You have no choice in this matter, Gabrielle snapped. Jeremy is to accompany you. Hell serve as a mentor to you as well as taking care of his own assignment.
Naomi glanced at him. With Jeremy going with her, maybe she could search for Welita. If it were Gabrielle, shed never be allowed to do it.
Okay, she said as she reached for the envelope and pulled out the card containing information about her assignment. When do weholy shit! This isnt...this cant be...
She slapped a hand across her mouth, mortified.
Gabrielles face turned a bright red. We do not use such foul language here.
Aw, come on, Gabrielle, Jeremy said. Dont tell me you havent thrown around a cuss word or two when Lash was around.
She narrowed her eyes at him. Never.
Cut the girl some slack. Shes just in a bit of shock.
It is her first assignment, Gabrielle. Raphael added, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Her face softened. Fine, just mind your tongue, Naomi.
Im sorry, Naomi said. This just isnt someone I expected to ever have to watch over. So, when do we leave?
Well need to head out right away, Jeremy replied. We can stop by the Room of Offerings so you can say bye to Lash before we head out.
Why would you say bye to me?
Naomi spun around at the sound of Lashs voice. His face was a mask. The pain in her chest resurfaced, and she found it hard to breathe. She turned away, unable to look at him.
Michael has given Naomi an assignment, Raphael said. Jeremy is to accompany her. Theyre leaving at once.
Naomi could feel Lashs eyes on her. She wanted to look at him. She wanted to forget everything he had told her. She wanted her Lash back. But, she couldnt take those words away.
I see. Lashs voice was cold.
Taking a deep breath, she looked to Jeremy. Im ready.
Dont youJeremys eyes bounced between her and Lash, puzzleduh, okay then, come with me.
She stared down at his hand as he held it out to her. Her head turned slightly, fighting the desire to see Lash one last time before she left. She couldnt look at him, not now, especially if she wanted to focus on the assignment shed been given. Slowly, she placed her hand into Jeremys, and then they were gone.
* * *
It took every ounce of strength for Lash not to cry out to Naomi as he watched her place her hand into Jeremys. He kept repeating to himself that shed been given an assignment, that Jeremy was just doing his job as an archangel. But with what Raphael had said about Jeremy wanting Naomi so long ago, and the way hed looked at her last night, he couldnt forget it.
Lash, I would like to speak to you in private, Raphael said. Gabrielle, if you dont mind.
Of course. Ill be with Michael, she said and then disappeared.
Lash slumped on the bench. Did you know about this?
I was told about it some time ago. I didnt think it would happen this soon. Something must have changed to speed up the events.
You knew Jeremy was to go with her? Why didnt you tell me?
Raphael gave him a stern look.
Right. You archangel, me lowly seraph. Youd think I wouldve learned that by now.
Raphael let out a breath as he sat next to him. You told her about saving the girl.
She didnt take it very well, and now shes gone. Lash leaned forward, placing his forearms on his knees. She couldnt even look at me.
He dropped his head against his chest, not wanting Raphael to see the tears forming in his eyes. The look of pain and betrayal on her face was seared into his mind. She didnt have to say goodbye to himher silence said it for her.
My son, she is not gone forever. Shes merely off on assignment. She will return to you.
I know shell come back, but will she come back to me? Can she forgive me?
Naomi loves you, and I have faith in her.
Lash shook his head. He wanted to believe in her love. He wanted to so badly. He just couldnt shake off that look.
He felt Raphaels hand pat his back. Think of it this way: shell have time to think this through, and I know she will understand that you meant no harm.
I dont know if I can do it, wait so long without going crazy. Even though time went faster in Heaven than Earth, each second seemed like hours to him.
How did you do it, Raphael? How do you make it through all that time without seeing Rebecca? The thought of being away from Naomi for even a day leaves me breathless.
Raphael swallowed thickly. It is...difficult.
Lash looked up at Raphael and wondered if he should tell him about seeing Rebecca. Would it hurt him more if he did?
Crap! I cant tell him. Only Jeremy knew about them going down to Earth.
Son, youll be with her again soon, he continued. Mark my words. And once you are, she will need you to be there for her. Just as you were tested, she too will be tested in her faith and loyalty to her Heavenly family.
Naomi is strong.
That may be, but I fear that Naomi and Jeremys assignment will test her limits. And she has been here for such a short time.
She gets along with everybody. I dont think shell have a hard time with it. Whos her assignment?
You and I know her well. You may know her just a bit more so than I.
Lashs brow furrowed. What do you mean?
You have carnal knowledge of this person.
Who? he squeaked.
Megan. Megan Dalene.
8
Jane Sutherland tapped a pen against the desk as she read her tenth newspaper that morning. She scribbled on her yellow note pad furiously as she read the opinion page. Each paper she went through bashed her position on environmental policies. Most of them even dared to claim that she didnt care for families or the community and instead sided with big business. Being a senator, shed thought she would get used to being questioned about her voting record. She even accepted the fact that shed be scrutinized because she was a close friend with Luke Prescott. Regardless, it still stung to read what people thought of her and her closest confidant.
If only people could know the Luke shed known almost all her lifekind, protective, sometimes overly protective. But saying she didnt care about the people in her own home state of Texasthat was going too far.
Jane, dear, how many times have I told you reading the papers will make you old before your time?
She looked up from the paper to see a pair of kind gray eyes gazing at her.
I know; I know. She sighed. Im just working on my speech.
