Angels at the Table (Angels Everywhere #7)(33)

“So we’re all in agreement. We will take whatever measures necessary to keep the article out of Lucie’s hands.”

“But only the newspaper,” Shirley said. “We won’t involve ourselves in anything beyond that.”

“Yes,” each one said in turn.

“That will give Aren a chance to talk to her on Sunday, but if Lucie is upset with him after that, then what?” Will asked.

“Then she’s upset.”

“But what if …”

“We can’t involve ourselves in happenstance,” Mercy explained. “We’ll deal with her reaction when the time comes.”

“Seeing how I already botched up the timing,” Will murmured, berating himself.

Shirley placed a gentle hand on his forearm. “It was a rookie mistake, don’t be so hard on yourself. You should have witnessed some of the stunts Goodness and Mercy pulled when they first started work as Prayer Ambassadors.”

“We all make mistakes,” Mercy added. “Even Shirley.”

“Oh, yes, I’ve made a few of my own,” the former Guardian Angel admitted. “But with the help of my friends everything turned out fine.”

“We’ll set matters straight,” Goodness assured him, and they would. With God there were no accidents.

“Thank you so much for helping out,” Lucie told Aren as they finished with the kitchen cleanup. Wendy washed dishes, Aren dried, and Lucie put everything back in its proper place.

The homeless had come and gone. Several commented that this was the best dinner they’d ever tasted.

“You do this on a regular basis?” Aren asked.

He sounded impressed, which pleased her, but actually she felt like the one who received after volunteering. “Our family has done this ever since I was a kid. Dad would join in, too. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without doing something to help others. My parents were big on teaching my brother and me to give back.”

“Did we wear you out?” Wendy asked, joining them.

Aren shook his head. “No. In fact I feel great. I should be exhausted but I’m not.”

“I find it that way, too,” Lucie told him. Seeing the faces of the men and women who came through the line had inspired her to do more, to be more, to invest more of herself in others. She thought about the staff at the restaurant and her friends with renewed appreciation. She thought about Aren, too, and how much she liked him and how grateful she was that he was back in her life.

“Lucie, you’d better leave now, sweetie, or you’ll be late. I’ll be right behind you once I finish up here.”

Her mother was right. Impulsively she hugged Aren. Automatically his arms came around her and he held her close for the briefest of moments before reluctantly releasing her.

“Thank you again,” she whispered close to his ear. “I’ll always be grateful I met you.”

“Always?” he asked, his eyes pleading with her.

The question seemed to hold within it another. One she didn’t fully understand. “Yes,” she assured him. If they were never to see each other again she would have no regrets. Although she was only beginning to know him, she felt strongly linked to him. Their relationship held such promise and the attraction remained strong and seemed to grow every time they were together.

Lucie looked into his eyes and saw doubt and regret. It shocked her, but unfortunately she didn’t have time to ask or to figure it out.

Wendy brought Lucie her hat, coat, and scarf. The scarf was one of her favorites, mainly because her mother had knit it for her the Christmas before last. What made it special was that her mom had turned to knitting to help her grieve after the death of Lucie’s father. This was the first piece Wendy had completed following her husband’s death.

“I’ll walk you outside,” Aren offered.

“Oh, please do,” Wendy added. “It’s sometimes difficult getting a cab in this part of town.”

“Mom, I’ll be fine.”

“Yes, you will, especially if Aren is with you. Now shoo.”

Shaking her head, Lucie reached for her gloves and got her purse before joining Aren. She wasn’t fooled. Her mother had used this as an excuse to give her more time with Aren, not that Lucie was complaining. She welcomed the opportunity.

Dusk had settled over the city. The streetlights had just come on. Because she’d been so busy with the demands of the restaurant Lucie hadn’t taken much time to appreciate the season. Everything seemed so rushed. Her mother had set out a few Christmas decorations but their tree wasn’t up and she had yet to start her shopping.

“I wish I had more time to spend with you,” she told Aren as they walked to the closest intersection.

“It’s fine, Lucie, don’t stress over it.”

“There’s so much more I want to know about you.”

He stepped halfway into the street and waved down a taxi. The first one sped past, but the second stopped.

Aren opened the door for her and Lucie climbed inside.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he told her, and leaning into the car, he gave her a quick kiss.

“I’ll make a dinner you won’t soon forget.”

“You don’t need to go to any trouble. What’s important is being with you.”