The Trouble With Angels Page 0,2

opened his eyes and looked up to find the trio standing on the opposite side of the table, their wings folded back neatly, looking as perfect as a Christmas card.

"We're back," Mercy said excitedly, flinging her arms enthusiastically into the air.

"So I see." Gabriel wasn't one to reveal much emotion. For one thing, he couldn't offer them prayer assignments. The truth was, he didn't trust the trio to stay out of trouble. What had happened the previous year was a prime example of the kind of mischief they got themselves into. Goodness didn't think Gabriel knew of her little shenanigans, but he did. The prayer ambassador had given in to her penchant for technical things. More than once.

He cringed every time he thought about Goodness giving advice to a human through the screen of a television set. That wasn't the worst of it, either.

Gabriel had heard plenty about Mercy on the escalators in Nordstrom's department store. And Shirley, the one he considered the most responsible, why, even the former guardian angel had become involved in a few escapades of her own.

"We understand you're shorthanded again this year." This was Goodness, excited as a child about the possibility of returning to earth.

"Things aren't as hectic as last year," Gabriel informed the trio, not allowing any emotion to steal into his voice. Despite all the hassles they'd given him, the archangel had a soft spot when it came to these three.

"That's not what we heard," Shirley said. "Rumor has it you're as overworked as ever and in need of a little help from your friends."

"We've come to volunteer our services." Mercy stepped forward eagerly, nearly colliding with the table.

"But we'd like to work in Los Angeles this time," Goodness informed him. "I'm right fond of California, and it seems to me the City of Angels could do with our help."

"But we must insist upon working together." Mercy crossed her arms as if to say she was making her stand. "Remember what a great job we did last year? You can't let a golden opportunity like this slip through your fingers."

"Yes, I can." Gabriel didn't feel he could mince words. Weeks after their last venture to earth, he had been left to answer for their tomfoolery.

Goodness and Mercy bounced a shocked look off each other, then glared at him. "You can?"

"Karen Woods?" The softly spoken question came from Shirley, who was leaning over the Book of Prayer, her finger poised at Gabriel's most recent entry.

"She's a troubled young girl," Gabriel supplied, his heart heavy over the twelve-year-old's situation. It would take a prayer ambassador with far more experience than Shirley to work on this request.

"Her parents are divorced, right?"

Gabriel nodded.

"Karen loves them both very much," Shirley said under her breath. "Sometimes the girl feels like she's caught in a vicious tug-of-war between the two. From what I understand, she hasn't seen her father in over a year."

"That's true." Gabriel was beginning to understand. Shirley intuitively knew this information because an Authority much higher than his own had deemed it so. It seemed he was being overruled.

"Her father feels it's easier on everyone if he doesn't see Karen as often. He loves her, too, but he hates his ex-wife, and every time he picks up his daughter she finds an excuse to fight with him. Or a reason to report him to her attorney. Maureen Woods has worked overtime to make his life hell."

"Yes."

"I want to help," Shirley insisted. "Please let me."

"This isn't an easy request," Gabriel felt obliged to remind the prayer ambassador.

"I'm aware of that."

"We'll all help," Goodness and Mercy chimed in.

Gabriel was worried about the three of them doing exactly that and feared it wasn't help they'd be lending. "No, you won't," he said more heatedly than he intended.

The two leaped back a step at his sharp tone.

Gabriel could feel himself weakening. He was well aware that the oldest of the three angles was by far the most emotionally mature. Yet she had the least experience. But Goodness and Mercy? Again?

"I do wish you'd reconsider," Shirley pleaded softly.

"Oh, please do." Two pairs of blue eyes fluttered beguilingly at him. Goodness and Mercy folded their hands with a look as unsullied as grace itself.

Gabriel didn't know what it was about this trio that they wove such tight tentacles around his heart. He was an archangel and generally not given to flagrant displays of favoritism.

"Before either of us makes a decision, why don't we meet Karen's mother?"

"Excellent idea," Goodness said, hurrying to his