by Gay N. Lewis
Beth stooped and discreetly pulled Sarah’s dress over her knees.
Sarah turned her head to look at the man. “I’m all right. Can you help me up?”
The man took Sarah’s uplifted hand and supported her to a chair. “I’m sorry I frightened you. Do you need a doctor?”
Sarah shook her head. “He wouldn’t understand my skeletal nature.”
The man raised his eyebrows. “I’m afraid the fall rattled your brain. We need to check you for a concussion.”
As Sarah’s vision cleared, her surroundings came into focus, and she remembered her mortal presence. What if these people called a doctor? What if she blew her disguise as a human?
Sarah smoothed her hair and then her dress and resumed her previous enunciation. “No, no, I’m fine, but thank ya anyway.”
The man extended his hand. “I’m Pastor Browning.”
What name had she used? Gertrude? Gladys? Something with an A. Agatha? Alva? Oh yes, Annie. “I’m Annie.”
“Are you a member of our church? I’m sorry I don’t remember meeting you.”
“I’ve heard ya preach many times from on high.”
The man diverted his eyes to the balcony. “Unfortunately, I don’t have the opportunity to meet many of the folk who worship up there.”
He turned to Beth. “I came by the other day. I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your financial gifts to our church during this past year.”
“Oh yes. Maria said you stopped by. I’m sorry I wasn’t home.”
“No problem. Since you’re here, I’ll bring you up to date. We were able to start two new missions as a result of your generosity, and both new groups are growing rapidly.” He gestured toward the dais. “And thanks for this lovely gift of poinsettias. It is kind of you to take your valuable time to decorate the worship center.”
“I’m happy to be of service, Pastor Browning, and Annie helped me.”
“Thank you too, Annie.” He smiled. “I hope to see you ladies on Sunday. If you’re sure you’re okay, I’ll leave you to finish the lovely floral presentation.”
Sarah nodded, and the man strode away. Hmmm, when the preacher reached the exit door, he paused. Before he disappeared, he glanced at Beth with an expression of admiration, but Beth didn’t notice.
Beth motioned with her hands. “You sit here a moment and I’ll finish the flowers.”
Sarah jumped up. “I’m okay, honey.” She grabbed a container from the floor and placed it on the lower rung to the stairwell.
Beth lifted the final pot and took it to the top level. “That should just about take care of the remaining poinsettias. May I take you to lunch? I can bring you back here when we finish. Maria and the ladies will have the trees completed by then.”
“Thank ya, honey. I’d like that. Eatin’ is one of my favorite things.”
* * *
As they left the church, Beth introduced Sarah to Maria and made arrangements to return for her. Once Sarah sat in the passenger seat, she watched Beth’s movements as she maneuvered the car.
“Ya know, honey, I’ve never learned to drive.”
“You haven’t? Why not?”
“I didn’t have anyone to teach me. When my William was alive, he didn’t see the need for me to operate a car.”
“How long has William been gone?”
“About a year.”
“My husband has been gone three. It never gets easier, but time helps. How do you manage to get around if you don’t drive?”
“Oh, I just sort of flit and fly until I’m where I need to be.”
“I taught both my kids to drive, and I’d be happy to teach you. Driving isn’t difficult.”
“Oh, thank ya, honey, but my lack of skills might shudder ya.”
As Beth laughed, she pulled into a diner. “I’m sort of hungry for a cheeseburger. If you don’t care for burgers, this place has a variety of other foods on their menu.”
“Burgers and fries are my favorite.” Sarah patted her apple-shaped middle. “Can’t ya tell?”
After they placed their order, Beth turned to face Sarah. “How is it we’ve never met at church before?”
“It’s a big congregation.”
“True. Thousands attend each Sunday.”
“Pastor Browning seems nice.” Sarah sipped her iced tea.
“Yes, he is. He holds a doctorate, but he’s so humble and unassuming, he prefers to be called either Pastor Browning or Pastor Bruce.”
Sarah felt her face grow warm. “He saw my legs.”
Beth laughed. “I’m sure he has seen female limbs before.”
