Touched By Angels

by Debbie Macomber

  “Where?”

  He figured she was being deliberately obtuse, and it irritated him no end. “Practicing,” he said louder than he intended.

  “Not really,” she mumbled, then said to her mother, “As far as I can see, everything’s on the table.”

  “Great. Call your father and we’ll sit down.”

  “Dinner,” Jenny called, and the family started to gather around the dining room table.

  “Jenny.” Trey’s hand on her arm stopped her. Silently he pleaded with her to tell him what was going on. “Why aren’t you in New York?”

  “You honestly don’t know?”

  Baffled, he shook his head.

  “I’m marrying you, Trey. We’ve got the next fifty years to discuss all this, but right now dinner is getting cold.” She left him standing in the middle of her mother’s kitchen with his mouth sagging open so far, it damn near bounced against the floor.

  By the time he’d recovered enough to walk into the dining room, everyone was seated and waiting for him.

  “Trey, would you care to say grace?”

  Everyone looked to him, but for the life of him Trey couldn’t take his eyes off Jenny long enough to do as her mother requested.

  “It seems Trey’s otherwise occupied,” Dillon said, chuckling. “I’ll be happy to say the blessing.”

  The Lancaster family bowed their heads while Dillon offered up a short prayer of thanksgiving. When he’d finished, he looked to Trey. “Sit down, Trey. Your place is directly across from Jenny. Once you’re seated, would you kindly pass the mashed potatoes?”

  Trey was certain he gave them all a good laugh. The first thing he did was pour gravy over the sweet potatoes. He couldn’t help it. Nothing could make him stop staring at Jenny. He doubted he ate two bites of the entire dinner.

  Twice she looked up and smiled, and it was damn near all he could do not to reach for her right there.

  “I’d appreciate a few minutes alone with Jenny after dinner,” he said, looking to her parents.

  “You don’t need our permission,” Dillon responded. “Jenny makes her own decisions.”

  An eternity passed before the meal was over. Jenny tormented him during dessert by licking the whipped cream off the back of her fork—her eyes locked on him the entire time.

  When she announced she was too full to take another bite, Trey nearly picked her up out of the chair in his eagerness to get her alone.

  “How about a stroll to the barn,” she suggested.

  “Fine.” He didn’t care if she suggested New Zealand; he wasn’t waiting another minute for her to explain her earlier statement.

  The night was clear and crisp. Trey led her by the hand into the barn. “All right,” he demanded without turning on any of the lights. “Did you mean what you said earlier?”

  “I said a number of things. Which one do you mean?”

  “Jenny, for the love of heaven.” He jerked her into his arms, and it wasn’t until she slammed against his chest that he realized how willingly she’d come.

  “You big oaf,” she said, solidly planting her lips over his before he had a chance to kiss her. Wanting her as badly as he did, for as long as he had, Trey nearly crumpled to the floor under the weight of his joy. The kiss was slow and deep and moist.

  “Oaf?” he repeated, holding her head so he could kiss her again and again. Fifty years wouldn’t be nearly enough to satisfy him.

  “You didn’t stick around long enough for me to answer. If you’re going to propose to a woman, the least you can do is wait for the response.”

  He kissed her just long enough to cut off her tirade. “Answer me now.”

  She threw back her head and laughed. “First I think I’ll make you suffer.”

  She hadn’t a clue to how much he’d already been suffering. His breath came fast and heavy as she brought his mouth down to hers once more.

  “Jenny, I love you.”

  “Yes, I know. We’re going to be very happy, Trey. First we’re going to get married, then we’re going to start our family. I want a house full of children. I’ve been so hungry for family.”

  His throat went thick. “That sounds perfectly fine with me.” He kissed her a dozen times, and even the gentleness between them, the love and tenderness, were far from being sated. “What about New York?” He had to know.

  “Michelle got the part.”

  “But I heard . . . Irene asked to talk to you.”

  “It’s true they offered it to me first, but when I declined, the role went to Michelle.”

  “But this was your big dream.”

  “I loved New York, but I love you more. Montana is where I belong, right here with you. I knew it a long time ago, but was too stubborn to admit it. I’m home now.”

  The back porch light went on, and Dillon appeared on the top step, although there wasn’t any chance he could see them. “Hey, you two, it’s about time for church. Are you ready or not?”

  Trey’s hand squeezed Jenny’s. “We’ll be inside in a minute.”

