Standing next to the phone, Matthias realized he should be dancing at the news about the disaster at Bennett Wines. A year ago, even six months ago, he would have been thrilled at the thought of Greg’s troubles. Revenge was said to be a dish best eaten cold, and he’d certainly waited long enough to have it served to him. But he experienced damn little of the pleasure he’d anticipated. He’d wanted Greg to suffer the same agony that had tormented him as he stood by his wife’s bedside.
The vineyard was everything to Greg, just as Matthias’s only grandchild had become everything to him. And this time, they were both going to lose what they loved most.
“That is so sad,” Mercy said, sitting on the edge of the counter in Matthias’s kitchen. “Just look at him.”
“He’s worried sick about his grandson.”
“What’s going to happen to the boy?” Both Goodness and Mercy turned to Shirley.
“Do I look like I have a crystal ball?” Shirley asked irritably.
“I don’t know about you two.” Goodness reclined on the long counter. “But I was hoping for something a little less stressful during this visit to earth. We’re assigned to a guy who’s a real jerk. Someone who couldn’t care less about anyone except himself.”
“Yeah, but we’re here on earth, aren’t we?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“I agree with you,” Shirley said, cutting in while the opportunity presented itself, “but we can help.”
“Where’s the fun? We got a human with his head so far up his—”
“Mercy!”
“A self-centered human,” she revised. “You know, I think I’d feel better if Catherine had torn him to shreds. She should never have forgiven him.”
“Mercy! Just listen to yourself.”
“Right, right,” she muttered, but Shirley could see that Greg was taking a toll on her friend’s compassion.
“He’s got too many problems for us to deal with,” Goodness complained.
Shirley wasn’t accustomed to such a defeatist attitude. “There’s always his brother.”
“What’s this about a brother?” Goodness asked, suddenly attentive.
“Don’t you remember?” Shirley did a double take. At their blank stares she sighed and reminded them. “Phil. You remember reading about Philip Bennett, don’t you? He’s a big muck-a-muck with Pacific union Bank. Greg considered going to him for a loan, but couldn’t bring himself to do it.”
“Why not?”
Shirley sighed again. It would help considerably if Goodness and Mercy had finished their research.
“Refresh my memory, would you?” Goodness asked.
Shirley felt the burden of responsibility. “You didn’t read the whole file, did you?” she asked wearily.
“Ah…no.”
“That’s what I thought.” It would do no good to lecture them now. “Greg’s mother was dying while he was in the middle of his second divorce.”
“I remember reading about Bobbi,” Mercy said triumphantly. “His second trophy wife.”
“His second attempt to find another Catherine, you mean,” Goodness muttered.
“Yeah, yeah. What does Bobbi and their divorce have to do with Greg’s mother?” Mercy asked. Both angels were lying on their stomachs now, chins propped on their hands.
“You didn’t finish reading the file, either?” Shirley was dismayed.
Anything that was going to get accomplished on this mission would obviously be up to her.
“It was too depressing.”
“I don’t have the patience to cope with men like him,” Goodness said.
“Go on about his mother,” Mercy urged, motioning with her hand for Shirley to continue.
“Greg hid as much of his wealth as he could from Bobbi, mostly in stocks and bonds. Otherwise she’d want her share in a divorce settlement.”
“Were they married long enough for her to get much?”
Like most angelic beings, neither Goodness nor Mercy fully understood the way such matters were handled on earth. “Didn’t matter,” Shirley said. “She had a good attorney.”
“Oh.” Apparently Goodness and Mercy were knowledgeable enough to know what that meant.
“Lydia Bennett was dying and asked to see Greg,” Shirley continued. “Unfortunately her request came the morning of his settlement hearing. Greg chose to go to court. I’m sure that if he’d known his mother would die before he got to the hospital, he would’ve canceled the court date.”
“Oh, my,” Goodness whispered.
“Phil never forgave him?”