Hearts at Home Read Online Free PDF Page A

from his posture, his skin glowed with health and light, and behind his back two amazing wings flexed with power and strength—
    She turned on the bench, her eyes widening to take in the unbelievable sight.
    A glow surrounded the man who had served as her butler for over fifty-five years, a tangible, bright light that seemed to pulse with every breath she drew.
    Caleb gave her a lovely, warming smile that reached clear to her heart. “It’s time.”
    Her lips whispered, “Time for what?” but her heart knew. The one who had met her needs and watched over her, who had ministered to her and spoken words of Truth nearly all the years of her life . . . he was no butler, he was not even a man.
    He was . . . an angel.
    The truth came in a dazzling burst of mental illumination, and an instant later she could not understand how she could have been so blind all her life. Seeing him in the center of that unearthly living light, she would have understood his nature even if he were stooped and frail and cocking his head as if his ears were failing.
    His mortal body might have weakened over the stretch of years, but the being before her now was clothed in immortality. And as he held his hand out to her, she felt another pain in her chest, sharper this time, but she had no thought for the pain, only joy and gladness that Caleb stood ready to help her pass one more milestone.
    â€œIt’s time for you to go home, Missy.”
    Home —the word vibrated with depths of meaning she’d never fathomed before.
    Smiling, she took his hand and stood, then felt her soul break free. On the wings of love and compassion she rose with him, her spirit expanding and her senses quickening as the walls of her room and the house seemed to fade into insignificance and the last sound she heard with earthly ears was the sound of her tired body hitting the floor.
    Annie heard the thump and looked up from her reading, her eyes searching the ceiling. Aunt Olympia’s room stood just over the parlor, and she could have fallen . . . or dropped a book. Sounds could be deceiving in a house as old as this one; the smallest object could sound like a boulder hitting the wooden floors overhead.
    Tallulah whined softly. Lifting her head, her eyes seemed to focus on something beyond Annie’s field of vision.
    Annie studied the dog. “What is it, girl? Should we go up and check on Aunt Olympia?”
    Barking, the dog sprang to her feet, then spun in a small circle, finally settling back upon the cushion of her doggy bed. She propped her chin on her forepaws, but her eyes kept darting toward the ceiling.
    Annie leaned forward, listening. The bump had been followed by silence—she heard no cry for help, no call for Caleb. So Olympia had probably dropped something. Calling attention to her clumsiness would only annoy her, especially if she were trying to sleep.
    Annie settled back and picked up her book, but her caffeine rush had worn off. And the hour was late.
    â€œThat’s it.” She snapped the book closed. “Come on, Tallulah, let’s go up to bed. Auntie is probably missing you.”
    Obediently the terrier sprang to her feet. Together they climbed the stairs, the dog’s toenails clicking against the worn wooden steps. Annie smiled in relief when she saw a line of light at the bottom of Olympia’s door.
    â€œHere, Tallulah.” Annie opened the door a few inches, not wanting to intrude on Olympia’s privacy. “Go on in and get some shut eye.”
    The dog scooted through the opening, but she did not round the corner as if she were going to the spot where her doggie bed lay. Instead, she trotted to the left . . .
    â€œAunt Olympia?”
    With one finger Annie pushed the door. Her aunt would probably squawk if Annie so much as glimpsed her in her nightgown, but perhaps she was reading in bed.
    â€œAuntie?” She opened the door wider. “You asleep?”
    No answer, so Annie