Looking For You All My Life Part 142

thing, I've probably messed things up worse than ever. I'm

starting to wonder if Jed and I will ever get together. Hon-

estly, it seems like no matter what I do, everything between

us continually gets worse."

"What in the world happened tonight?" asked Audrey as

she poured herself a mug of coffee and settled onto a stool

on the other side of the counter.

Maggie told her the whole story of how Clyde had been

on the phone and Jed had seen her meet what appeared to

be only Gavin for dinner. "But you know what's really

--I--starting to make me feel bad, Mom? It's Leah. I hate to say

--this, but I'm really starting to resent her. And it makes me

feel just horrible."

Looking for You All My Life221

"Why is that?"

"What? Feeling horrible? Or resenting her?"

"Both, I suppose."

"Well, I feel horrible because she's just a kid who's had a

pretty tough life. And I resent her because sometimes I get - -~

the impression she's actually trying to drive Jed and me

apart-and then I feel guilty for thinking that."

"Well, she might be."

Maggie leaned forward. "Do you really think so?"

"Why not? Jed's probably the best thing that's ever hap-

pened to her in her whole life. I'm sure she doesn't want to

lose him to anyone."

"Or even share him?"

Audrey shrugged. "Maybe not."

Maggie sipped her coffee. "Well, I've been trying not to

think about this, but when Jed confronted me about Gavin

staying here, he made a big point about how the whole thing

made Leah really uncomfbrtable. But I had specifically asked

her just the night before if she felt okay about the whole

thing, and she had a.s.sured me she did! And then Jed said

that Leah had told him that I'd flown off with Cohn Byers

in his private jet. Now, why would she say that? You were

there; you saw for yourself that Cohn wasn't anywhere

around."

"I don't know why or if she said that. You need to keep

in mind that you're hearing all this secondhand, Maggie. It's

also possible that Jed's jealousy may have caused him to

elaborate on some things that Leah had mentioned. Don't

jump to any conclusions that you might later regret. Here's

something I used to tell my clients, and I'm sure I've said it

to you before. The safest thing in situations like this is to just

a.s.sume the best in another person."

"I suppose you're right..."

"Just the same, I think you should talk to Jed directly, and

as soon as possible, especially after your misunderstanding

tonight. The poor guy's going to need some serious rea.s.sur-