Sarah turned up a corner of her mouth. “Better be the first and last time he sees mine.”
“You fell. Don’t think another thing about it. Women who wear bathing suits reveal much more.”
“They wear those things in your church? I haven’t seen that.”
Beth chuckled. “Well, no, they don’t dress in swimwear in our services.”
“If he’s married, I guess he has seen a woman’s legs. Maybe it’s okay.”
“His wife died a little more than two years ago.”
Sarah widened her eyes. “Really? I didn’t know that. He’s a handsome man. Are all the single women in the church after him?”
“Probably a few in our age bracket. Some are too young for him, and others aren’t attracted to a life with a minister.”
Sarah leaned in closer to Beth.
“How about you? Could you take an interest in him?”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
One of Beth’s brows shot up and her jaw dropped at Sarah’s question. “No, I don’t think so. I find him charming, but he’s my minister, and I’ve never even considered it.”
“It’s nice to have male companionship now and then, don’t ya think, honey? Men need female acquaintances too, and preachers are no exception.”
“Yes, I suppose so. Actually, I find that men seem to need us more than we need them.”
“I agree.” Sarah shook her helmet-bobbed cut, and not one strand of hair moved. “We are more resourceful.”
“Right, look at you. You don’t drive, and yet you manage.” A mischievous gleam came to her eye. “How about you? Could you be interested in a minister?”
Sarah felt shock. “Me? Oh no, honey, I’m not qualified.”
“Why do you say you aren’t qualified?”
“Uh…ah, well, I lack sophistication—don’t have much down-to-earth knowledge, and I think this pastor needs someone who knows human stuff. That wouldn’t be me.”
“Human stuff? You use the phrase as if you aren’t one. Why is that?”
“Good question.” Sarah turned her head to gaze out the passenger window. “Maybe it’s because I’m reminded often down here that I’m not God, and there’s a considerable amount about life I don’t know. I never feel good enough to be the person God formed, and certainly not the person He wants me to be. I’m just a wayfarin’ visitor, living for a brief time below. I think of myself as an inhabitant of heaven and not earth. Didn’t the Apostle Paul say that in his letter to the Philippians?”
“Yes, I believe he said that as Christians, our citizenship is in heaven.”
Sarah nodded. “Temporary residency here, but I’ll go to heaven one day and see the One who created me. See all my friends and William too.”
Beth gave Sarah a quick glance. “Well said. A response like that makes me think you’d make a good conversationalist for Pastor Browning.”
“No, not me. He needs a woman like you who knows all about business, church, politics, all such things as that. I don’t know enough to make it come out right. That’s what I meant about human stuff. I’m not educated in it.”
Beth laughed. “I’m sure you know many valuable things, and besides, Pastor Browning doesn’t care about images. He comes from a humble background and shuns pretention, and I admire him for it.” She touched Sarah’s hand. “I should have a party and seat you as his dinner companion.”
“I sure hope you are a-teasin’ me.”
“No, the more I think of it, the better I like the idea.”
“Hey, listen, honey, I’m the one tryin’ to play matchmaker here. I’m a thinkin’ you would make a good lady for the pastor.”
Beth grinned. “How about if we both forget about him?”
“Sounds good to me.” Sarah muttered an almost imperceptible “For now.”
“I’m sorry, did you say something?”
“Oh, no, honey, just breathin’ hard. The thought of me and another man terrifies me.”
“I know the feeling. It’s taking me a long time to think of adding a man to my life, but now that I’ve gone out with them a few times, I’m enjoying it. I didn’t date much before Grant, and I was married to him a long time. This courting business is different at our age.”
“You have someone special in your life?”
“Not really. There are two men who seem attracted to me, and I enjoy their interest in me.”
“Two? Mercy, honey, you are popular.”
“Seems so at the moment. Tell me about your family.”
“I don’t have one on Earth. My family is all in heaven.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Loneliness is a miserable companion. I have my two grown children, four grandchildren, and Maria is more a sister to me than not. She and her husband Carlos live in the house with me.”
