Looking For You All My Life Part 132

Iyou're doing a pretty good job of it too."

"Yeah. I guess I had better get back to my clients." She

glanced at the workers. "These guys are supposed to be done

up here sometime after Christmas. I want you to come back

up then and see how it looks when it's all finished."

"You can count on it. In fact, I think we should give you

a housewarming."

"Oh, that would be so fantastic."

"Just let me know when you're ready and we'll plan

something."

Maggie decided to take a mid-afternoon break, as she

planned to stay in town and work until the dinner hour.

Somehow she'd managed to talk Clyde into joining her and

Gavin at the hotel that evening. Probably it was just his

curiosity getting the best of him, but she had to admit she

*was curious too. What sort of plan had Gavin conjured up

*that could help the whole town? Maybe, like Michael, he

wanted to pray for snow. She smiled to herself as she walked Looking for You All My Life207

toward the deli to meet Rosa for coffee. Michael and Gavin

had spent much of the evening in her parlor last night dis-

cussing "spiritual matters" as Michael put it. She had over-

heard tidbits of their conversation while sitting in the library

and trying to concentrate on outlining her novel-the novel

she had planned to spend so much quiet time working on

this winter. What quiet time? But what had amazed her

most, as she listened to the two men, was Michael's ability

to talk about G.o.d to just about anyone, and he did it so

openly and with such ease. It was really a gift. Before turning

in to bed, she had complimented him on this ability, and of

course, as always, he gave the credit to G.o.d. Then she asked

him what he thought about Jed's decision to discontinue the

church services up in his beautiful building. "Jed told me

that he has been thinking about this for some time," Michael

had carefully explained. "And I agreed with him. Yes, his

church building is very, very lovely, but it is too far away. A

church should be located in the center of a village and be a

place where people can come and go with ease. Jed's church

building was too remote. And remember, it is only a

building. The real church is made of people." Somehow,

when put this way, she could see the sense in the decision.

For such a young man, Michael was incredibly wise.

Rosa waved as she walked into the deli. "Grab a seat,

Maggie, and I'll bring our coffee right over. I made you a spe-

cial treat."

The deli was completely deserted. Probably not so

unusual at this time of day, but dismaying just the same.

Maggie knew that Rosa badly needed the business, especially

with the holidays and Scott's wedding quickly approaching.

"Oh, that looks delicious," cooed Maggie as she eyed the

still-steaming slice of the rich nutty dessert. "How did you