Sarah and the Widow's Mate (Christmas Holiday Extravaganza) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright 2013 GAY N. LEWIS

  Dedication

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  CHAPTER FORTY

  Preview

  AUTHOR BIO

  Thank you

  Sarah and the Widow’s Mate

  Gay N. Lewis

  Copyright 2013 GAY N. LEWIS

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are the product of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Published by Prism Book Group

  ISBN: 978-1-940099-28-6 First Edition, 2013

  Published in the United States of America

  Contact info: [email protected]

  http://www.prismbookgroup.com

  DEDICATION

  To Paul.

  Faithful to God and family, this man holds my heart in his capable hands.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I’m grateful to Jarod Stewart, a police officer who serves in Katy, Texas. This fine gentleman listened to various parts Beth Marsh’s story and answered my questions in a way that made sense. He made valuable suggestions and helped make the final chapters in this book more cohesive. Thank you, Jarod!

  CHAPTER ONE

  “This is her third trip to Houston, and I’m concerned. Do you think she will find her way this time? Remember the last journey to that municipality? Our haphazard angel ended up in Dallas by mistake on that expedition.” With his eyes on Sarah, the Lieutenant floated in mid-air with the Commander hovering beside him.

  Sarah maintained a halting descent to the lower realm. With a scroll extended, she paused aloft every other mile to glance at the document.

  “I gave her a handwritten map. Our little angel seems to do better with one scrawled by hand rather than anything generated by Heaven’s devices. Do you recall that incident with the college student in Sugar Land? He drew a diagram for her so she could travel to a local post office.” The Commander chuckled. “With his assistance, our novice angel found her location without much trouble. Afterward, she grumbled about the graphs we produce in The Heavenlies. Sarah reasons that humans make superior maps compared to ours.”

  “If memory serves, she asked forgiveness for her complaint about us.”

  “Yes, she did. Sarah’s heart is in the right place, even though she often isn’t.” He laughed at his joke. “You know she asked me for a GPS device again because of the difficulty in finding her way, but I had to decline her request. Shortcomings create our need to rely on the Almighty.”

  The two grew silent as they watched Sarah move to the east and then retreat back to the west. After turning in circles several times, and another study of the scroll, she inched downward once more.

  The Commander’s eyes twinkled with the light of love. “Sarah’s caution is commendable. The little thing is moving deliberately and making every effort to start this mission in a correct manner.”

  “Yes, sir. However, this will be another new experience for her. Do you think Sarah can successfully pull off a disguise as a mortal?”

  His enormous wings quivered as the Commander unreservedly bellowed. “No. Sarah will have her mishaps. After all, Sarah is Sarah.”

  The Lieutenant nodded. “That fact concerns me, but Beth Marsh needs a friend right now—someone to help her determine which man is right for her.”

  “Hmmm, and Sarah’s job is to make sure Beth knows the hearts of these men. Her job is to expose the appropriate one.”

  With eyes growing wider by the second, the Lieutenant reflected on the Commander’s words. “But, sir! Sarah doesn’t know which man is the correct one for the earth woman. That makes it more problematic for her.”

  “True. A portion of her assignment is to discover the specifics about each male in the female’s life.” As the Commander expanded his wings, he turned to the junior officer. “Do you think she can do it?”

  “No, I’m not positive, but I will influence as much as I’m allowed.”

  “Good answer.” With a nod, the Commander zoomed upward.

  The Lieutenant once more focused on Sarah.

  And he prayed.

  * * *

  Sarah glided to solid terrain and looked about the suburban neighborhood, constructed with two-story brick homes, where she landed. No children played outside, but then again, the school session continued for several days before the Thanksgiving break.

  The fall season in south Texas kept a mild temperature compared to northern environments, but the current wind factor chilled even angel bones. Turning up her internal thermostat to adjust seemed a good idea, so she touched the control on her left wrist.

  Before she left The Heavenlies for Houston, the Charge of the Celestial Climate told her that the end of November through Christmas offered warmth this year—with only a few scattered days of frost and one blustery night. That should make it pleasant for Laney and Cannon’s wedding, but a snow-covered ground provided ideas for a romantic setting too. Wonder how they were doing? Such a stubborn but delightful couple.

  Remembering her assignment to show up at Laney and Cannon’s nuptials brought goose bumps to her angelic flesh. Oh, merciful heavens! Well, maybe they wouldn’t recognize her as the same woman who’d exposed her rear end with a roll of toilet paper trailing down her backside. Could she help it if she’d accidentally left the ladies’ restroom with a chunk of dress fabric tucked into her pantyhose? With that stream of lavatory tissue dogging her steps, who knew? Recalling the incident and how people in the restaurant laughed at the sight made her cringe.

