Welcome to the Inaugural Friday Features Blog Post –
Starting this month, each Friday I’ll feature a fellow author and tell you about their book. First up, Gay N. Lewis. Be sure to read Chapter One of Sarah and the Double Wedding Woes
Sarah Wingspand 
CHAPTER ONE
Sarah closed the door to the Commander’s office and danced a midair jig. Wow! Another assignment to work in Katy, Texas.
Wonder of wonders, while helping Mackenzie find a date for the prom, she’d succeeded in starting a romance between Mackenzie’s mom and Robert Saleas. Sarah had enjoyed working with Robert as he planned the event for the senior class. He’d noticed Jessica at meetings. Blowing romantic embers in their direction had been easy and fun.
Succeeding with Mackenzie and the other teens had been a challenge, and she’d done it, but now the Commander wanted her to expedite a double wedding. The Superior expected Jessica and Robert to marry. That was probably easy enough…Sarah had accomplished such missions in the past—but now he’d ordered her to find a mate for Bonnie, Jessica’s mom, at the same time. Seriously? While Sarah, the bumbling angel, worked on finalizing the romance between Jessica and Robert, she must also find a mate for the older woman as well.
Horrors! Could she pull that off? Bringing about one ceremony came with a good deal of difficulty…but two? My stars!
Jessica had never remarried due in large part to her determination to be there for her mother. Sarah’s orders were to find a man for the older widow. The Commander indicated the connection between Robert and Jessica would falter if Bonnie didn’t have a companion of her own.
Poopty doopty. If she failed at this task, Sarah would create two fiascoes instead of the one she generally managed.
Sarah crossed her arms to her chest and chewed her lip. I can’t allow that to happen. Where to look? As was often the case, the Commander had provided no information or clues. Hiking an eyebrow, Sarah considered options. Hmmm. Couples often met through Internet dating, churches, nightspots, jobs or friends, but Bonnie sold real estate and attended church. Those two places hadn’t provided a personal companion for her, so what other possibilities remained available? Ugh.
Sarah paced in front of the Commander’s office in The Heavenlies. The thought of engaging Mr. Google again for Internet dating came to her thoughts, and she shivered. Computers were not her thing. That Mr. Google had a mind of his own, and he didn’t like her.
Squinting one eye, Sarah tapped her chin. Perhaps she could waltz into a saloon of sorts and find a single man at a bar. She’d heard men sought out women while guzzling down drinks. She could assume a female disguise, saunter up to a male and say something like, “Hello, if you aren’t smashed, would you like to meet a nice woman about your age?”
Boom! The Commander’s voice came through the door loud and clear. “Sarah!”
Sarah grimaced as if she’d been tackled by a football linebacker. “Sorry.”
She wandered away from the door and drifted through Paradise.
Bang!
“Oops, beg your pardon, Gabriella, I didn’t see you floating there.” Sarah pressed the back of her friend’s wings with her hand and smoothed the indention she’d left.
Gabriella rotated and smiled. “Hi, Sarah. You look lost in thought.”
“I’ve been given another matchmaking assignment and I can’t imagine how to begin.”
“Ah. I understand. My new one starts now too. I’m to guard a male instead of a female against danger this time and wondering the same thing.”
“Sure would be nice if the Superiors detailed instructions regarding these missions instead of leaving us to our own methods, but they don’t. Why do they make things difficult for us? Can’t they be more helpful?” Sarah slumped as if a twenty-pound dumbbell rested on her shoulders.
“Shhh.” Gabriella placed fingers against her lips. “You know they don’t appreciate disrespect.”
Sarah nodded. “I know. But right now I understand how mortals feel when they flounder with tricky circumstances and can’t figure out where to turn.”
“Every human spirit residing now in The Heavenlies went through such quandaries, but looking back, they are grateful for them. On this side of eternity, they realize their experience happened for a greater good. You find that true also, don’t you?”
Sarah’s curls bobbed up and down so fast, they fluttered into her face. “Yes, but for me, it is one lesson after another.”
Gabriella giggled. “What is the first thing you need to do?”
Sarah slumped lower, as if another fifty-pound weight had been added to her already heavy load. “Return to Katy, Texas, and I don’t know how to find the city again.”
“My assignment is in Katy too. You can fly with me.”
Sarah felt her vinegary countenance change to a glorious shine. “Really? I can?”
“Certainly. Let’s go.”
* * *
Gabriella led Sarah to Mackenzie’s house and waved goodbye. Sarah settled on the roof and gazed below. Mackenzie slept soundly and Jessica and Bonnie savored coffee at the kitchen table.