We have speech writers on staff for that. Use them. Luke sat on the sofa across from her desk and placed a cup and saucer on the coffee table. Theyre the best in the field.
Im sure they are. Announcing that Im running for the presidency is very important to me. I want to get it right.
Even more reason to use a speech writer.
This is personal for me, Luke. Im doing this because I truly believe I can make a difference. The American Federation party can make our country better for everyone.
Spoken like a true politician. He grinned.
She rolled her eyes. I mean it, Luke.
Then use what we have at our disposal. This is going to be a long campaign, and were fortunate to have plenty of financial resources.
Thats the problem. She sighed as she picked up a newspaper from the stack in the middle of her desk and waved it at him. How can I touch the hearts of the people in this country when the media portray me to be out of touch with Middle America? I have to figure out a way to make them see that what our party is doing is good for all.
He tugged on the sleeves of his crisp white shirt. Small diamond cufflinks twinkled as the light hit them. What are they complaining about now?
Fracking. Jane searched through the pile of newspapers, pulled one out, and tossed it to him. This one says that the fracking Prescott Oil is doing in North Texas is causing the earthquakes in the area.
Luke laughed. I was told on good authority that the seismic events barely registered. Besides, we have our own geophysicists, Harvard-based, mind you, who say it is a natural shift in the plates in that area.
She pursed her lips before continuing. Then there is this paper. She waved it. They have a reporter doing an undercover investigation in Gardenville.
She got up from her desk, sat in the seat across from Luke, and handed the paper to him. He claims the wells arent safe and that chemicals used in the fracking process are seeping into the drinking water.
Absurd! There is absolutely no proof. Luke tossed the paper onto the table. Besides, Texas has some of the most stringent regulations in the country.
That may be, but Ive received word that State Representative James Keith will be introducing a bill requiring companies to disclose the chemical used in the fracking fluid.
Jane felt an eerie chill at the blank expression on Lukes face. It wasnt a look shed ever seen on him before.
His lips slowly curled into a smile that didnt reach his eyes, and she shivered. It sounds like an environmental witch hunt to me.
I dont know. What harm could come from disclosing the information? I plan on fully backing his bill, to show my support of transparency in the fracking done by Prescott Oilor any company for that matterinvolved in this type of business.
Ah, excellent political move, my dear. It also shows youre environmentally friendly.
Jane scowled. Its more than that, Luke.
Now, now Jane. Dont be upset. Im only teasing you. I know your discomfort with the politics of it all. However, I fear your support of this bill would do more harm than good for the people in Texas.
And why is that?
Luke leaned over, picked up the cup of coffee, and took a sip before continuing. If Prescott Oil were forced into full disclosure, then our competitors would have full access to our proprietary business information. This could severely impact our profits. We might have to pull out of Texas.
He took another sip, his eyes observing her over the cup as if gauging her reaction.
She felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. Was he threatening her?
What exactly do you mean? She drawled the words slowly.
He carefully placed the cup back on the table and studied her for a moment. Prescott Oil has brought many jobs to the people of Texasto people whove been hit during these troubling economic times. It would be a shame if they lost their livelihood because the company had to look elsewhere for a more...amenable location.
Janes stomach churned. She didnt like where the conversation was going. In all the time shed known Luke, hed never interfered with her political work, and hed never asked for political favors, which she knew were common in the world of politics. So far, most of what shed done had benefitted the people in her state. The last bill she co-wrote had broken the red tape and allowed companies like Prescott Oil to expand fracking. She was proud of the fact that now it would be easier to bring fracking to more rural counties in the country and even to go international. It would mean more jobs and hopefully a better economy for all. While she was writing the bill, she got a lot of heat from the media, claiming her friendship with Luke had influenced her. It couldnt have been further from the truth.
Sir, may I have a word with you?
Jane jumped at the sound of Sals voice. She looked over at the hulking body at the entrance, taking up the entire doorway. How could someone so huge not make a sound? She wondered how many conversations Sal had overheard between her and Luke over the years.
What is it, Sal? Lukes voice sounded irritated. He continued to look at Jane expectantly.
Its about the Houston transfers in the job-training program. I have the report for you. You said you wanted it as soon as I received it. He held out a manila folder.
Job-training program? She raised a brow.
Luke reached out to take the file from him. Its a program Prescott Oil started about a year ago to train men and women to be ready to work in the oil and gas industry. We have a few transfers from our Houston training site working in Gardenville.
Really? Im impressed. Relief swept over her. This was the Luke she knew and loved.
Prescott Oil is not in it all for the money. Luke glanced down at the report, and a look of disappointment crossed his face. I have some business to take care of. Think about what I said?
She looked into his eyes as they gazed back at her kindly. Those were the eyes she remembered from her childhood. Over the past year, she had seen less and less of them, and she wondered what was going on with him to have changed so much. He had always been on her side, and she wanted to trust him like she always had. But lately, she felt like it would be safer for her to keep her thoughts to herself. She couldnt get rid of the nagging feeling that something was off. He was different.
Ill consider any avenues that benefit the people and our country, she said.
He stood and placed a hand on her shoulder. It was cold.
Thats all I ask.
9
Naomi watched Megan climb out of the red pickup truck that was parked along a farm road. She looked exactly the same as when shed last seen Meganwith her arms and perfect body all over Lash. Same silky blonde hair. Same flawless sun-kissed skin. Same dazzling smile.
Megan smoothed down her pastel yellow dress, flashing manicured nails and matching nail polish.
Great. Even her nails are gorgeous. Naomi made a guttural sound in her throat.