I assume my job is to convince Joanna to go back in time with me. Do you want me to take her back to the point shortly after her accident and show her where she went wrong in letting Lucas go?
No, the Heavenly Council believes Joanna needed time to come to terms with her disability and learn how to live with it. We want you to take her back to 1979, when Lucas came to her looking for help. Convince her to take his case.
And if she refuses to go back?
You know the consequences by now. Your entrance to Heaven will be blocked or at least delayed. And you won’t be able to watch over your family.
And Sloane. Gabriel needed to assure himself she was all right.
All right, I understand. I’ll convince her. Let’s get started.
Thomas nodded and lifted his right hand. Remember, only Joanna will be able to see and hear you. And only you can see and hear me.
Right.
You’ll feel her every emotion, hear all the thoughts drifting through her brain. Are you ready for that onslaught once again?
Gabriel squared his shoulders. Yes, I’m ready.
Thomas pointed at him and warmth spread throughout his body. When Gabriel lifted his hand, it glowed with an inner light. He took a deep breath and approached the old woman in the wheelchair.
“Hello, Joanna.”
She whirled her chair around, her eyes wide with fear. “Who are you? How did you get in here?”
“Don’t be scared. My name is Gabriel, and I’m an angel. I mean you no harm.”
Joanna was speechless. Then she cleared her throat. “Did I die just now?”
“No, you didn’t die. You’re fine. I’m here to offer you an opportunity.”
“An opportunity?” She backed up her chair until it made contact with a kitchen cupboard and she could go no further. Her gaze darted around the room as if looking for an escape route. Or a weapon.
“I promise I’m not going to hurt you, Joanna. Please don’t be afraid.” Gabriel used his calmest voice. “Like I said, I’m an angel. Actually, I’m an apprentice angel, and in order to earn my wings and a place in Heaven, I must help three mortals find their second chance at love.”
Joanna stared at him. He didn’t miss the disbelief and derision in her expression. “A second chance? At love?”
“Yes. I’ll take you back in time to 1979 when you made your biggest mistake with love. Then we’ll figure out how to fix it.”
“My biggest mistake with love?” Gabriel heard the sneer on the last word.
“That’s right.”
“You propose to take me back to 1979? What use is that? By then, I’d been in this chair for eight years. Why not take me back to 1971 and tell me to ignore my craving for ice cream and not to get into my car that day? That was the biggest mistake I ever made.”
“You can’t change events of the past, Joanna. You can only change your attitude and how you react to events.”
“If you can’t get me out of this chair, what use are you?”
