Free Diary of an Angel by Michael M. Farnsworth Page B

communicating with mortals. We can call on them for such circumstances. What do you say, Anawin, should we bring in agent 00019?”
    Anawin shook her head. “He’s not entirely joking, dear. There’s nothing secretive about them though. And they don’t have special powers or even code names. They are simply other mortals. Ones who have learned to listen to and follow heaven’s voice. Ones on whom Father can rely to do His will. In this case, my ridiculous husband is referring to Rachel, one of Angela’s closest friends.”
    “Precisely, my dear,” exclaimed Glendor. “I think she’s just the one for this job. What do you say, Forenica?”
    “You probably know better than I.” I had yet to meet Rachel. Though I knew about her from Angela’s book. She’d been with Angela the day Lily passed away.
    “That settles it, then. Soren, will you arrange with Violet to have Rachel visit Angela? Today, if she can manage it.”
    Glendor turned back to me. “I have great confidence in Rachel. You should plan on her visit today.”
    *   *   *
    For the entire morning I felt an eagerness for Rachel to come. Though, honestly, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from her visit. I wondered how she could fix Angela’s perception of God. Glendor and Anawin had expressed confidence in the plan. That gave me hope.
    Nothing particularly eventful happened that morning. Jack had gone to follow up on a few job leads. Angela dropped off Justin and Kailey at school, returned home, and did some laundry. After completing a few other chores, she picked up the newspaper. As much as she disliked the idea, finding some sort of part-time employment might be necessary. Searching the Classifieds for a job, though, proved more depressing than she had imagined. Where were all the jobs? she wondered.
    She was about to get up from the table to make something for lunch when the doorbell rang. Probably Mrs. Mapleton , she thought to herself. When she opened the door she did not find Mrs. Mapleton standing on the porch, but Rachel—our secret agent. Angela’s face brightened ten-fold to see her. They hugged enthusiastically, and Angela invited her inside, where they began an animated conversation, catching up on recent events. Mostly they talked about their children, the new school year with its trials, challenges and scheduling nightmare—one endless stream of extra-curricular activities.
    Angela avoided any mention of Jack’s job loss, but when Rachel asked how she’d been Angela could hardly convince her long-time friend that everything was fine. Rachel prodded her, a sincere expression of concern on her face. It was too much for Angela; she began to tear up. Rachel put her arms around Angela and silently held her while Angela recovered from her sudden emotional overload.
    “Sorry,” Angela said, sniffing and wiping away the last of her tears.
    “Let’s go outside and we can talk about it. It’s a beautiful day out there.”
    Outside the noon sun floated high in the sky, amid lazy clouds. A delicate breeze circulated crisp air, refreshing everything it touched.
    The two sat down in chairs surrounding the patio table, and took a moment to admire the weather. Neither of them spoke for some time. Rachel waited patiently until Angela was ready to talk. When Angela did speak she did so with less reserve than she had done with Jack. She began by telling about the experience she had the previous morning, her conversation with Jack, and her effort to mend the wounds she had inflicted on Jack after Lily’s death. Rachel listened without interrupting. Angela expressed how good—how right—it had felt to forgive Jack.
    “But,” she said, “I don’t know what to think about God anymore.”
    This was not a statement Rachel expected to hear. And all she could think to say was, “Do you not believe He exists?”
    “No, I believe He exists. I just don’t believe He’s the same god I used to believe in.”
    “How do you see Him