Though every woman in the room knew Edmund was dying, did they know about the frayed curtains and worn carpet? Though every woman in Edith's cinnamon-scented parlor had doubtless felt the chill of Olympia's disapproving glance, did they know she kept a memory box filled with paper dolls in her living room? Olympia would certainly never volunteer the truth . . . no more than Annie would have told the girls in Portland that beneath her confidence and intelligence lay a frightened, insecure orphan.
Annie's cheeks burned as her conscience struck her. She was as guilty of indifference toward Olympia as any woman in this room.
Sighing, she disposed of her paper cup, then crossed the floor to kneel beside her aunt.
“Are you ready to go home?”
Nodding, Olympia set her cup aside and rose. After giving Edith a cursory apology for leaving early, she led Annie into the gathering twilight where the pleasant scent of wood smoke hung in the fall air.
Reaching for her hand, Annie walked Olympia home in a falling rain, pretending that the tears on her aunt's cheeks were nature's and not her own.
Rain pattered softly off the eaves of Heavenly Daze Community Church. Thunder rumbled in the distance, but the seven angels who formed a circle were oblivious to the weather. Hands entwined, they communed with God and each other in the dimly lit basement Fellowship Hall.
Sunday night, after the evening service and their nightly chores, the angels met to share earthly cares, which proved to be many. Gavriel, who usually oversaw the church in spirit form, materialized in flesh. Tonight, before anything else, he led the men in prayer and praise:
“Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens!
Praise him from the skies!
Praise him, all his angels!
Praise him, all the armies of heaven!
Praise him, sun and moon!
Praise him, all you twinkling stars!
Praise him, skies above!
Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!
Let every created thing give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command, and they came into being.
He established them forever and forever.
His orders will never be revoked.
Praise the Lord from the earth, you creatures of the ocean depths, fire and hail, snow and storm, wind and weather that obey him, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all livestock, reptiles and birds, kings of the earth and all people, rulers and judges of the earth, young men and maidens, old men and children.
Let them all praise the name of the Lord.
Praise the Lord!”
Baritones and basses lifted their praises with reverent hearts and loving spirits.
Then, as they did each Sunday, Gavriel led them in ministering to one another.
Elezar's face shone with sheer bliss as he sank both feet into a pan of warm water. “Ah, thank you, Abner, for such comfort.”
Abner smiled, gently splashing water on Elezar's feet. “It has been a long week, eh, Elezar?”
“Very long, Abner. Very tiring.”
“Life on earth is hard,” Zuriel observed quietly. “Humans have many trials to face.”
Yakov nodded. “It is sad, for at times they bring about their own painâ” He squinted one eye toward the others. “Does anyone else feel this way?”
Murmurs whispered through the darkened room.
“I believe each of us would agree with you,” Caleb said. “I know my heart is heavy tonight.”
“Olympia?” Abner guessed.
“And Annie.” Caleb took warm towels out of the microwave and unfolded them. The men agreed that warm towels were a heavenly luxury; they'd used them for years.
Pressing his hand to Caleb's stooped shoulder, Gavriel said, “Share your heart, brother.”
The angel drew a deep breath. “My heart aches. Olympia believes love is demonstrated in doing, taking care of her loved ones, being available day in and day out. She believes actions speak louder than words, but her actions sometimes miss the mark, especially with Annie. When this happens, she is hurt and puzzled by her inability to gain the young woman's love. Olympia believes she is doing all she can for Annie and the other island womenâbut she's hurt that her past overtures have gone virtually unnoticed.”
“Have you mentioned your concerns to these children of God?” Abner questioned.
“Many times,” Caleb answered with a sigh. “Olympia is stubborn, and Annie believes the situation is hopeless. I fear that when Annie leaves this time, she will never come back.”
Murmurs of sympathy surrounded the angel.
Gavriel cleared his throat. “In God's own time, Caleb. All things work together for good.”
“Yes, in God's time they do. But humans only have a single lifetime in which to learn how to love.”
Gavriel nodded solemnly. “Some never learn. But Olympia and Annie are the Lord's children.”
