Looking For You All My Life Part 61

himself, and although it took him all these years just to save

up enough money to get here, he has finally come."

"Oh my..."

"But he's a very sweet and sincere young man. And he's

already having quite an effect on our community. I'm sure

your Steven would be proud."

"How fascinating."

"Anyway, I wondered if I could ask a few questions about

your son to include in my story."

Barbara readily agreed, and in just a few minutes they

were done. " Thanks so much for your time," said Maggie as

she closed her notebook. "It's been a real pleasure talking

with you."

"You know, I was just thinking..." she began slowly.

Would there be any accommodations in town.. .if I decided

to come for a little visit?"

"Why, yes, as a matter of fact, the Pine Mountain Hotel

has been completely refurbished-and beautifully done, I

might add. I know for certain they're not full up right now,

but we've just gotten snow so that could change soon. Are

you seriously considering coming for a visit?"

"I think so. I've always loved that little town. It was my

husband's decision to leave. There were so many memories

there, he just couldn't get over losing Steven. In the end, it

was simply easier to move away."

"I can understand that. I lost my husband a few years

ago, and it wasn't until I left Los Angeles and came up here

that I actually began to get over losing him."

98Melody Carlson

They chatted a while longer, then Maggie gave Barbara

the number of the hotel, encouraging her to make reserva-

tions right away. She told her to call if she could be of any

more help and then hung up. How utterly amazing! Steven

Harris' mother might actually be coming back to visit Pine

Mountain. Who knew, she might even get here in time to

meet Michael Abundi. What a curious meeting that could be.

She wondered what they might think of each other.

She picked up the phone again. She couldn't wait to tell

Jed this news! But halfway through dialing, her hand

stopped and she hung up the receiver. She suddenly remem-

bered last night's agreement to put their relations.h.i.+p on hold.

She bit her lip and thought for a moment. Did this mean she

must weigh every action, consider every word that was

directed toward him? What was acceptable in a "normal"

friends.h.i.+p-type relations.h.i.+p between two people of the

opposite s.e.x? And how could this ever be a "normal" friend-

s.h.i.+p anyway? Wasn't that just a lie? Would a mere phone call

about this good news suggest that she was trying to get

things back to where they were? Or was this whole thing just

suddenly making her extremely paranoid? She wanted to be