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?"