that hard to believe.
Lucy beamed. “The kids finally convinced me that with Jake gone, I shouldn’t be living on my own.”
“I’m surprised you’d leave your home,” Rosalie murmured. She glanced at Harry, then looked away. If it was up to Rosalie she’d delay moving as long as possible.
“I got a place at Liberty Orchard, the new assisted-living complex off Frontier Street.”
That caught Harry’s attention and he instantly straightened.
“Harry’s been saying we need to do something like that, too, but I don’t think I can,” Rosalie admitted sheepishly.
“I said the same thing.” Lucy nodded. “I figured after living in the same house for thirty years, I was too old to make that drastic a change. I told my children they were handing me a death sentence, moving me out of my home.”
“That’s how I feel,” Rosalie said, once again avoiding Harry’s gaze.
“But you did move,” Harry broke in. “And you’re happy now, right?”
“Oh, yes.” Lucy smiled contentedly. “I always assumed it would take a forklift to get me out of that house. The thought of sorting through and packing up all those years of living just overwhelmed me.”
Harry knew that was part of Rosalie’s problem, too.
“Thank goodness the kids came in and made all the decisions for me. They went through each room, packing what I needed and dividing up what I didn’t. One day I was in my home and the next I was making friends at Liberty Orchard. It’s the best thing that’s happened to me in ten years.”
Frowning, Rosalie regarded her friend. “Don’t they serve meals there?” she muttered. “Why are you shopping?”
“The meals are great, but a few times a week I don’t feel like being sociable. That’s my choice, you know. I fix myself something to eat. I’ve got my own refrigerator and microwave and that’s all I need.” She held up a box of microwave popcorn and giggled like a schoolgirl. “I love this stuff.”
“It sounds like the ideal setup,” Harry said.
“I’m not ready,” his wife murmured.
Because Harry recognized her fears, he hoped to reassure her and gently urge her along. “Maybe Rosalie and I could come and see you at your new digs,” he suggested jauntily, as though he was proposing a casual visit.
His hope was that once Rosalie saw the facilities for herself, she’d have a change of heart. If he couldn’t get her to tour Liberty Orchard, perhaps Lucy could.
“How about tomorrow afternoon?” Lucy said. “Around three o’clock? We have a book club meeting at two and there’s an exercise class before that. I wouldn’t want to miss either one.”
“They have exercise classes?” Rosalie sounded impressed.
“There’s something to do every day. Before the move, it was a big deal just to step outside the house.”
Rosalie shared a surprised glance with Harry. “I know what you mean. We’d love to come by, Lucy.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, then,” Lucy said, looking pleased.
She wasn’t nearly as pleased as Harry, though. This couldn’t have worked out better had he planned it. Lucy’s opportune appearance had led to the next day’s visit in the most natural possible way. It was exactly what he’d prayed would happen.
They finished collecting their purchases and by the time they returned to the house Harry needed a nap. The doc had insisted he couldn’t carry anything heavier than five pounds, so his wife brought in the groceries from the garage. He made it to his recliner and was asleep almost before he elevated his feet.
Mercy was delighted at how well the meeting with Lucy Menard had gone. She sat in the motorized cart Harry had recently vacated, flushed with pleasure.
“How did you manage that?” Goodness asked, sitting on the handlebars of the same cart. “Did you know about Lucy?”
Hands behind her head, Mercy leaned back, gleeful with joy. “I did some research and discovered that Lucy and Rosalie had once been best friends. Then I noticed that she’d recently moved into Liberty Orchard. After that, all I had to do was arrange a coincidental meeting in the grocery.”
“And, pray tell, how did this ‘coincidental’ meeting come about?”
“I simply absconded with her remaining package of microwave popcorn. I also shuffled around her collection of DVDs and put It’s a Wonderful Life on top. Which reminded her it’s time for her annual viewing—and that, of course, means she needs popcorn.” Mercy chortled. “Piece of cake.”
“Did someone mention the bakery?” Shirley asked, fluttering down from above, her wings stirring up flyers in the store’s foyer. A youngster chased after them, then disappeared into the store.
When Shirley caught sight of Mercy on the motorized cart, her eyes widened. “Don’t even think about it,” she warned. “Gabriel asked me to keep an eye on the two of you. He knows, as I do, that you aren’t to be trusted.”
“I wasn’t going to take the cart for a spin or anything,” Mercy protested.
“But you did think about it.”
Shirley knew her all too well. “I considered it.” Mercy sighed heavily. “But I’m older and wiser now, and no longer given to flights of fancy.” This thing was almost as good as a golf cart (there’d been that unfortunate incident at the Augusta golf course) but if Shirley wasn’t going to say anything, Mercy certainly wouldn’t, either.
“You’re not to encourage her,” Shirley warned Goodness.
“Moi?” The other angel brought her hand to her heart with an expression of pure innocence.
Shirley claimed the seat on a second cart. “I thought we should confer before we start our assignments,” she said.
Mercy didn’t know when Shirley had been put in charge or begun sounding so self-important. She obviously saw herself as their boss; this didn’t sit right with Mercy, but she’d do whatever it took to finish her assignment.
“We each have an important task set before us,” Shirley announced as if standing at a podium and addressing a huge crowd. She tilted her chin upward and spoke in deep, resounding tones. “This is our opportunity to prove ourselves once and for all to Gabriel and—” she paused, seemingly for effect “—to God.”
“Gabriel and God,” Mercy and Goodness dutifully repeated, their eyes meeting.
“It is our task,” Shirley continued righteously, “no, our duty, to teach these humans a lesson from our heavenly Father before we answer their prayer requests.”
“Our duty,” Mercy and Goodness echoed.
At that point, Shirley deigned to actually face them. “You’ve got that look,”
