would snow!"
"I know," agreed Rosa. "I've been here since the early
eighties and I've never seen a warm spell quite like this."
"And what a year for it too."
"But it could change any day," said Rosa with her ever-
present optimism.
"Here's to change!"
hile waiting to join Clyde and Gavin at the hotel,
Maggie went online and began to write an email
to Jed. It was just a simple note apologizing for
her sharp words and suggesting they should perhaps talk
things over. But when it came time to hit the "send" button,
she just couldn't do it. Shouldn't Jed be the one to apologize
to her? Perhaps these things were meant to be said in person.
Whatever it was, she just couldn't send the message. Instead
she hit the cancel button and the message immediately dis-
appeared from her screen.
Then she immersed herself in her follow-up article about
labor practices and what the town might expect in regard to
hiring practices based upon Cohn Byers' developments in the
past. She completely lost track of time, and when she finally
looked up at the clock on her desk, it was already a quarter
past six. She quickly shut down her computer, locked up the
office, and then began to jog the partial block to the hotel on
foot. She had promised to be there at six sharp, and with
some discomfort she imagined the two men sitting across
from each other in stony silence. Clyde was probably glaring
at his watch right now and grumbling about where on earth
was she anyway. And what if Gavin grew so anxious that he
211.
212Melody Carlson
actually broke down and ordered an alcoholic beverage? She
increased her pace, glancing around her as she crossed the
deserted street. The town looked so quaint and welcoming,
all lit up with tiny white lights and Christmas decorations
*adorning shop windows. The old-fashioned lanterns glowed
* *warmly. All that seemed to be missing was the snow-and
visitors, of course. For the umpteenth time, she shot up a
little prayer for some real winter weather and soon! Business
matters aside, she thought snow would be a delight. Besides,
she already had the tires to go with it!
Then just as she breathlessly reached the entrance of the
hotel, she observed Leah and Jed only a couple steps ahead
of her. Suddenly her heart began to pound furiously as she
remembered the tone of her last conversation with him in her
office the other day. Now she longed to say something-
what was it she had written in that nonexistent email? There
must be some way to smooth this whole silly thing over.
"Hello," she said weakly as she walked up the steps
behind them, waiting as Jed opened the door for Leah.