Looking For You All My Life Part 188

On the next chairlift ride, Jed told her all about how Leah

had confessed to him about her close call with hypothermia

that night. "I don't even know how to begin to thank you,

Maggie."

"Thank me?" She turned and looked at him, trying to

gauge his expression halfway hidden beneath his goggles. "I

love Leah, Jed. I thank G.o.d that I found her."

He smiled then. "I think he was looking out for both of

you. By the way, it was generous of you to give her the dog.

She's been good company for her at the shop."

Maggie swallowed hard, wondering how or even if she

should say this, but somehow she wanted to make it clear.

"Jed, I want you to understand that my feelings for Leah

stand alone. I have loved her since she first came to live with

us. And even if you and I were to permanently part ways, I

would continue to love her just as fiercely as I do now. Does

that make any sense?"

He looked slightly surprised by her intensity, but as it was

time to unload from the chair, he could only nod and say

briefly, "I understand."

On the next ride up the mountain, Jed told Maggie that

Leah had confessed something else to him. "She admitted

that she was trying to come between us, Maggie." He

seemed uncomfortable. "I just couldn't believe that she

would do something like that."

Suddenly Maggie felt defensive of Leah. "But you must

understand how it all relates to her mother-and how all

those men took her away from Leah. She didn't want to lose

you too, Jed. She was afraid that I would take you away

from her. I understand all about that now, and I have com-

pletely forgiven her."

"She told me that you had. And I have too. I'm just trying

to understand the whole thing. I guess it makes me feel kind

of foolish for being taken in by it."

294Melody Carison7

Maggie smiled at him. "Jed, I hate to tell you this, but I'm

afraid you've got a lot to learn about women."

He grinned. "Well, I'm looking forward to some really

excellent instruction from both you and Leah."

After that run, they checked on the two kids. Leah said

she was ready to try a run on the beginner lift. Maggie

encouraged both Jed and Spencer to accompany her on the

three-person lift, explaining that she was just about skied out

for the day (not wanting to admit to her son that last night's

late chat session with Rebecca was starting to take its toll on

her). She asked if he could catch a ride with either Jed or

Barry, and then she headed on home to help Audrey with

preparations for the evening's get-together.

For Christmas Eve dinner, Audrey and Maggie served a

buffet for their boisterous guests. Everyone was in good

spirits, but they steadily became more subdued and relaxed