Angels at the Table (Angels Everywhere #7)(32)

As long as Lucie could remember, she and her mother had volunteered at the shelter in December. She’d have just enough time to serve dinner here before heading out to cook at Heavenly Delights. Her day had been jam-packed from early morning, starting with the baking and menu planning. Her head was buzzing with everything she had to do when Jazmine phoned to say she’d come down with the flu. That meant Lucie and her mom would be short one person for serving dinner. Lucie had immediately thought of Aren.

“I’ll finish up here,” her mother told her. “If you didn’t explain what this is all about, Aren will assume he has the wrong address.”

“You think I should go outside and wait for him?”

“Yes, sweetie, otherwise he’ll be confused.”

Lucie knew her mother was right. Grabbing her coat, she stepped into the wind and cold of the late afternoon. The gloomy skies threatened more snow, which she didn’t mind. Snowfall made the holiday season all the more festive.

As she paced the area she thought about the men and women without anyplace warm to sleep. Well, for tonight they would have a hot, nutritious meal to fill their stomachs.

A taxi pulled up across the street and Aren climbed out, frowning. He glanced down at a slip of paper in his hand. Her mother was right. He was confused.

“Aren,” Lucie called, waving her arm above her head in order to get his attention, while clenching her coat closed at her neck. She marveled that he’d been so willing to come even without any details.

His face relaxed when he saw her and after looking both ways, he raced across the street.

“What is this?”

“A homeless shelter. Mom and I volunteer and we’re short one person. Can you help?”

“I’d love to … only can we talk afterward?”

Her shoulders sagged with disappointment. “Oh, Aren, I can’t. I’m so sorry. I have to leave as soon as we’re finished to get to the restaurant.”

He expelled his breath. “Did you read the paper this morning?”

“No,” she admitted. There simply hadn’t been time. But there could be only one reason he’d asked. “Did the paper print one of your articles? Did you get a byline? Finally! Oh, Aren, you must be so pleased. I’ll get a newspaper as soon as I can.”

He didn’t answer right away. “Actually, I’d prefer that you wait. Let’s talk before you read my piece, okay?”

——

“What’s in the newspaper?” Will asked, following the couple into the homeless shelter.

“I don’t know.” Shirley went in with him. Goodness and Mercy were already inside. Goodness stood in the back of the room, with the newspaper spread open on one of the tabletops.

“Oh, no,” she wailed and then slapped her hand over her mouth. Her eyes widened as she read the Lifestyle section.

“What is it?” Will asked, joining Goodness.

“It’s Aren’s restaurant review,” Goodness explained. “The one for the place where he and Lucie dined Thursday night after the play.”

“And …”

“Oh dear.”

“What? What?” Mercy zoomed across the room. She tried to get a look herself but with Goodness, Shirley, and Will hovering over the newspaper she couldn’t see a thing.

“What did Aren do, carry a recorder in his pocket?”

“What did he say?” Mercy demanded.

“He practically quoted every word Lucie said over dinner. The minute she reads this she’ll know he’s the food critic Eaton Well.”

“Which is why he wants to talk to her before she reads the newspaper. Good heavens, why would he do such a thing?”

“Don’t ask me.”

A stunned silence followed. This was worse than bad. It would be disastrous to their budding relationship.

“Then it’s our duty to make sure Lucie doesn’t read that article.”

“What can we do?” Shirley said, her wings sagging. “We’ve given Gabriel our word that we wouldn’t interfere in their romance. The minute we do he’ll know about it.”

Mercy didn’t know what the problem was, seeing that they’d already crossed the boundary line the night of the play. In fact, she was amazed they hadn’t been called to task before now.

“Don’t you think we’re beyond worry about that now … after what happened at the play?” Mercy asked.

“Okay, okay, I know everyone is still upset with me about that camel. I’ll admit I let matters get out of hand, but I did not, and I repeat, I did not, do anything to influence Aren and Lucie’s feelings for each other.”

“Me neither,” Shirley reminded them. “Everything I did was on stage.”

“That’s right,” Mercy said, and was cheered by the thought. While they had caused something of an Earthly sensation, it had been in innocent fun. For whatever reason, Gabriel hadn’t mentioned the incident, and for that she counted her blessings. Her many blessings.

“Still, we must proceed with caution,” Shirley said. “We don’t want to cross the line but we need to keep Lucie in the dark until Aren has a chance to explain.”

“Which means she can’t read that article.”

“It would be devastating to her,” Will agreed.