Free Angel Unaware by Elizabeth Sinclair Page A

Dora wasn’t so sure Millie had ever become completely resigned to her fate.
    Millie sniffed, dabbed at her eyes with the corner of her flowered apron, and smiled. “Water under the bridge, Dora. Water under the bridge.” She laid her hand on Dora’s again.
    For a moment, Dora was so stunned by the amount of love pouring into her from Millie, that she almost snatched her hand away. Never had she felt a love like this before. It embodied everything she’d always imagined of love: strength, warmth, comfort, understanding, forgiveness, and genuine affection for those for whom she cared deeply. It was the kind of unconditional love a mother gave a child. How sad no child would ever know it.
    When Millie stood and removed her hand, severing the connection, Dora almost cried out at the loss.
    “Well, I’ve bothered you long enough. Besides, Pres may be up from his nap.”
    “Pres?”
    “Preston. He has a heart condition, and he naps every morning and afternoon.” She shook her head as she headed toward the door. “Personally, I think a bit of exercise would be more beneficial than a nap, but …” She shrugged and extended her hands in a helpless gesture. “In all our years together, he’s never listened to me, so why should he start now?” She gave a little resigned laugh.
    Dora made a mental note to speak to Calvin about Preston. He could check the Book of Lifetimes and see where Preston’s name fell in the Time Continuum. Of course, she wouldn’t be able to pass anything she learned on to Millie, and she wasn’t sure exactly why she wanted to know, but she felt an urgent need to find out if Preston was scheduled to leave Millie any time soon.
    “When she gets home from school, you make sure Penny gets a piece of that cake,” Millie said as she opened the back door and pointed at what was left of the bundt cake.
    Cold air rushed into the warm kitchen. Dora shivered but followed Millie onto the porch. “Tony discourages Penny from having snacks, especially sweets, before dinner. He says it’ll ruin her appetite.”
    Millie stopped on the back porch and swung quickly around. “What? That poor baby has such a small tummy; she needs something between lunch and supper.” She shook her finger at Dora and continued in a no-nonsense tone. “You give it to her anyway, and tell Tony if he has a problem with that, he can talk to me.” She stepped off the porch and hurried through the snow to her back door, mumbling as she went.
    “I’ll tell him what you said.” Wrapping her arms around herself to ward off the cold air, Dora ducked back inside, closed the door, and headed for the hall mirror. Positioning herself in front of it, she squared her shoulders and called out, “Calvin.”
    Silence.
    Louder. “Calvin!” More silence.
    Frustration began to swell inside her. She had told him to stop hovering, but she’d hoped he’d still be available for special consultations.
    “Calvin!” This time, her volume made the mirror tremble on its hook.
    A ball of light appeared in the center and slowly began to enlarge. “You called?” Calvin asked, when he finished shimmering into view. His pale brows were drawn together in a straight line, a definite sign of his impatience with this interruption of his duties.
    “Yes. I have a favor to ask of you.”
    “What is it?” He smiled, and she knew he was hoping she was, as the mortals said, crying uncle.
    “I want you to check the Book of Lifetimes, and find Preston Sullivan listed in there. Then look to see when his time will come to an end.”
    Dead silence again. He crossed his arms over his chest and slanted a look of distrust at her. “And just why would that concern you?”
    How could she give him a reason when she wasn’t sure herself why she wanted to know? Dora blew out a frustrated breath. “Does there have to be a reason for everything, Calvin?’”
    “There does when this is none of your business, when it’s not the reason you were sent down