Angels at the Table (Angels Everywhere #7)(39)

Josie stood and hung her head as she seemed to consider his advice. After a moment or two, she whispered, “I’ve got too much pride to reach out to Jack … eventually I’ll meet someone else, too.”

Aren understood the pride issue all too well. “Yes, you will,” he said in as reassuring a tone as he could manage, and he hoped that was true.

“Did you hear that?” Will asked Goodness. The two had left Mercy and Shirley with Lucie and her mother. Their friends kept a diligent watch on Lucie to keep her and the Eaton Well column separated from each other. Will and Goodness had gone to check on Aren.

“We’ve got to help poor Josie,” Will said, feeling dreadful over her failed romance.

“We can’t. It’s strictly forbidden.”

“But she’s in love and miserable and hurting. Isn’t that part of our mission, to comfort those in pain?”

“We’re Prayer Ambassadors, Will. Someone has to pray for her first.”

“Can’t she pray?”

“Of course, but apparently she hasn’t.”

“Why not?”

Goodness shrugged. “It’s funny. Some humans are prayer warriors and then there are others who only pray when they’re desperate or badly in need of divine intervention. Then they urgently cry out to God for help.”

“Do we answer those frantic prayers?” Will asked.

“We do what we can on short notice.”

Will watched as Josie buttoned up her coat and headed into the cold night. The festive feel of the holidays was all around her, but Aren’s sister didn’t appear to notice. She kept her head lowered and her shoulders hunched forward against the cold and wind.

At the corner, she stopped at a red light, reached inside her purse, and took out her cellphone. For a long time all she did was stare at it; then she glanced at her watch, sighed, and tossed it back into her purse.

“Do you think she was going to call Jack?” Will asked.

“Don’t know. We should get back and check on Aren.”

Will glanced over his shoulder. “Can I follow Josie to make sure she gets home okay?”

Goodness bit into her lower lip. “All right, but don’t let Mercy or Shirley know that I said you could.”

“Okay.”

“And Will?”

“Yes?”

Goodness tapped her foot impatiently. “You’ve really got to get a tougher skin when it comes to dealing with humans. God granted them free will. If we become involved in his or her lives it can get messy.”

“But God loves them.”

“He does very much. It pains Him to watch them make wrong choices, but He’s determined to let each one make his or her own decisions.”

“Including Josie.”

“Including Josie,” Goodness echoed.

“And Aren and Lucie.”

“Exactly.” All Goodness could do was hope everything turned out well for the newsman and the chef.

Chapter Fourteen

“You must be exhausted.” Lucie’s mother followed her into her bedroom after her shift at the restaurant.

“You, too, Mom.” Her mother had worked nearly as many hours as Lucie despite her medical condition. Thankfully Aren had been able to help with the serving earlier in the day. He’d been wonderful, really wonderful. He wouldn’t allow either of them to lift anything and had carted all the heavy pots and serving dishes back and forth. As soon as he had arrived, Aren had dug right in, lending a helping hand.

It was far more than his willingness to serve that touched her heart. Aren had been terrific with the men and women, chatting with them, making them feel welcome, asking questions, making conversation. He’d been willing to listen when so many others had looked the other way, and he’d been great with the children, too.

“I am tired, but I wasn’t the one slaving over a hot stove all night.”

“Mom, I love what I do.”

Her mother hugged her and then went off to her own bedroom. Sammy remained patiently at Lucie’s side, waiting for her and willing to follow wherever she led.

Lucie took a long hot shower and dressed for bed. Sunday afternoon she’d cook dinner for Aren and she planned to make it a meal he would long remember. Years ago her mother had told her the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. She wanted Aren’s heart. Despite all the demands on her time, the responsibility of making the restaurant a success, Lucie couldn’t help falling in love with Aren. He was easy to love. Her head and her heart were full as she drifted off to sleep.

Her dreams that night were filled with Aren. She woke to the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

“Morning, sweetheart,” Wendy said when Lucie staggered into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Automatically her mother poured Lucie a cup of coffee. “We’ve got an hour before church this morning. Advent is my favorite time of year. I just love singing Christmas carols.”

“Me too.” With so much to do on her day off, Lucie was tempted to skip worship service. It would be easy to offer her mother an excuse. She didn’t and was glad because the service was inspiring.

If she lacked Christmas spirit, working with the homeless at the Salvation Army and attending church had given her more than an ample supply.

After church, Lucie and Wendy dragged out the Christmas tree decorations from the storage space in the apartment basement. She hoped Aren wouldn’t mind helping her set up the tree later. It would be fun and romantic.