Angels at the Table (Angels Everywhere #7)(26)

Mercy frantically glanced around and soon saw that her worst fears were about to take place. Goodness was on stage with the actors. Not knowing what else to do, and intent on avoiding another disaster, Mercy quickly joined her friend, grabbing Goodness by the arm. “What are you doing here?” she whispered.

“These actors don’t know anything about angels or how we behave. Their costumes are a joke.”

Oh dear, it was worse than she thought. “Goodness, don’t even think about it.”

“I just want to ruffle their feathers a little, make them a bit more presentable. Gabriel would want that.”

“No, he wouldn’t,” Shirley chimed in. The three of them bounced around the stage, flittering from one part to another, avoiding the actors.

“What’s that?” Will asked, joining them.

“What’s what?”

“That man. He’s playing some sort of musical instrument.”

“It’s a tuba, now go back where we were,” Mercy instructed.

All at once one of the stage angels let out a screech as she was suspended two feet off the ground. “Goodness, mercy,” the actor cried, frantically flapping her arms.

“She knows our names,” Shirley said, aghast.

“Put her down,” Mercy pleaded, and quickly amended. “Gently, please.”

The actor’s feet gradually returned to the stage and almost immediately three other stage angels were elevated. Not knowing what was happening, the other actors, obviously skilled professionals, continued with their lines as if nothing were amiss, craning their necks in order to look up at the actors whose feet were scrambling and arms flapping. Apparently the audience took it all in their stride, laughing uproariously. Those viewing the show seemed to believe this was part and parcel of the program, which was a play within a play.

The main characters had attended a Christmas program in which the children reenacted the Nativity scene. The angels, all actors, played major roles, directing the children. Now Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy caused near pandemonium with the stage crew shrugging their shoulders, running onto the stage, and looking up for some nonexistent hidden wire.

While Mercy argued with Goodness, sensible Shirley had apparently lost her head and decided this was her moment to shine. Mercy couldn’t believe her eyes when her fellow Prayer Ambassador broke into song along with the small children’s choir.

Seeing that it was a lost cause, Mercy gave up and joined her friend, singing one of their favorite Christmas carols. Everyone on stage froze and stared at the children and for one short moment, Mercy feared they were about to be discovered.

“I think it’s time we go now,” Will said, tugging at Shirley’s sleeve.

“Oh dear, you might be right,” Shirley said, seemingly coming to her senses.

“I’d like to try playing that tuba before we go,” Will said, heading for the orchestra pit.

Goodness grabbed Will and hauled him back.

“Not now,” Mercy pleaded, ushering the other three off the stage. “We need to get while the getting is good.”

Oh dear, this was going badly.

“What about Lucie and Aren?” Will protested as they made their way back to heaven. “Can we just leave them behind?”

“We don’t have any choice now.” Mercy wasn’t sure how everything had gotten out of hand like this, but it was beyond redemption now. Oh, she should have known, should have guessed, that seeing angels on stage would be too much temptation for them. They left the theater and Mercy had started to relax when she heard Shirley screech. “Goodness! Put the camel back before anyone notices it’s missing.”

Mercy looked back and gasped. Sure enough her dear friend had stolen the camel that was tethered backstage and was leading him down the street.

Yup, they were beyond redemption. All Mercy could hope was that heaven didn’t hear about this until much, much later.

“What did you think of the musical?” Aren asked Lucie as they slowly made their way out of the theater.

It was difficult for her to hear him above the excited chatter of the crowd. Everyone was talking about the performance. Lucie overheard someone say that they’d seen the same play earlier and that she really liked the additional comedic changes.

“I thought it was amazing … simply amazing.”

“I did, too,” Aren agreed.

Once outside, he helped Lucie on with her coat and then buttoned his own. He reached for her hand and tucked it in the crook of his elbow. It was a cold night, which gave Lucie a good excuse to stay close to Aren. The lights in the city over the holidays seemed to glow a little brighter. Everything felt so perfect, so wonderful. Although she’d known Aren only a short while, it seemed that he’d always been in her life. Never having experienced that kind of connection with a man before, Lucie couldn’t help but wonder if she’d found the man she could love with the same intensity as the love her parents had shared.

“I’m still trying to figure out how they managed to elevate the angels,” Aren remarked, frowning as he spoke. “Usually I can see the wires, and we were close enough to get a good look, but I didn’t see any.”

“The children’s singing was … unbelievable.”

“I’m going to download the music as soon as I get home. It was …” Aren seemed to be searching for the right word.