by Gay N. Lewis
Sarah trailed the women as they opened boxes and placed decorations in every downstairs room. Evidently, Beth collected nativity scenes. All sizes and shapes went onto available surfaces. Constructed from various materials—wood, ceramic, cloth, paper machete—each one told the story of the birth of Christ in a beautiful way. Jesus left the splendor of heaven to come to Earth and make His bed in an animal feed trough. Such an amazing and magnificent action for Him to take.
When Beth completed the tableaus, she stationed battery-operated candles about the room while Maria stored the empty boxes. When they finished, Maria made hot chocolate and Beth found Christmas carols for the surround-sound music system.
The strains of O Holy Night, a favorite in The Heavenlies, filled the rooms. Sarah perched atop a limb on the tree as she admired the adornments and listened to the violins play the hymn. The women sat a few moments as they too absorbed the tranquility.
“The Taylor-Carlson wedding is in a couple of weeks.” Beth stirred her drink.
“Who you take with you?”
“I don’t know. I wish you’d go with me. Please reconsider.”
Maria shook her head.
“The invitation was addressed to Mrs. Beth Marsh and guest. I responded that I’d bring one. I wish you’d consent to go.”
“No, no, not me. Señor Wingate? Or maybe Señor Chadwick?”
“I really don’t want to invite either one of them. I’m afraid if I ask one to go with me, it would send the wrong impression.”
“Sí. Men hope for you.”
“Or maybe my money. Having financial independence is a blessing, but it’s also a burden. I never know if someone wants my friendship or merely my money.” Beth sighed. “If you won’t go with me, perhaps I’ll go alone.”
Sarah leaned back against a branch. How to introduce herself? The Commander had assigned Sarah the task of attending as Beth’s guest.
Oh, merciful heavens! That meant appearing as the woman who once accidentally tucked the back of her dress inside her pantyhose in a restaurant full of people. A disaster of monumental proportions.
Maybe the bride and groom wouldn’t remember.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
What’s that? Opening one eye, Sarah regulated to Earth time. Nine o’clock—with the sun already up, and now the sound of Beth’s doorbell coming in loud and clear.
Poopty doopty. Fretting and fuming into the night over how to introduce herself to Beth prevented a deep sleep. Now she might start the day cranky. Not good for carrying out her assignments. Angels knew better than to agonize over stuff, and she’d broken the rules by struggling over something trivial. Somehow, the Father guided her through each challenge, and she always found a way to do the Commander’s bidding. So why toss and turn? Ultimate control lay in the Father’s hands, but sleeping late would not win favor with the Superiors—she knew from past experience.
The bell chimed again.
Bleary-eyed, Sarah peeked over her low-hanging misty veil.
Bryan Wingate stood on Beth’s threshold with a humungous poinsettia plant. What’s the dude doing bringing flowers here this early? Hope Beth expected him.
Good thing she’d showered under a warm cloud spray the night before. The fresh, white robe felt good against angel skin. With apparel chosen, she combed her tangled curls and glided her feet into slippers. Not that the humans would see her, but she felt better if she looked renewed. Taking a bottle of lavender spray, she misted above her head and allowed the fine vapor to sift over her. Hmmm. How about an extra squirt? She added one to each wrist.
Maria opened the door. “Good morning, Señor Wingate. Come in. Señora Beth is in breakfast room. Coffee ready.”
Well, now. Sounds as though Beth indeed expected this chap. Missed that bit of news. The guy probably phoned while she slept.
“The house is picture-perfect for Christmas, Maria.”
“Gracias. Señora Beth and I finish yesterday. Carlos still work on lights outside.” Maria led the way to the breakfast area with Bryan following—along with invisible Sarah.
