Angels at Christmas by Debbie Macomber

Author:Debbie Macomber [MacOmber, Debbie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9781848450172
Google: 6ZbPjwEACAAJ
Amazon: 0778326837
Barnesnoble: 0778326837
Goodreads: 12061391
Publisher: Mira Books
Published: 2009-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Four

"This is absolutely terrible," Goodness lamented. All afternoon, they'd watched Julie put on a good front for her father's sake. She could just picture the scene in Heaven when they returned only seven hours from now. It was Christmas Eve, their deadline. Soon they'd be required to stand with the angelic host singing praises to the newborn King. Except this year, Shirley, Goodness and Mercy would arrive from Earth without having fulfilled their mission. Goodness wouldn't be able to look a single friend in the face. Well, she wasn't accepting defeat that easily. "It can't get much worse," Mercy agreed.

"We've got to do something." Shirley was back to her pacing in front of the Wilcoffs' Christmas tree. The living room was empty, with Julie in her room and Dean overseeing a last-minute security check of the Fletcher building.

"This is your fault," Goodness said, glaring at Mercy. "If you hadn't been so busy tossing salmon in Pike Place Market and holding security guards by the knees, we might've made some headway."

"Give it up," Mercy growled. "Besides, we both know you had a hand on Jason, too. I couldn't have held him back all by myself. That guy has muscles."

"Stop." Shirley planted herself between the other two and shook her head. "We don't have time to play the blame game."

"You're telling me," Goodness moaned. "It's already five o'clock."

"That means we have seven paltry hours," Shirley said, glancing at the old-fashioned clock on the fireplace mantel.

"Woe is we." Goodness couldn't believe that a prayer request could go so wrong. They'd worked harder on this one than on any previous request. In years past, they'd each received separate assignments, but she'd assumed that with their combined efforts this one would've been simplicity itself. Not so. And if there was anything Goodness hated, it was having to admit she'd failed. "We've just got to do something." They had a few hours left. Just a few.

"But what?" Mercy cried.

"Think," Shirley ordered. "There's a way. There's always a way."

Defeated and depressed, Goodness walked into the darkened kitchen and threw open the refrigerator door. For a long moment, she studied the contents. It was easy to understand why so many humans turned to food for comfort. A pan of something dipped in chocolate was bound to improve any situation.

"I had hope until Roy threw out her letter," Mercy said. "Without reading it."

"How could he?" Shirley asked, although the question was rhetorical. "I thought humans were curious about things." That was a characteristic they shared with angels.

"I'm sure he was tempted," Shirley said, sadness weighting her words. "However, his fear was even stronger."

"He was afraid?" Goodness was unable to decipher human reasoning. "Of what?"

"Of changing his mind," Shirley explained. "He knew if he read Julie's letter, he might be swayed. He couldn't let that happen. He couldn't hold on to his anger if he allowed himself to feel her love."

"But love is what he needs!"

Goodness wanted to weep with frustration. Shirley was right. Roy had closed himself off from love, even though he needed it, even though he wanted it.

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