Caleb lifted his head. “But Annie has drifted from the Lord.”
“She's been hurt,” Gavriel answered. “Her parents' death, Olympia's inability to meet her emotional needs, and adolescent struggles have left scars on her heart. But she belongs to the Savior, and she will be brought back into the fold.”
Caleb agreed. “Olympia and Annie must learn how to let Jesus' love flow through them.”
“Amen,” the angels murmured.
Elezar got up, and Abner took his place, sighing when the plastic chair bent to contain his sizable bulk.
Suppressing a smile, Gavriel looked around the circle. “Are there other concerns tonight?”
“Vernie Bidderman is well,” Elezar shared.
Zuriel nodded as he rose to wash Abner's feet. “So are the Grahams. Georgie's nightmares have disappeared.” He swiped his chin, then shoved his spectacles toward his forehead as he sank his hands into the basin.
The conversation continued around the circle until all the humans in Heavenly Daze had been accounted for.
Gavriel nodded, his eyes closing as Abner washed his feet. “Before we go, I'd like to hear your own concerns.” He opened one eye. “Any particular problems with mortal flesh?”
“Old age isn't pleasant,” Caleb conceded, flexing his arthritic hand.
“Most unpleasant,” Elezar said. “A tip, brothers. Hot wings with horsey sauce tend to rest uneasily on the stomach if eaten just before bedtime.”
The men mentally noted the handy tidbit and Gavriel moved on. “Anything else?”
Clearing his throat, Micah fiddled with the hem of his shirt. All eyes turned to him.
Gavriel relinquished the floor. “Is there something you'd like to share, Micah? An earthly concern?”
Smoothing a stray hair, he took a deep breath. “I hesitate to mention it, but . . . something is aggravating me.”
The men voiced immediate support.
“What is it, Micah?”
“This is why we meet, Micah, to communicate. We have agreed to speak our hearts.”
Silence fell over the group as the men waited for Micah to speak up. Finally Abner tried to guess: “Did they change the butter jingle?”
The men were of aware of Micah's fascination with the power of television jingles. He was constantly amazed at successful marketing gimmicks. If they'd heard his comical version of one popular commercial once, they'd heard it a dozen times. With a theatrical flourish of arms, he'd bellow, “I can't belieeeeeve it's not budder,” then wink and pretend to drive off in a horse and carriage.
Color dotted the angel's fair complexion as he continued to hedge. “I must warn you; it's trivial.”
“No concern is trivial in the sight of the Lord,” Gavriel reminded him. He sighed as Abner gently toweled his feet dry, then dusted a light coating of powder between his toes.
“No, it is nothing I would trouble our Father with. It's not a serious problem.”
“Then by all means, tell us.”
Micah still hesitated.
“The hour grows late, Micah.” Gavriel strengthened his tone. “Speak!”
Micah's gaze skipped from one angel to the other. “If you insist.” Drawing a deep breath, he spilled his concern. “It's my trousers.”
Gavriel blinked. “Your trousers?”
Micah nodded, his blush deepening.
“And what, pray tell, is wrong with your pants?”
Micah sighed. “They don't fit like they used to. They're too tight around the middle, and I'm trying to eat less.”
“Such a problem,” Abner said, his voice dry as he patted his own ample belly.
Gavriel was kinder. “I'm sorry, Micah. But weight gain is common among those who age in mortal flesh.”
Micah nodded glumly. “I know. But I was hoping for . . . a heavenly dispensation or something.”
The angels sat in compassionate silence until Gavriel offered a ray of hope.
“You won't dwell in that mortal frame forever. When it wears out, the Lord will supply a new one.”
“And you don't want to be like some humans who are constantly trying to manipulate their flesh,” Yakov said. “You'd never be content.”
“Speaking of contentment,” Abner said, absently reaching for a slice of cake, “what's up with all these people trying to win money on game shows? People are goingâ what's that word?”
“Bonkers,” Elezar contributed.
“That's the word. Going bonkers.”
“Sad,” Micah said, “to think how overly important money is to some people. If only men sought riches of the Spirit instead of the flesh.”