As Sarah took a seat on a sprig behind one of the large, leafy plants positioned in one of the bay windows, the aroma of breakfast reached her. If only that bacon didn’t smell so good, and coffee and blueberry muffins on top of that. Sarah’s mouth watered. Wonder if she should ask the Commander for one of those contraptions the humans use? What did the Earth-guy inventor call it? Instant Pop Oven? No, wrong name. Quick Fix Cooker? No, incorrect again. Some name similar to Wave It Goodbye Grill. Whatever—she’d seen them used from The Heavenlies and thought they might come in handy. And perhaps the Commander would allow her a small refrigerator. Maybe she could learn to prepare her own meals and thereby end all future restaurant disasters.
Beth rose from a settee to greet Bryan. “For me? The Christmas flower is lovely. Thank you. Maria is finishing breakfast. Now that you are here, she’ll warm a few of her goodies in the microwave.”
Oh yeah, microwave. Must remember that name. May want to learn to use one—and then again, maybe not. The catastrophe she could create in the clouds might be worse than any calamity she caused below.
“You look lovely this morning.” Bryan kept his gaze on Beth.
“Thank you.” Beth carried the poinsettia to the window. “I’ll move these two plants and place your beautiful flower here so it can receive indirect sunlight.”
Sarah grabbed a stem and hung on for life as Beth tried to push her chosen hiding place aside.
“Here, let me help you.” Bryan lifted Sarah’s temporary home and held it aloft. “I didn’t realize ferns had a lavender scent. It’s nice.”
Sarah sneaked a quick look from behind a leaf in time to see Beth draw her eyebrows together and then shrug. She must think this chap possessed some sort of nasal condition.
When Bryan set the plant down in another of the bay windows, Sarah banged her head against the wall.
“Ouch.”
“Pardon?” Bryan looked toward Beth. “Did you hurt yourself?”
“Hmmm? No, I’m all right. Do you want cream and sugar in your coffee?”
Sarah peeked again at Beth. With a furrowed forehead and puckered lips, she probably wondered if this guy experienced a hearing disorder as well as an adenoidal malady. Manners would not allow her to comment on his condition.
Bryan took his place next to Beth. “No, thank you. I like it black.” He sipped the brew. “Ah, delicious.” He grinned. “Not at all like the last cup I had at your house.”
Sarah stuck her tongue out at the rude dude.
Thunder rolled across the sky. “Sarah!”
Oops—she lifted her eyes heavenward and mouthed the word sorry in response to the Lieutenant.
Beth glanced out the window. “A winter storm is headed our way, but it’s not supposed to last long. Rain should end by noon.”
Maria set shirred eggs before the couple, along with platters of bacon, biscuits, and strawberry jam. Orange juice and muffins complemented each place setting.
“This is a feast.” Bryan offered Beth a biscuit.
“Thank you. Maria went all out for you. If I ate this much breakfast every day, I’d need to work twice as hard at the gym.”
Bryan smiled at Beth. “You are a vision and have no worries in that department.”
“Thank you. Do you have an exercise routine?”
“I run five miles every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow at this time of the year. However, during the blistering Houston summer, I go to the gym—can’t tolerate Texas heat.”
Beth nodded and leaned back in her chair to study her guest. “I’m puzzled. You’re attractive, athletic, and well-established. Why have you never married?”
“I don’t know, Beth. I’ve wanted a family, but it never happened.” He blotted his mouth with the napkin. “I suppose my excuse is that I’ve been busy building a business. I keep occupied with several charities, and I have my church. It’s an important part of my life.”
Bet
h nodded. “I can understand that. I stay busy with my congregation—serve on the finance committee and chair the fundraisers. I fill in with other activities too.” She glanced at the poinsettia. “In fact, I’m donating a hundred of those plants to be placed in the sanctuary for the Christmas season. The florist is delivering them today, and I’m going there later to assist the floral committee with placing them.”
“Your church has a huge worship center, and those flowers will be the ideal touch.”
“I think so. Maria is going along to assist with the three trees—two on the dais and one in the vestibule.”
“You ladies did an outstanding job here. Your house looks lovely. Can I get you to come to mine and give it a festive touch?”
Beth’s laugh jingled as true as a soprano singing opera. “I think you’d be better off to hire a decorator. There are some who specialize in holiday decor.”