  No time to worry about that. Where to find Beth’s house? Uh-oh, this community couldn’t be where her female assignment lived. From studying the dossier, Sarah knew Beth as a wealthy lady who lived in a huge home, one that most mortals called a mansion or, to be exact in Beth’s case, an inherited estate.
/>
  Of course, no earthly dwellings resembled the mansions awaiting God’s creatures in The Heavenlies. The Supreme Being gave mankind the ability to design and create magnificent structures—bridges, highways, skyscrapers, airplanes, vehicles, as well as these comfortable homes, but nothing compared to the designs and inventions the Creator formed in The Heavenlies.

  Pulling forth the scroll from her muslin robe pocket, she studied it once more. After taking to the air, she located a street sign that read “Collins.” Squinting one eye, she considered the map. Okay, Beth’s house must be about five miles from here. Taking off, she flew, but the direction proved to be an error. The houses grew smaller.

  Poopty doopty! Been down here all of five minutes in earth time and goofed again.

  Maybe it would prove a good idea to ask for directions at one of those places where humans refilled their automobile tanks with some kind of smelly fuel. Sarah shrugged—those places seemed weird. Such unnecessary events in The Heavenlies, but people needed to spend volumes of money down here to keep their transportation moving about.

  Maybe some nice person inside that place could give an indication of where she needed to go. Oh, but that required a disguise.

  Okay, to find a place to make an appearance. Earthlings didn’t understand how a being could materialize out of nowhere. Unexpected arrivals terrified people—wonder why? In The Heavenlies, unexpected entrances were commonplace, but down here, it simply didn’t happen.

  Slipping behind a huge trash dumpster, she landed as teenage boy. With a baseball cap pulled low, white t-shirt, denim jacket hanging open, and jeans worn low on the hips, she sauntered into the store. Good—a man and not a female stood behind the counter. Surely this old gent wouldn’t try to flirt with her—those things had happened on past trips.

  “Hello, young fella. What can I do for you?”

  “I need directions.” Using her boyish voice, Sarah pulled out her scroll, unrolled it, and pointed to a street. “Can you tell me where this is?”

  “Well, I’ll be. Harold, come look at this map. Have ya ever seen anything like this before?”

  Sarah inwardly churned—great! Just great! She’d forgotten to change the ornate scroll into an ordinary-looking chart. The one she’d handed the man, attached to elaborate golden rods, displayed fancy inlaid pearl finials. Now what?

  Harold ambled over. “Nah, never seen anything like that ’fore.” With eyebrows coming together in a deep frown, he roamed his eyes over Sarah.

  “My father is an artist. He drew it for me.” That was certainly true—sort of. The Commander wasn’t her heavenly father, but he remained close to the Almighty.

  Harold whistled. “Your dad sure goes to a lot of trouble. Lookee, Amos, this here thing resembles one of them Biblical parchments.” Taking the document in both hands, he rolled it up and down.

  Gulping, Sarah nodded. “My father is remarkable.”

  With eyes wide and full of appreciation, Harold nodded. “Sure is.”

  “Can you give me directions?” Sarah held out her hand to retrieve the map.

  Harold handed the scroll to Sarah. “Yeah, I can. Ya want me to write it down for ya? Might be easier than this fancy gadget.”

  After reaching for a notepad, Harold scribbled out directions and then read them back to Sarah.

  “You’re about ten miles from where ya wanna be.” Amos glanced out the window. “Don’t see no car. How ya plan on gettin’ there?”

  “My bike is out back. I’ll pedal my way over.” Sarah pocketed the instructions in her jeans.

  Amos and Harold exchanged puzzled glances.

  “Pedal your way? You sure talk funny.” Amos scratched his chin. “Where’d ya grow up?”

  “North of here.” Sarah pointed heavenward with an index finger and turned to walk away. Best to get out of here as quickly as possible. At the door, she turned. “Thanks guys.” Sauntering outside, she peeked through the plate-glass openings and realized Harold and Amos continued to scrutinize her movements intently.

  She called forth a bicycle then straddled the machine and hoped to make the thing go. Bicycles existed in The Heavenlies. Children without an opportunity to ride while on earth enjoyed them, but Sarah had never tried one before.

  Placing one foot on the pedal she pushed off with the other foot. After wobbling about for a bit, she fell off the apparatus. Picking up the bike, she glanced back at the window. Harold and Amos were staring with their mouths agape.

  After waving to them, she pressed off again. This time, however, she didn’t cycle—it seemed easier to guide the thingy by maneuvering it with her feet. With the toes of her shoes, she pulled the bike forward—inch by inch, as if she were rowing a boat. As soon as she rolled out of the sight of the store, she disappeared, bicycle and all, and hoped no one saw the vanishing act. Such a thing could cause a severe reprimand on Cloud Five. The Superiors frowned upon angels shocking the earthly creatures.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Locating Beth’s house, Sarah plopped down on the three-story roof to gaze about her surroundings. Gracious! This spectacular place defied mere words. The thing spread out over several acres. Counting on her fingers, Sarah spotted a detached garage large enough for seven vehicles.

