A Season of Angels by Debbie Macomber Page B

her index finger. “Check on the sale rack first. I’ll feel better about spending so much money on myself if the dress is discounted.”
    â€œNever you mind,” Leah argued. “I’m not even going to let you look at the price tag.”
    â€œBut, Leah—”
    â€œDon’t even try to argue with me. I’d have thought you’d know better by now.” Smiling to herself, Leah left the dressing room.
    â€œMy hips aren’t nearly as slender as they used to be either,” Pam called after her. “You’d better start with a size twelve instead of a ten . . . better make that a fourteen.”
    Leah stopped long enough to roll her eyes, then headed for a rack of newly arrived fashions. It took less than five minutes to find a wide selection that would suit her friend.
    â€œM ercy, where are you?” Goodness called, frantically circling Nordstrom’s like the second hand of a clock gone berserk.
    Mercy turned around to find Goodness, her wings all aflutter, breezing six feet off the ground, close to a state of panic.
    â€œI need to talk to you right away,” Goodness said breathlessly.
    â€œOver here,” Mercy called, wondering what could possibly have gone wrong so quickly. “I’m on the light fixture.”
    Goodness soared to her side, rustling the dress display and toppling a mannequin. Apparently feeling guilty, she scooped up the lifeless form and set it back into place to the horror of a sales clerk who gasped and placed her hand over her heart to watch a lifeless form right itself.
    â€œGoodness,” Mercy shouted. “Would you stop before you get us both into trouble?”
    â€œI need help,” Goodness blurted out for the second time, joining Mercy who was dangling from the light fixture.
    â€œSo soon? You just received the assignment. What could have possibly gone wrong?”
    Goodness, who was easily flustered, looked helpless and confused. She cast a pleading look at Mercy. “I knew I was in way over my head when Gabriel first gave me this assignment, but I wanted to help Monica Fischer. You know I’m a sucker for romance, and finding her a husband didn’t sound as if it would be the least bit difficult.” She stopped long enough to draw in another deep breath. “Now the poor girl’s more confused than ever and I’m afraid it’s all my fault.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œNothing . . . well, obviously it’s something, but . . . oh, dear, I’m afraid I’ve made a terrible mistake.”
    â€œI take it this has something to do with finding Monica a husband?”
    Goodness nodded energetically. “I found the most suitable young man who has a wonderful heart for God. He directs the choir and he’s half in love with her already.”
    â€œThen what’s the problem?”
    â€œMonica isn’t the least bit excited about him. She has this dangerous attraction for that . . . that private eye. They’re completely incompatible. Why, a union between the two of them will never do, and I fear I’m the one responsible for them meeting.”
    Mercy frowned. “Goodness, when will you ever learn?”
    â€œMe!” Flustered, she wrung her hands and eyed her fellow angel. “You don’t think I know that was you riding up and down the escalator just now?”
    â€œYou couldn’t have known that was me.”
    â€œLet’s just say I made an educated guess,” Goodness said confidently. “A woman’s being treated with smelling salts and two kids are telling everyone what they saw, and it sounds to me as if they were describing you. Who else do you know with long, blond hair, deep blue eyes, and magnificent wings? You know better than most that children’s spiritual eyes have yet to close. You were taking a terrible chance.”
    â€œAh . . .”
    â€œJust as I thought. Mercy, what are you going to do if Gabriel