“I don’t want a tree—they take up too much space, but I need a few things scattered around to make my guests feel the Christmas spirit. And that brings me to the reason I asked to see you today. I want to ask you to help me host my company Christmas party. You know how to organize events and can give me direction.” In his eyes, Sarah caught an impressive twinkle as he glanced sideways at Beth. “It would give us an opportunity to work together as a couple and would bring me a great deal of pleasure.”
“Don’t you have someone in your agency who can give you support with a party?”
Buried deep in the plant, Sarah nodded. Yeah, Bryan, don’t you have someone in your office? How about Shorty Pants?
Another loud boom of thunder shook the windows.
Sorry. Sarah grimaced and changed her thought pattern. Glaring at Wingate, she mouthed the words, “What about Sheila? You know, the blonde bombshell you ate dinner with the other night at the bistro? You’d just asked Beth to marry you and then took the female on a date. Remember that, buster?”
“No, not really. This is a party for employees. I don’t want to ask any of them to spend time planning their own event. It’s a festivity to honor them. I’ll give them their bonuses at the event.”
“That makes sense. It might be fun. I haven’t organized any major bashes since Grant moved on to heaven.”
When Bryan smiled, his face relaxed as though he’d just received the gift of a lifetime. “Thank you, Beth. Time is growing short, and I haven’t set a date yet, so whenever you have available will work for me.”
Beth pulled out a day planner and studied the calendar. “I have an idea. Would you like to have the party here? My house is decorated, and I have the third story available. We designed it for celebrations, and it won’t take me long to add a few decorations up there. One or two big trees and a few garlands are no problem.”
Bryan’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, Carlos has the nativity set ready to assemble and will soon have the miniature white lights placed in the trees and secured to the gables. I’m getting into the swing of things. This might just be what I need to reinstate my sense of a social community again.”
“You are an angel.” Bryan’s features lit up with genuine appreciation.
“No, I’m not, but I have several angels hanging on my tree.”
Yep. Sarah nodded. And you’ve got a real one over here lurking in your bushes.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
After Bryan left, Beth sat down at the kitchen table to visit with Maria. Sarah took to the corner.
“You agree to host Señor Wingate’s party?”
“Yes, and now I have second thoughts. Why do you suppose I did that?”
“I think you like him.”
Beth grinned. “He fans my hormones.” Red crept up her neck much as a rose climbs a trellis. “He’s so good-looking, and I feel something for him.”
“Enough to marry?” Maria placed a plate into the dishwasher but turned to look at Beth.
With brows raised, she waved her hand. “Oh, heavens, no. I don’t want marriage to any man—merely friendship and an escort to parties now and then.”
“The señors have other ideas.”
Beth sighed. “I’m afraid you’re right.”
“You still like Señor Chadwick?”
“They are both nice.”
“They be jealous if one meets the other.”
“Probably.”
“If you say goodbye, which one?”
Beth’s jaw dropped. “I don’t know.”
* * *
Waiting for Beth to dress for church gave Sarah an idea. Why not appear at the holy establishment and help Beth decorate the sanctuary? Of course, that meant appearing as the toilet-paper lady—a mind boggling dread to Sarah, especially when she considered the wedding. What if Cannon and Laney recognized her from the occasion of that dress indiscretion?
Remembering those two stubborn people brought a smile to her lips. Cannon gave Laney a run for the money after he decided his employee should become his wife. The boss pursued his architect as though no other woman existed on the planet—and to him, none did. Sarah sighed. Such a romantic dude. And Laney? Miss Cucumber—determined to ignore him. The challenge between that hard-as-nails woman and the man who wanted her as much as any lion wanted a meal had forced Sarah into desperate measures. And now they would soon be wed, thanks to her bumbling but successful efforts.
When Beth and Maria exited the seven-car garage in a black luxury automobile, Sarah joined them in the backseat. No point in getting lost, and maybe if she paid close attention to landmarks, she might learn how to return to Beth’s house.
Whew! What a relief—no detectable sound came from her as she rode with Beth. The women in the front never knew a listener heard them discuss plans to adorn the church.