  “Is there going to be a wedding?”

  “Yes, sir,” Trey shouted back. “Soon, too, the sooner the better.”

  Dillon laughed. “Welcome to the family.”

  Trey kissed Jenny one last time, and with their arms wrapped around each other, they headed for the house.

  They hadn’t gone more than a few steps when thick, flat flakes of snow drifted down from the sky.

  “I thought you said it wasn’t going to snow,” Dillon challenged, waiting for them on the back porch.

  Trey looked up to the bright, clear sky. “I don’t know where it’s coming from,” he mumbled, puzzled.

  “Maybe someone up there is telling us how pleased they are to hear we’re going to be married,” Jenny suggested.

  Trey kept his eyes trained on the cloudless sky. “Maybe you’re right.”

  “It seems to me we’ve met in a similar spot before,” Gabriel said to Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy as they sat in the choir loft of St. Philip’s. The congregation crowded into the church for the Christmas Eve ceremonies. Candles brightened the interior, and pure red poinsettias decorated the altar.

  “Hello again,” Shirley said, leaning over the loft to get a better view of Brynn and Roberto. The two sat together, holding hands and singing. They appeared to have eyes only for each other.

  “Brynn’s decided to stay,” Shirley told Gabriel, although it was unnecessary. The archangel was well aware of Brynn’s future plans.

  “You outdid yourself, Shirley. You all did. I’m proud of you.”

  All three prayer ambassadors blushed with pleasure. “Thank you,” Shirley said.

  “There is that one small matter involving Brynn’s car, however.”

  Shirley glanced guiltily toward her two friends, whose attention seemed to be conveniently occupied elsewhere. “I had to do something, and fast,” she rushed to explain.

  “She was about to leave, and the church bus was due any time.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Gabriel said benevolently. “Tampering with a car engine is small potatoes compared to horsing around with the Statue of Liberty.”

  That captured Goodness’s and Mercy’s attention.

  “What does the future hold for Brynn?” Shirley asked in a diversionary tactic.

  “Ah yes, Brynn.”

  “Will she marry Roberto?” Shirley asked.

  “Yes, next year at this time, to be exact. Eventually Roberto will find a way out of this neighborhood, too. His shop will inspire other Hispanics to start their own businesses.”

  “What about Emilio, Suzie, and the baby?”

  “Emilio will go on to college and become a teacher himself. The day will come when he’ll be at Manhattan High once more, but not as a student.”

  “Emilio?” Shirley didn’t bother to disguise her amazement.

  “He’s an intelligent young man.”

  “What about Suzie and Modesto?”

  “Suzie will have a
baby girl in the spring. She’ll decide to raise the child herself, and with the help of Mike’s mother and her own family she’ll be able to attend college. Suzie is going to major in medicine and do great work in the study of depression and its treatment.”

  “And Modesto?”

  Gabriel frowned and shook his head sadly. “Not long after he recovers from the gunshot he’ll become heavily involved in drugs and waste his life.”

  “Oh, dear.”

  “What about Trey and Jenny?” Mercy asked.

  “Ah yes, Jenny.” Gabriel turned his attention to Mercy. “Isn’t it amazing that snow would fall from a cloudless sky?” He watched his favorite prayer ambassadors squirm and had a difficult time not chuckling.

  “They’ll marry on Valentine’s Day,” he informed her.

  Mercy clapped her hands together. “That’s perfect.”

  “In the next six years they’ll add two girls and two boys to their family. The girls will be as talented as their mother, and the three will form a singing group and frequently perform at church functions. The boys won’t be able to carry a tune to save their lives.”

  “That’s sweet. Will Jenny have any regrets about giving up her chance to perform on Broadway?”

  “Not a one,” Gabriel assured Mercy.

  “Hannah and Joshua?”

  “Ah yes . . .” Gabriel scratched the side of his face. “They’ll marry this June, and Hannah’s mother will fight with the wedding coordinator from the first moment they meet. The wedding will be one of the most talked-about affairs in New York. It’ll be lovely.” Gabriel smiled to himself. “Ten years from now, when their son and daughter are still young, Joshua will run for state senator and win. Joshua realizes that Hannah is not only his wife and partner for life, she’s his greatest political asset as well.

  “Are you ready?” Gabriel asked, gesturing skyward.

  The three nodded. In the distance the archangel could hear music from the harps of heaven. It was a night wrapped in glory and time for them to head home.

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