  Peering below, she widened her eyes in wonder at a room big enough for a dance party—it covered the entire third floor. Elaborate crystal chandeliers dotted an ornate sculptured ceiling.

  Sarah blinked the spheres into light. The reflected prisms of light flirting with the hardwoods made her catch her breath in appreciation. Merciful heavens! The room appeared grand enough for the Commander to oversee a large number of the heavenly host. She leisurely closed her eyes, willing the room to resume its darker status. The windows, flanked by cream-colored damask draperies tied back with gold embroidered self-ties, allowed the sun to stream through spotless plate glass.

  The second story featured six bedroom suites with private bathrooms, and the first floor housed the living, dining, kitchen, study, den, and master suite. My stars! The place even boasted an elevator to go from one floor to the next. Hmmm, it might be fun to ride in one of those thingamajigs. Perhaps later. Why would a widow need all that space? Beth must be lonely, wandering around in this huge palace.

  By the way, where could her charge be? Sarah scrutinized each room but found all of them empty. Well, poopty doopty! No Beth.

  Glancing at the sun, Sarah reasoned earth’s time must be about noon, and a rumbling stomach agreed with her assessment. Okay, now that she knew where Beth lived, maybe she could find a restaurant. Did she dare? The nearby region appeared densely populated with houses and shopping expanses.

  Several quaint bistros had caught her attention as she flew overhead. Food places were a source of trouble in the past, and besides that, what if she couldn’t find her way back to Beth’s in this sea of humanity? The area featured numerous dwellings resembling her charge’s mansion. Probably shouldn’t chance it.

  There must be food in the kitchen pantry or refrigerator. Surely no one would notice a piece of bread missing, and perchance she could root up a bit of cheese. Wonder if she could make a pot of coffee? Probably shouldn’t try that, as she’d never done it before. Remember the Commander’s decree that she learn to drive? Add that to another failed attempt. She’d demolished the front end of Cannon’s vehicle in that effort. Clearly, she needed to learn how mankind operated the equipment they’d invented down here, and that could include a coffeemaker. After all, the Superiors gave her permission to emerge as a human this time around. While in disguise, what if she needed to maneuver a mortal thingy or two? Might be good to practice.

  Remaining invisible, Sarah floated down into the kitchen and opened the gigantic, stainless steel refrigerator. Finding cheese, she removed a slice from the package. The mayonnaise appeared handy, so she removed the jar and set it on the counter. After opening several overhead cabinets, she uncovered a plate. Where did Beth keep the bread? Opening an access, she located the pantry, but no b
read. Aha! Crackers ought to do. She brought out the box and set it next to the dish with cheese.

  When she spied dual coffeemakers on the counter, her mouth watered. Lifting the lid to a five-pound tin of coffee, she sniffed the familiar aroma. A hot beverage with lots of milk and sugar appealed as a welcome dessert after cheese and crackers. Hmmm, one maker looked as though it could perk twelve cups, and the other gadget looked capable of only one mug at a time.

  How do humans get these gadgets to work? One cup would be enough, but which one of these doohickeys should she try? When she watched others operating such things from The Heavenlies, they made it appear easy, but now? A different story—this thingy up close and personal seemed too complicated. No real clue presented itself. Dumping several scoops into the single maker, she punched a button. Water spewed from the top and over onto the counter. Oops! Guess not. Grabbing a paper towel, she cleaned up the mess. With eyes glued to the second maker, she disengaged the pot and filled it with water to the two-cup position. Next came the ground beans. She plopped the grind into the funnel opening and punched a knob. Fantastic—success! A dark brew slowly dripped into the glass container.

  Finding a stool, she sat at the bar, and ate cheese and crackers. Uh-oh, that might be a vehicle approaching. Sarah blinked the dishes away then dashed to the ceiling. Peering through the kitchen wall, she watched a woman struggle with grocery sacks. Could that be Beth? The age and description fit, but it might be a household employee. With beautiful, olive skin tones, this female appeared to have a Hispanic background. With no picture in the dossier, and no opportunity to glimpse the lady from The Heavenlies, she remained at a loss as to if this could be her new charge.

  Upon entering the back door, the female placed plastic sacks on the counter. Sniffing the air, the woman glanced at the counter.

  Coffee! Sarah grimaced. She’d forgotten to make it disappear.

  The newcomer poured a mug, blew the brew to cool it, and brought it to her lips for a swallow.

  Her eyes grew huge as she ran to the sink and spewed out the liquid.