Now to become the mature lady who’d managed to stuff toilet paper, along with the hem of her dress, into the waistband of her nylon pantyhose.
Finding the church lounge proved no problem, and Sarah ducked into a restroom stall. The privacy had proved useful in other situations when she needed to emerge in a disguise. The tried and true usually worked. Hmmm. How about something conservative? Maybe a navy dress with a full skirt, stockings, and those ugly two-inch heels women of this age seemed to prefer. With a twist of her hand, a fifty-something woman with every gray hair sprayed into place appeared. Before emerging into an empty ladies’ room from the hiding place, Sarah checked her rear end. Good. So far, no problem. Everything looked normal back there.
Now to find Beth. An enormous tree kept Maria and a few others occupied in the vestibule.
Entering the sanctuary, Sarah found Beth standing alone in front of what seemed like thousands of poinsettia plants.
“How ya doin’, honey?”
When Beth turned, she presented Sarah with a smile big enough to dazzle a dentist. “Hello, I’m Beth. Are you Joan?”
“Joan? No, honey, my name is Annie. I saw ya in here and thought ya needed some help. Are you decoratin’ the church with these flowers?”
“Yes, and now that I’m here, I don’t know where to begin. Joan had the plans for all this in mind, but she hasn’t arrived.”
“I’ll help ya.”
“Fantastic! Do you have any ideas?”
“I s’pose we better make sure the ministers aren’t crowded on the dais during worship services. How about settin’ some up there around that window ledge behind the choir loft?” Sarah pointed to the location. An enormous multi-colored stained-glass window occupied the red brick wall directly behind the choir area. A wide ledge occupied the space immediately below it.
“Yes, that would bring them above the congregation’s eye level. I’ll see if I can find a custodian with an extension ladder.” Beth glanced about. “I think a cluster should look elegant over here by the orchestra. What do you think?”
“Looks just right to me. I’ll move some while ya find a ladder.”
When Beth returned with a man in tow, the poinsettias presented a sea of red and green at one side of the auditori
um.
Beth clapped her hands. “Good job, Annie. Those are beautiful there. Since the sanctuary has green carpet, the red flowers truly make me think Christmas. How did you get them in tiers like that?”
“Oh, thank ya, honey. I hope the choir master doesn’t mind, but I borrowed a few song books and set the flowers on top of ’em so the blooms would appear at different heights.”
“Great idea. I’ll get some lifters from the hobby store and exchange them for the hymnals later.”
Beth pointed to the window ledge. “We’ll hand you the flowers if you will place them on the shelf.”
The man nodded and climbed the tall ladder.
The Christmas flowers above the choir loft provided an eye-popping tableau. Beth stepped back to observe the area. “They add so much up there. I’ve always thought this worship center beautiful with the stained glass windows—all the blues, greens, reds, and yellows. It’s all so splendid.”
Sarah nodded. “How about placin’ flowers along the steps leadin’ all the way up to the platform?”
As they worked, a gentleman walked in and stopped to admire the arrangements. Neither woman noticed the newcomer watching them.
“Beth, the flowers are a perfect addition for Christmas.”
Who shouted? Such a booming voice. Uh-oh, stumbling. No rail to grasp. Don’t fly.
Tumbling backward down the platform steps, Sarah landed with a thud—feet sprawled in front of her and the skirt billowed up around her thighs.
“Merciful heavens!” Rubbing her head, she felt strange—why did she feel a breeze on her legs?
The man reached her first. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I shouldn’t have startled you. Are you okay?”
Sarah tried to sit up.
“No, no, don’t move. Let’s make sure you aren’t hurt.”
“Did I break my feathers?”
“Feathers? No, ma’am. I don’t see any feathers, but I’m worried about bones.”
Feeling her limbs grow colder, Sarah propped up on her elbows and glanced down her short torso to her feet. “Oh, my, I’m showing my legs again.” A moan escaped her lips. “Just what I needed. Another wardrobe malfunction.”