over and explain to him that this was absolutely nothing
more than a business meeting, and that she had only dressed
up to catch his eye! She couldn't bear to hurt him, not even
slightly. And yet, at the same time, it seemed silly to make
too much of this. Perhaps she was only imagining she saw
any hurt in his eyes in the first place. Uncomfortable with her
confusing feelings, she smiled once more at him and then
forced herself to look away, focusing her eyes instead upon
the fireplace. To distract herself, she watched the graceful
motion of flames. Unlike her childhood memories of the big
log fires that were lit in here on a cool summer night, this
river rock fireplace was now fueled by natural gas. Still, the
cement logs and orange flames looked amazingly realistic
and although it wasn't quite the same as the snapping of
pitchy wood, it was warm and friendly. She glanced furtively
back at Jed, who was now immersed in conversation with
the other three. She sighed and hoped they were all enjoying
their time together. She wished she could see Michael's face
but his back was toward her. She knew she'd soon hear what
Michael thought of Barbara Harris. Judging by Barbara's Looking for You All My Life137
face, she was impressed with Michael. That was a huge
relie
"Sorry about that," said Cohn as he slipped back into his
chair just in time for the waitress to serve their entrees.
"Business?"
"Yes. A problem that couldn't wait until I got back." He
looked down at the plate before him and picked up his fork.
"Once again, this looks absolutely delicious. The chef here
is really first-rate, you know. I sneaked into the kitchen and
tried to entice him into going home with me and working in
one of my restaurants, but he wouldn't hear of it, and then
Cindy very nicely but firmly escorted me Out of the kitchen."
They chatted as they ate. Dinner was very pleasant, very
congenial. Maggie had to remind herself from time to time
that Cohn, according to Clyde, was still the enemy. But to
her surprise she almost found herself hoping that she'd been
completely wrong about him. Really, wouldn't life be much
simpler if she could just step away from this battle with TS
Development? After all, wasn't this exactly what the town
wanted and needed? Maybe it was time to let bygones be
bygones, after all. Besides, they had other, more serious,
issues to pursue anyway. Things like Randy Ebbert and his
hateful, racist views. Even today he'd circulated a new flyer
suggesting that the town needed a conservative newspaper
to balance the liberal views of the Pine Cone! That had made
her laugh out loud. As if she'd ever been considered a "lib-
eral" in any other circle! Why, her old editor at the Times
had often laid into her for what he called her overly "con-
servative" views. Politics were funny.
Just after Maggie and Cohn were served their dessert, Jed