The Trouble With Angels Page 0,103

Eric said, "we've decided on Anthony Paul."

"Anthony Paul," Paul repeated. He was so proud, his shirt buttons were in danger of popping open. "That has a nice sound to it."

Bethany shared a smile with her husband. "We thought you two proud grandpas would think so."

The front door opened. "Are you expecting anyone?" Bethany asked.

"No." Paul pushed his chair away from the table and stood.

"Where is everyone?" a familiar voice called from the entryway.

"Joe." Paul hurried into the other room.

His son hugged him as if it had been weeks instead of days since their last meeting.

"I thought you were spending Christmas with Annie and her family?"

"We'll be together every Christmas for the rest of our lives. Her parents are great, but you know, it just didn't seem right not to be with you."

Paul slapped his son across the back. "Come and join us," he urged. "We were just sitting down to a four-course dinner."

"I'm so hungry I could eat an elephant."

"I suspect," Eric said under his breath to Paul, "that a chicken will do just as well."

Chapter Nineteen

Goodness stood next to the church organist and watched as the woman's fingers gracefully played out an often sung Christmas carol. Mercy and Shirley would be joining her soon. Then the three of them together would meet Gabriel.

The prayer ambassador's gaze rested on Reverend Paul Morris, and a renewed sense of love filled her for this special man who'd been through so much. He'd walked through the valley of the shadow of death and had struggled to find a path to the other side.

Paul's children - Bethany with her husband, Eric, and Joe - were in the front pew. They watched their father with a deep sense of love and appreciation.

When the singing was finished, Paul stepped to the pulpit and smiled at his audience. The message was short and simple, yet it packed a powerful punch. Goodness doubted that anyone could sit and listen to this humble man and not be deeply affected. She mused about the great preachers through the ages and wanted to believe that someday Paul Morris's name would be counted among them.

It didn't seem likely, however. Following instructions, Leta Johnson had arranged for a speaker for Sunday morning worship service. Paul had rewritten his letter of resignation and mailed it out himself.

As far as Goodness knew, this was the last time Paul Morris would be preaching. To anyone. Frankly, she wondered what Gabriel had to say about that. The archangel had seemed to believe Paul would change his mind. Personally, Goodness didn't want to be around when Gariel discovered the truth.

Goodness looked around the crowded church and saw several familiar faces. Steve Tenny sat with his wife, Myrna. The two smiled at each other as if sharing a private joke. Although Goodness had no way of reading their thoughts, she guessed at what they were thinking. Paul was his old self again, and they marveled at the changes they saw in him.

Leta Johnson sat on a side pew, her Bible spread open in her lap. She stared up at Paul with a look of almost pure adoration.

Goodness's gaze narrowed, and she studied the church secretary a second time. Then she slowly shook her head. "Naw," she said, unwilling to believe what she was seeing.

"What are you shaking your head about?" Gabriel's voice was powerful enough to move them both outside the church building. Goodness landed on her feet in front of the church steps.

"Gabriel?" Goodness said quickly, in an effort to disguise her distress. "Aren't you early?"

"No, Mercy and Shirley are late. What are those two up to now?"

"Ah..."

"Never mind. I can see you've got plenty of questions regarding Paul."

"Well, yes, but they can wait until another time, if you prefer."

The archangel studied her closely. "Why the glum look?" he asked, frowning.

Goodness knew it would do no good to hide anything from Gabriel; he found out everything sooner or later anyway. She'd rather get this over with now and be done with it. "He mailed out his letter of resignation," she announced flatly.

"I know." He said this as if it were of no concern.

"But..." She was dumbfounded, not knowing what to say. "I thought...assumed that he would continue preaching."

"He does, magnificently, too, for many years to come."

Goodness sat down on the top step. "You've completely lost me. I failed, Gabriel. Reverend Paul Morris has decided to give up the ministry," she announced miserably.

"Is that a fact?"

Goodness noted that Gabriel didn't seem all that distressed by the news.

"You didn't