Shirley, Goodness and Mercy (Angels Everywhere #4)(15)

Shirley had done her utmost to put the balloon episode out of her mind, and Mercy’s reference did nothing to calm her already tattered nerves. “Please, don’t remind me.”

“If Gabriel didn’t hear about that, then we don’t need to—” Mercy stopped midsentence. A panic-stricken look came over her face, and she blinked several times before she said, “Oh…hello, Gabriel.”

“Hello, Gabriel,” Goodness repeated, wide-eyed and subservient.

“The Archangel Gabriel to you,” their boss said sternly.

Feeling slightly light-headed, Shirley turned around and swallowed nervously. She opened her mouth to offer a multitude of excuses and saw that it would do no good. Their chances of putting something over on the archangel were virtually nil.

“I’m here for a progress report,” he announced in the same controlled voice.

Goodness and Mercy both gazed pleadingly at Shirley, silently begging her to respond. She glared at them. When she tried to speak, her tongue seemed glued to the roof of her mouth.

“Well?” Gabriel muttered. “I’m waiting.”

“Greg talked to Catherine and he knows he fathered a son,” Shirley blurted out.

“Are you telling me that after thirty-five years, Greg just happened to stumble upon Catherine?” Gabriel demanded.

Shirley was never sure how much Gabriel knew of their antics, but suspected he was aware of it all. The questions were most likely a test to see how much they’d learned….

All three nodded in unison.

The archangel’s frown darkened. “Thanks to a tableful of spilled crab, as I understand it.”

“Yes, but that was only a means—”

“To an end,” Gabriel completed for Mercy.

“Yes, and it worked very nicely, in my humble opinion,” Goodness said in a bold rush. “It seemed a shame for the two of them to be in the same place after all those years and not know it. Really, all I did was point Greg out to Catherine. It was up to her to ignore or confront him.”

“Yes,” Mercy agreed. “Greg never did appreciate Catherine’s strength.”

“In other words, you’re telling me,” Gabriel said thoughtfully, “that Catherine chose to face him?”

Again all three nodded as one.

Gabriel’s smile seemed involuntary. “The truth is, Catherine has Greg to thank for that inner strength. She gained it when he deserted her.”

“They might never have met again if it hadn’t been for those spilled crabs.” Goodness made her foolishness sound like an act of genius.

Gabriel didn’t look pleased—nor should he, Shirley reasoned. But that one antic had worked beautifully. She’d admit it now, even though she hadn’t approved at the time.

“Do you have anything else to report?” Gabriel asked.

The three glanced at one another and shrugged.

“We’ve been to visit Matthias in the Seattle area,” Mercy told him in an offhand manner meant to suggest that Gabriel probably already knew about it. “He still hates Greg, but he’s more concerned about his grandson’s condition just now.”

“Ah, yes,” Gabriel said, frowning again. “I’ve heard something about that. Cancer, is it?”

Shirley nodded. “The same form of leukemia that killed the boy’s grandmother.” Then, because she wanted to impress upon the archangel that their time on earth had been well spent, she said, “We’ve been to see Greg’s brother, as well. Phil Bennett. You remember him, don’t you?”

“Of course,” Gabriel assured them. “I didn’t realize Goodness enjoyed singing in choirs as much as she does. I’m sure she’ll volunteer to be part of the heavenly host next year—is that correct?”

“Ah…” Goodness waited desperately for Shirley to rescue her, but Shirley was in no mood to offer assistance. She might have leaped in to save her friend, if not for that escapade with the hot-air balloon. She felt mortified every time she thought about it. True, the sparkling wine had gone a long way toward tempering her anger, but…

“I’ll be happy to serve wherever assigned,” Goodness stated with a woeful look in Shirley’s direction.

Gabriel arched his brows as if to say her willingness surprised him. “I find your attitude a refreshing change from when we last spoke.”

“Singing with the heavenly host isn’t my favorite Christmas duty,” Goodness was quick to add, “but I’ll serve wherever you feel I’d do best.”

Once again Gabriel’s expression implied that he was having trouble believing her. “Anything else you’d like to report?” he finally asked.

“Not a thing,” Shirley said, eager for him to be on his way.

“None.”

“Nothing I can think of.”

He stared at the three of them. “All right, then, carry on. Just remember there are less than three weeks until Christmas.”

“Oh, yes,” they said in unison. They’d made a lucky escape, Shirley felt. Gabriel hadn’t even mentioned the hot-air balloon.

“It was very good of you to check up on us,” Goodness said.

That was overdoing it, in Shirley’s opinion. She resisted the urge to step on the other angel’s foot.