Looking For You All My Life Part 81

L live here, and I plan to try to see them during my stay."

128Melody Carlson

They visited for about an hour, but Maggie could see that

Barbara was still worn out from her trip. "I think I'll let you

get some rest," she said. "I know you're probably still on

East Coast time, and the traveling must've been exhausting."

"Yes, it's funny I do feel very tired, but I also feel rather

invigorated at the same time. I must admit I was a little wor-

ried about adjusting to the higher elevation. They say it can

be more difficult as we grow older, but I'm already feeling

adapted to it." She smiled warmly. "I'm just so very glad that

Icame."

Maggie gave Barbara her home phone number and told

her to call if she needed anything at all, and then she told her

about tomorrow night's arrangements to have dinner with

Jed, Michael, and Leah, taking a moment to explain about

Jed's daughter. Barbara inquired about whether Maggie

might also join them, but Maggie gracefully declined, saying

that she had previous plans. For some reason, she wished she

could better explain to this thoughtful woman who had

known and liked Jed since his boyhood days that she and Jed

did indeed share a deep and promising relations.h.i.+p, which

for the time being was put on hold. Sometimes it all seemed

so unfair!

"I'm so looking forward to meeting Michael, and I can't

wait to see dear Jed again. I do thank you for all your help,

Maggie. I certainly hope I'll get to see more of you too while

I'm here in Pine Mountain."

"Well, if you have the time I'd love to have you out to my

house-it's the old Barnes place. I'd like you to meet my

mother and son."

"It would be my pleasure. I used to be fairly good friends

with Betty Barnes-well, at least we played bridge together.

But she and her son moved away some time before we did."

"Then you remember Gavin?"

"Ah, yes, Gavin. A handsome boy, but full of the devil. I

think his mother spoiled him a bit too much. It was a good

reminder to me though-when you only have one son it's

easy to spoil him."

Looking for You All My Life129

Maggie thought of her own son and laughed. "I know

exactly what you mean. Anyway, I'll have to fill you in on

Gavin later. For now you need to get some rest. I know you'll

be comfortable here. Cindy and Brian are great hosts."

In Wednesday's paper, Maggie had run the story covering

the Pine Mountain Estates meeting on the front page.

Nothing sensational, nothing inflammatory, just what had

transpired in Sat.u.r.day's meeting. But in her own column on

the editorial page she raised questions about whether their

town was willing to wear blinders regarding the dubious

way TS Development had acquired its property in order to