Looking For You All My Life Part 87

and his party began rising to leave. Barbara walked directly

over to Maggie's table and laid a gentle hand on her

shoulder. "So nice to see you again, my dear.''

Maggie introduced Cohn to her friends, briefly explain-

g to him that it was an unusual reunion of sorts. Cohn

L litely rose and acknowledged the two women with a

138Melody Carlson

friendly greeting, then took a moment to shake hands with

both men.

"I understand now why you couldn't join us tonight,"

said Barbara in a knowing voice as she gave Maggie a nod

that suggested she suspected the two of them to be here on

something of a romantic date. "But we've had such a lovely

time. And dear Leah has invited us all to dinner at your

house this weekend. I do hope that's all right with you."

"Of course it is." She smiled at Leah. "Good thiriking,

Leah."

"Now, we won't keep you two from enjoying your won-

derful desserts," said Barbara with a twinkle in her eye. "The

food here is simply outstanding."

Maggie glanced up at Jed uneasily. But he only nodded

and said a brisk goodnight. Suddenly she wished she hadn't

gone to such trouble to dress up. This wasn't at all how she'd

wanted this to go. But hopefully, she could explain every-

thing to Jed this weekend-and bless Leah for inviting them

all for dinner!

By the end of their meal, it was decided that Maggie

would visit one of Cohn's developments the first of next

week. He would send out his private plane to pick her up. His

4goal was that she might gather her information in time to

reveal her findings in next week's edition of the Pine Cone.

He didn't try to conceal the fact that he wanted to change his

tarnished image in town, but he wasn't pushy or offensive

about it either. No doubt about it, Cohn Byers was a charmer

of the first degree. Despite herself, she liked him.

Maggie arrived home shortly after Leah, and Audrey

already had a pot of fresh tea waiting in the library. "Come

Sit with us, Maggie," she called. "Leah was just about to tell

me about her dinner."

"Mrs. Harris is really nice," began Leah. "She and Michael

hit it off just great. He told her lots of things she didn't know

about her son, and that seemed to mean a lot to her. And Looking for You All My Life139

Michael was totally relieved to find out that she'd never been

angry about Steven's choice to become a missionary. I think

she was just sad to have him go away so far from home."

"Not to mention that he never came back," said Maggie.

"I can understand her feelings. I know how much I'd hate to

see Spence go off to the ends of the earth like that. But just

the same, I'd have to support him in whatever his choices

might be. By the way, where is he?"