“Maria seemed nice when I met her at church.”
“She is. Like you, she has no family. When she came to live with me years ago, she spoke no English but wanted desperately to be an American. We worked on her linguistic skills. She learned to speak and read our language, and now she is part of my family.”
“That was mighty kind of ya to help her.”
Beth shrugged. “Not really. Maria gives more to me than I could ever offer her. I think she’s taken me under her wing rather than the other way around. She protects me fiercely.”
“Still, ya did the Christian thing. Feedin’ and clothin’ and givin’ shelter. The Good Book says when we do that to the least of people, we do it for Him. I believe God wants to bless ya for the kindness ya show to others.”
“We can’t always relieve the sea of suffering humanity, but we can help one person at a time. That’s been my motto for years, and I hope it pleases the Lord.”
“Oh, it does, honey, it does.”
“Maria became a believer after she came here, but she’s still retains a bit of a suspicious nature.” Beth laughed. “Here lately, she’s been attributing unusual household events to goblins or hungry angels.”
“Goblins and other spirits often get credit for God’s work.”
Beth glanced at Sarah as if her statement came from the Bible.
“Probably so. I have an idea. Do you like Mexican food?”
“I’ve tried it before and ’bout choked to death on those little green peppers, but the enchiladas were good.”
Beth laughed. “Jalapenos are hot and spicy. Why don’t you come to my house tomorrow for lunch? Maria makes very good cheese enchiladas. We three are about the same age and could have some good, old-fashioned girl talk. We can reminisce about our early beginnings and talk about our futures.”
“Well, thank ya, honey, I’d love to come. Finding good food is a problem for me, and new friends are always welcome.”
“Since you don’t drive, I’ll take you home today, and then I’ll know where you live. It will be easy to pick you up tomorrow.”
“Oh, no, no. I don’t want you to do that. My place is too far up. I can make it to your home. Just give me your address.”
“Are you sure? I live at 63 Monmouth Drive, but I don’t mind coming for you. I think it’s a good time to start you on a driving lesson.”
Sarah raised her hand quickly to protest and knocked over her tea glass. Ice and liquid spilled across the table.
“I’m so sorry.” Sarah took her napkin to clean up her mess, but a waiter appeared.
“I’ll do it, miss, but first let me move you to another table with fresh linen.”
Once the young man seated them, Sarah turned to Beth.
“See how clumsy I am? I’m too petrified to drive. There’s no tellin’ what kind of accident I might cause, and me-oh-my-oh, what if I damaged your car?”
“I’m insured and not worried. We’ll begin slowly. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“Merciful heavens! How do I get myself into these situations?”
Beth laughed. “Just consider me someone who wants to bless a new friend. I enjoy helping one person at a time, remember? And you need to drive.”
As the two made their way back to the church, Sarah fumed. Time to worry about a driving lesson later, but now what to do about the destination problem? Such a mess. Why did she mention that car thingy? How would she keep Beth from taking her to a home she didn’t have? Why couldn’t the Superiors find more productive ways to help the Earthlings rather than this bumbling angel? Once more she realized how impossible the task was, considering her limited abilities. No way could she be cut out for this job—she was certain of that fact. These dear people deserved a better angel than her. If she didn’t need to carry on a conversation with Beth, she might be able to think about what to do, but the circumstances required normal, mortal responses.
“I know Maria enjoyed decorating the trees at church. She loves Christmas. We’ll pick her up and then take you home.”
“A lot of folks love this time of year for the wrong reasons, but I’m sure Maria isn’t one of them. Instead of a holiday, it’s a holy day, but people forget that. More and more want to ignore God’s part in this celebration, and if it weren’t for Him, there would be no Christmas. It makes Him sad.”
Beth glanced at Sarah as though her passenger held a theological degree. “True.” Turning her attention once more to the road, she seemed to have another thought. “Are you attending the Christmas Eve service?”
“Maybe. I don’t know yet.”
“If you do, you can sit with Maria and me.”
“Thank ya, honey. I usually sit alone. It would be nice to sit with someone.”
