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hope I didn't catch you at an inconvenient time."

Jody's shoulders sagged against the wall. "No. I just unlocked the door and had to run to catch the phone."

"The funniest thing just happened. I was thinking of calling you and for the life of me, I couldn't find your number. Then I walked into the kitchen and found it attached to the phone. Heaven only knows how it got there. It seemed fate was telling me to give you a jingle," Glen said, sounding confused even now. "And to think I caught you just as you walked in the door."

"I just got back from visiting my mother."

"I suppose you've already had dinner."

"I'm sorry, Glen, but we ordered Chinese take-out." He sounded so bewildered that she almost felt sorry for him. "What are you doing, sitting home alone on a Friday night?"

"My best gal turned me down for a date."

It took Jody a moment to realize he was talking about her, leading her to wonder what excuse she'd given him earlier.

"I was thinking I should suggest a deli sandwich and a couple of sodas for the next time we meet at the copy machine. Larry Williams warned me that you don't date often."

Often. The last time she'd gone out with a man, she'd ended up marrying him. Jeff had been persistent too, she remembered, unwilling to take no for an answer. He'd wooed her carefully and when they'd fallen in love, it was the kind of love that was meant to last a lifetime. She might marry again, even give birth to another child, but she'd never stop loving Jeff. This was her vow, to his memory and to the extraordinary love they shared.

"Jody?" Glen said, interrupting her thoughts.

"I'm sorry, I got distracted."

"I know it's short notice and all, but how about a movie? I understand there're several good ones playing. How would you feel about that? I could meet you at the theater if that'd make you more comfortable," he added, rushing the words together in his eagerness.

So soon. It was happening so fast, much faster than she'd expected. Much too soon, long before she was ready. Then she remembered her mother's words about placing the love she shared with Jeff in the most tender part of her heart. She didn't know what to make of him finding her number pasted on his telephone.

"A movie," she repeated. There was a six-plex less than a mile from her house. "Ah, all right."

"Great," Glen said, sounding a little like Timmy when she'd given in on something he'd really wanted. "This is just great. I promise you, you won't be sorry. Just you wait and see."

Jody wondered if that were possible.

Chapter 5

Shirley loved old white churches with tall steeples and huge bells. In the Reverend Lloyd Fischer's church she felt a certain kinship with this righteous man of God. She was waiting for her two compatriots in the choir loft, which was situated up the winding stairway in the back of the old church. The freshly polished pews gleamed in the moonlight and the scent of lemon oil wafted toward her.

She frowned as she viewed the magnificent old organ. It would take a minor miracle to keep Mercy away from this. The public address system didn't bear thinking about.

"Shirley?" Goodness arrived first, agitated and impatient, racing up and down the center aisle.

"Up here."

Goodness joined her, hurling herself over the wooden railing of the choir loft. "Where's Mercy? She should have been here by now."

"I'm sure she will be soon."

No sooner had Shirley spoken than Mercy appeared. "I'm up here. No one bothered to tell me Leah Lundberg's a night owl." She sagged into one of the choir chairs and tilted back her head. "I'm bushed. Leah had me running from one end of the shopping mall to the next. After she found her friend an absolutely delightful party dress, she took off on her own and shopped for hours. I didn't know a single human being possessed so much energy."

"We're all learning lessons about earthlings," Shirley maintained. Her own experiences had been exhausting as well.

"You're telling me," Goodness joined in. "All Monica's done since Chet kissed her is stew in the juices of her self-righteousness. She's convinced God never intended a good Christian woman to experience desire. I think it must be the first time she was ever kissed, I mean really kissed. I don't mind telling you, this whole situation has got me plenty worried."

"You?" Mercy cried, and a look of frustration