Looking For You All My Life Part 117

eager to live with her dad-maybe it will feel more like her

own home."

Maggie shrugged. "I thought she felt at home here."

Looking for You AilMy Life183

"Well, there's nothing quite like your own kin," said

Audrey, giving her daughter a warm squeeze. "I wouldn't

give it a second thought, honey."

"Yeah, it's not like we still don't have a pretty full house."

"I'm wondering if you're starting to run a boardinghouse

after all," said Audrey wryly as she led Maggie into the

kitchen. "Look, I saved some of my special vegetable beef

soup for you. I'll bet you're hungry."

"I guess so." She dumped her briefcase onto the kitchen

table and sighed loudly.

"Is there something else going on here that I should be

aware of? I couldn't help but notice that Jed seemed a little

grim when he was making the switch tonight. And he said

the two of them probably wouldn't be able to make it to

dinner tomorrow. He said he's got a lot to do to get ready for

that furniture show."

She suddenly felt very weary. "Well, I suppose we can still

have Barbara over anyway, if you'd like."

"Sure, why not? You know, I met her at church on

Sunday while you were in Nevada. She seems quite nice.

Maggie took her soup and bread to the library and sat

down in front of what was left of the fire. "Did Gavin and

Michael eat dinner with you and Spencer?"

Audrey nodded. "Yes, me and the boys. It was actually

kind of fun. You know, I think I might enjoy running a

boardinghouse, or bed-and-breakfast, or whatever you want

to call it."

Maggie smiled. Maybe it was the soup, but she was

feeling a little better. "You know you'd be great at it, Mom.

By the way, this soup is really good. I'm so glad you're

around to help out. I really appreciate it."

Audrey beamed in surprise. "Well, I must admit, it's nice

to be needed."

"Where's everybody else?"

"Spence and Daniel hobbled out to the barn to make

music. They weren't too happy to see Leah leave. Looks like

they're back to being a duet again." She glanced up at the 4184Melody Carison

clock. "Actually, Daniel's grandpa should be picking him up

any minute now. I'm not sure what Michael's up to. Maybe

unpacking, although he only had one bag."

"I hope he doesn't feel like Jed threw him out."

"No, not at all. He seemed happy to be here. And he

seemed to hit it off with Gavin too.,,

"What's Gavin up to?"

"He said he had some work to do upstairs, but that was

after he helped me in the kitchen. You know, after all I'd

heard about Gavin Barnes, I never expected that he'd be such