“You both came in during the wee hours of the morning, but I’m happy you and Mackenzie had a good time at the prom.” Bonnie stirred sugar into her cup. “The decorations, food, and music sound perfect, and you were stunning in your new formal, Jessica. And Mackenzie…why, my granddaughter looked like a princess in her pink gown. I’ve already uploaded the pictures.”
“Thanks. I wish you could have seen Mackenzie’s glow—it never left her face. She and Ethan had a good time, and you’re right, the whole event was like something out of a fairytale. Those photographs that my friend, Cynthia, touched up made us believe we really were in France.”
From her overhead position, Sarah blew Bonnie a kiss. Compliments afforded a super way to encourage people—angels too. Disguised as Cynthia, Sarah had received several approving comments from Robert and Jessica at the prom. Why didn’t humans offer them more often?
“I’m sorry I woke you when I came in.” Jessica rubbed her eyes. “I tried to be quiet.”
Bonnie waved a hand. “You know how I am—never been able to sleep when someone within my household is out and about.”
“Were you awake when Mackenzie came home?”
Bonnie nodded. “Ethan brought her home a few hours after you.”
“After so little sleep, I guess she and I are both too tired today for early church. Are you going?”
“Yes, and I suggest you take a nap while I’m gone.”
A smile spread across Jessica’s face as quickly as butter melts on hot toast. “I intend to, but it can’t be a long one. I have a lunch date with Robert. He’ll be here at one o’clock.”
“Best update I’ve heard since Ethan asked Mackenzie to the school dance. You have that look, like when you were sixteen with a new boyfriend. This guy must be special.”
“I confess to enjoying his company, but refuse to allow anything more.”
Sarah grinned. I don’t know what they did after I left them at the gala, but it’s sounding as though the suggestions I made, along with the Parisian atmosphere, were effective. Jessica’s smitten. I probably won’t need to do much to keep her and Robert’s relationship sizzling—unless Jessica refuses to leave Bonnie.
“And why not permit this friendship to continue, young lady?” Bonnie lifted her brows.
“We have a comfortable life, Mom—just the three of us. Mackenzie goes to Sam Houston State in the fall and eventually will marry. You and I will grow old together.”
Bonnie planted hands on hips and hiked a couple of nicely shaped eyebrows. “Now look here, daughter of mine. I don’t want to hear any more of that kind of talk. You should’ve found someone after Daniel died. You’re still young.”
Jessica shook her head. “I wasn’t interested. Not until now, anyway.”
A million dollar gleam appeared in Bonnie’s eyes.
From her perch high on the rooftop, Sarah pumped her arms in the air. “Yippee!” Oops. She covered her mouth with her hands. Had the ladies heard that yell?
Bonnie glanced toward the kitchen window. “Did you hear a child call out?”
Jessica yawned. “No, but the neighbors may have kids visiting them again. I’m going to take your recommendation and find my bed. Maybe I can nap for an hour before I shower and dress.” She kissed her mother’s forehead and headed toward the bedroom.
Bonnie sipped her coffee and stared into space without blinking. After a few minutes, she strode to the sink, washed her coffee cup and leaned against the counter top with a sigh.
Sarah stood up and frowned. “Why is she just standing there?”
Then the realization hit her—Bonnie must be thinking what an empty house would feel like. Bummer. That would be a major adjustment for someone who’d had family under her roof for so long. She wasn’t accustomed to living alone.
“Don’t worry.” Sarah spoke in a whisper this time. “I’m on the job and plan to enliven your life a bit.”
With that, her slipper caught on a nail and she tumbled off the roof.
“Yeow!” My stars! Earth’s surface lacked any kind of forgiving yield. She really should stop falling on it. She picked herself up, rubbed her posterior area and squinted toward the house. Bonnie stood at the sink peering out into the yard.
Good thing I thought to stay invisible. If only I could remember to keep my big mouth shut.
About Gay N. Lewis
A native Texan, Gay lives in a small town west of Houston. She loves to travel and engage in artistic ventures. Two videos she produced —The Canadian Rockies, English and Japanese translations, and Psalms from the Mountains, sold well in international markets.
Graphic skills kept her busy as a portrait photographer, and for over ten years, she used her imaginative insight in the interior design field.
Gay loves travel, writing, and reading. As a pastor’s wife, she writes Faith Features for various church periodicals. Gay is also a published author. Her current series is about a dyslexic angel who comes to earth to help humans, but Sarah, the angel, is more like Lucy Ricardo with humorous antics and bumbles. The books are available in print, eBook, and audio. Published by Prism, a Pelican Book Group Imprint.
Teaching an adult Bible study every Sunday morning is Gay’s joy, and she is often called upon for speaking engagements.
