The Trouble With Angels Page 0,98

Catherine Goodwin, I saw an angel."

"A real angel?" Catherine had heard of angelic visitations, but she'd never experienced the phenomenon herself. "When?"

"It was one of those days when I was thinking about the war and all the good men we lost in battle. Some days I can't get the looks of those fighting men out of my mind."

It was difficult for Catherine to hear such words, but she nodded to encourage him to continue.

"Joy came and sat down next to me and took my hand, and there was something so gentle and sweet in the way she talked to me. It was the day your grandson...Jed, Fred...what is it now?"

"Ted."

"Right, Ted. He was with her, and he was watching her talk to me, and it seemed to me that he was sweet on her. Can't say that I blame him. If I was fifty years younger, I'd be wanting her myself."

"You said something about an angel?"

"Right." He reached for the chocolate-chip cookie then and grabbed hold of it before Catherine could stop him.

"Sh-h," he said under his breath as he quickly placed the cookie inside his pocket. "No one saw." He straightened and looked around as if he suspected his actions had garnered attention. "Now back to the angel part. Joy left with your grandson, and I started to slip back into myself the way I do, when an angel sat down right where Joy had been."

"An angel? How'd you know it was an angel?"

"She. The angel was a she. Prettiest blue eyes I've ever seen. As blue as turquoise. Blond hair and wings, too, just the way I've always seen in pictures. I knew immediately she was an angel."

"Did she speak to you?"

"Ah, now that's the funny part. I think she did, but then I'm not right sure."

"What did she say?"

"First off she told me that life here in Wilshire Grove was a whole lot better than burying myself in the past, particularly if it had been so miserable. Then she said - "

"Now, Charles, I'm sure you thought - "

"Hush now," he muttered, cutting her off. "I don't know what you're thinking. I wouldn't have told you this much if the angel didn't mention you by name."

"Me?" Catherine flattened her hand over her breast.

"I swear it's true. The angel told me she didn't have a lot of time to be talking to me because she was on assignment."

"On assignment?"

"Yes, she claimed she was here because of you!" Having said that, Charles turned and walked away.

Catherine stood still for several moments while Charles's words sank in. The angel was there, on assignment, and because of her. Well, Catherine didn't want to be accused of disbelief, but if the angel had been there on her account, she hoped the poor dear knew what a terrible mess Ted had gotten himself involved in.

Catherine hadn't seen or heard from her grandson in several days and suspected that he was trying to avoid Joy.

"One of the authors has arrived," Lucille announced, her eyes alive with delight. "Shall I seat her in the dining room?"

"That would be perfect."

"It looks like your grandson is coming as well," Lucille told her.

"Ted?" Catherine turned around to discover him walking in through the double-wide glass doors.

He smiled warmly when he saw Catherine and hurried to her side. Gripping her gently by the shoulder, he kissed her cheek with a loud smack. "Say, what's going on around here?"

"We're having our literary tea." She didn't want to ask him what he was doing there in the middle of the day, but by the same token she was curious.

"Where's Joy?" he wanted to know, looking past Catherine. Without waiting for permission, he reached for a chocolate-chip cookie.

"Ted!" she chastised.

"Wasn't that for me?"

"It most certainly was not."

"Sorry." But he sounded anything but. Catherine had rarely seen him in a more cheerful frame of mind.

"Do you know where I can find Joy?" he asked a second time.

"Why?"

"Because I need to talk to her. I'll explain everything to you later, I promise."

Catherine was of two minds. She didn't want Ted abusing Joy's heart, but she wasn't willing to lie to him, either. "Joy arrived a few moments ago. She's probably still in her office. But Ted, please, be good to her."

"I plan on doing that for a very long while. Thanks, Grandma," he said, and kissed her again. When her back was turned, he reached around her and grabbed a second cookie.

Joy yawned as she locked her purse in the bottom desk drawer.