Gavriel noticed that Caleb had fallen silent. “Is your heart still troubled, brother?” he asked softly.
Nodding, Caleb stood to empty the water basin in the kitchen sink. “Greed is only one troubling aspect of human life. Such a useless expenditure of energy.”
“Ayuh, especially when the Lord tells them not to worry about everyday lifeâwhether they have enough food, drink, and clothes. Life consists of so much more.”
“To be sure. Only God can grant the true desires of their hearts, and usually those desires have nothing to do with money.”
“You understand thisâso why are you still upset?”
“I don't know, Gavriel. I wish I did.”
“Do you doubt the Lord's wisdom?”
“No,” Caleb answered quickly, “but I fear most people do.”
Gavriel leaned closer, closing his hand over Caleb's.
“We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose for them. Your Annie and Olympia . . . they will come to see the truth. I believe it.”
Micah added his thoughts. “Do not let your heart be troubled. Why don't you stop by the bed-and-breakfast tomorrow? The fall mums are lovely now. You can help me in the garden.”
“Thank you, I would enjoy that.”
Gavriel smiled at the look of relief on Caleb's face. Though serving as a butler, Caleb loved to work with his hands in the fragrant earth. Heaven must have designed Annie's tomato project for Caleb's special touch.
The sight of Abner reaching for a second piece of cake distracted Gavriel's thoughts. He gave the angel a pointed look. Patting his rotund stomach, Abner left the cake on the plate and sheepishly declared, “I suppose I couldn't fit one more in anyway.”
After leading his brothers in a final prayer of thanks, Gavriel watched as the other angels began to gather their belongings. That's when the idea, whispered by an invisible angelic messenger, came to him.
He turned to Caleb. “Annie and Olympia's problems have not yet come to an end, but the Lord has a plan.” Meeting the other angels' curious looks, he continued. “I know you are tired and eagerly anticipating your beds, but if Caleb is to rest tonight, we cannot leave until our work is finished.”
“Finished?”
“Our work will never be finished!”
Interest piqued, the angels gathered closer, willingness shining on their eager faces.
“What is it, Gavriel?” Elezar prodded. “The hour grows late.”
“That it does. Follow me, brothers.”
The senior angel led the small group up the stairs and out of the Heavenly Daze Community Church. Walking in a single line, they approached the pink and white clapboard that housed Birdie's bakeryâAbner's place of service.
Gavriel turned to face the others. “Abner, if you would please.”
Pausing in front of the door, Abner removed a clanking key ring from his pocket and inserted a square-shaped key into the lock.
Once safely inside, the angels watched as Gavriel jerked the shades closed and turned to meet their ever-widening stares.
Caleb frowned and spoke in an intense whisper. “What's going on, Gavriel? Why all the secrecy?”
Eyes twinkling, Gavriel lowered his voice. “Brothers, we are about to help Olympia speak her heart.”
“What?”
“Olympia?”
“How?”
A grin appeared on Caleb's features and slowly spread to his eyes as Gavriel explained the Lord's plan. “But before we begin, friends, I want you to do something for me.”
Gavriel led the group to a butcher-block table in the huge industrial kitchen where various baking supplies stood at hand. Dipping a spoon into the flour canister, he had Caleb taste it.
Caleb winced, “Terrible.”
Moving down the line, Gavriel fed each angel a sample of the various baking ingredients. After each taste, each participant shook his head and made a face. “Vile.”
“Vegetable oil?” Micah said, smacking his lips in an effort to clear his tongue of the taste. “What are you trying to prove, Gavriel? That you can make us sick?”
Chuckling, Gavriel dipped a spoon into the sugar and gave it to Micah. The angel's facial expression brightened considerably. “Deliciousâsweet. But we know sugar is sweet.”
“My point exactly.” Gavriel dropped his tasting spoons into the sink. “We're about to mix all of those vile-tasting ingredientsâflour, vegetable oil, salt, vanilla, baking powder, and raw eggs. Together they will produce a delicious, sweet treat that will bring Olympia de Cuvier nothing but praise.”