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 God 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 God. 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