As Beth approached a stoplight on the four-lane street, an idea came to Sarah. This ought to stop the trip to a house she didn’t live in.
When Beth braked for the red light, Sarah saw her chance. “Oh, look, honey. There’s my neighbor, Bertha. I know she’ll take me home and save ya the trouble. Hope ya don’t think me rude, but I’ll just go with Bertha. Bye now. See ya tomorrow ’bout noon.” Sarah shot out of the car, closed the door with a bang, and darted across three lanes of traffic just as the light turned green.
Sarah sprinted toward a stranger on the sidewalk and threw her arms around the unfamiliar woman’s neck. “Hi, Bertha. I’ve been hoping I’d run into you.”
The woman dropped the package she carried and pummeled Sarah’s back with her purse. “Get off me.” Her words came out in a hiss of breath. “I’m not Bertha.”
Sarah backed away from the woman and then turned to wave to Beth. Horns honked for Beth to move forward, but she kept her foot on the brake, her eyes wide and her mouth ajar as she stared at Sarah. Her expression plainly said, “Are you batty?” Cars around her pushed on through the light.
Sarah waved again. Horns continued to blare behind Beth until she finally drove off.
Sarah turned to gaze at the stranger. She found the woman’s face drained of color and her eyes enlarged. The woman’s gaze traveled the length of Sarah’s frame as if she’d suddenly leaped onto the sidewalk to stand in front of her without wearing a stitch of clothing on her body. “Why did you do that?”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. You look just like my cousin Bertha. I guess I was so eager to see you, I didn’t think. I trust my unexpected arrival didn’t scare you.” Sarah hoped her expression appeared contrite.
The woman glared daggers at Sarah for a speechless moment then seemed to recover from the shock of Sarah’s sudden embrace. “Are you some kind of nut?
You could have been killed. You jumped out of that car and ran over here to attack me.”
“Yes, well, I didn’t want you to leave because then I’d miss you again. I thought I saw you the other day but missed the opportunity to say hello.”
“Do you do things like that often?”
“Oh, my, you have no idea. I guess you could say I’m impulsive.”
“Lady, that’s an understatement. Now, if you will excuse me, I’m walking away from you. No more hugs, and don’t follow me, okay?”
“Okay. Sorry.”
The stranger turned her back to Sarah to walk away but called over her shoulder. “Don’t you think you’re a little too old for this kind of behavior?”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Merciful heavens! Jumping out of that car and pretending to know that woman seemed the answer. The action succeeded in keeping Beth from taking her to a home that didn’t exist, but the dear charge must think her wacky.
If she knew how to ride a bicycle, she could arrive at Beth’s on one. Okay, what other possibilities? A taxi? Angels often rode with the drivers to keep them safe. Maybe one would work for her.
Taking out the map scroll the Commander gave her before she left The Heavenlies, she located a position about three miles north of Beth’s home on Monmouth. North failed to register from the current position, but if she flew the wrong way and didn’t find Mandly, she could turn around and zoom in the other direction—standard procedure for her. Placing a hand to an ear as if holding a cell phone, she gazed up into the sky and requested a phone number. When one appeared, she then dialed numerals in the air with the fingers on the other hand.
“City Taxi.” The voice sounded pleasant.
“Please pick me up at the corner of Mandly and Monmouth.”
Sarah made the time arrangements and continued to brood. Why did she constantly goof things up? Impetuous conduct had brought trouble in the past. When would she learn? My word, look at what just occurred. When she petitioned help from The Heavenlies for a phone number, she instantly received it. Now, why didn’t she ask for specific assistance with other projects? Why try to manage alone? When insecurity caused her to call upon Mother Goodness, didn’t her mentor respond? Of course she did—in one way or another. On the other hand, appeals often brought answers she didn’t care for. Hearing “wait” or “sorry, request denied” never set well. The Creator loved her and worked circumstances for her benefit in time, but maintaining a good attitude in the interim proved a challenge. If an angel could develop frustration with the wait and denials, no wonder mortals grew weary.