she was curious, too, and apparently so was Goodness, because she’d left the Christ, followed bus number seven home, just like Carter instructed hienerally understand such detailed instructions?" he asked

"No," Shirley cried "That’s just the point! I was afraid you’d think I had so to do with it and I promise you I didn’t"

"You didn’t?" Goodness asked skeptically

"I’m innocent," Shirley said

Actually, Mercy would’ve thought better of her friend if she had been involved

"Every bit of information I’ve received indicates that Carter is not supposed to have this dog"

"You’re sure about that?" Gabriel murmured, and his brow furrowed "Where’s the stray now?"

"This is another problem," Shirley said "Carter and his mother have put Rusty in the laundry room Like I told you, David--that’s his father--worked late on Friday night and Carter convinced his "

"So the dog’s inside the house?"

"For now," Shirley said "I didn’t think Laurie would let hi" Shirley shook her head "I don’t knohat to tell you about this dog Not only is he able to read--"

"He reads?"

"He knehich bus was nuht have seen which bus Carter boarded?" Mercy suggested

"May I please get on with nified tones

"Don’t letlook

"Not only that, this dog instinctively seems to knoho’s his friend and who isn’t, and he has an uncanny way ofhimself scarce when necessary It’s almost as if…as if he has heavenly qualities"

"I find that interesting," Gabriel murmured "Report back to me on any further developments, will you?"

"Yes, of course"

"Goodness?" Gabriel said, turning to the third angel "How are you doing?"

"Great! Beth and Peter are about to meet Isn’t it wonderful?"

"Excellent work" And with that, Gabriel returned to Heaven

Harry woke and saw that Rosalie ake "The ht," he rushed to tell his wife

Still sleepy, Rosalie blinked several times "Did you have another of your attacks?"

"Yes, but that isn’t what I want to tell you about"

His wife raised herself up on one elbow "For heaven’s sake, Harry, what’s got you so excited?"

"I saw an angel!"

"Now, Harry…"

"I knohat you’re thinking, Rosalie, but it’s true"

His wife frowned, and Harry sensed that she wanted to believe what he’d told her but had difficulty accepting it as the truth

Later thaton the phone with their youngest daughter "I’ el"

Harry was sorry now that he’d mentioned this event to Rosalie She’d apparently concluded that he was losing hisher voice low "Please do"

A fewup and then joined Harry in front of the television "I was on the phone with Donna," she said conversationally, as if he hadn’t noticed Harry knew exactly as on the other end of the line

Nevertheless he didn’t co to come early for Christel had hter decide to coel had done hiood than he’d realized

Thirteen

Leavenworth was everything Beth had iined it would be When the train pulled in, the sun was shining, and the freshly fallen snow glistened brightly The entire toas a Christ she’d ever seen Main Street was closed to cars, and in the center of the wide street, burn barrels had been set up, where people could gather to war down the short slope next to the gazebo, while a group of costumed carolers entertained the crowd