Looking For You All My Life Part 190

you something."

She wiped her hands on a towel and stepped over to him

expectantly. Then he pulled out a small wooden box and

handed it to her. It was intricately patterned with various 296Melody Carlson

colors of inlaid wood, and looked perfect for a few choice

pieces of jewelry.

"This is absolutely beautiful, Jed," she breathed, exam-

ining the delicate pattern with appreciation. "I a.s.sume you

made it, but it hardly seems possible." She was afraid to

open it, afraid to appear as if she thought something should

be inside. But she didn't want him to think that the lovely

box wasn't enough in itself. For it surely was.

"Go ahead and open it," he said with a smile.

Almost afraid to breathe, she did, but the beautiful box

was empty. It was lined with a layer of fragrant rose-colored

cedar. She held it to her nose and inhaled deeply. "Lovely."

"Remember?" he asked.

She smiled. "Of course. And just for the record, I no

longer think that it's a waste of wood."

They both laughed, and the brief uncomfortable moment

pa.s.sed. Had he known she'd wondered if there was some-

thing else? She hoped not. She didn't want to seem like one

of those women who always wanted more. Really, she

didn't. She was completely happy with life just as it was.

Content. She was perfectly content!

arry and Rebecca joined Maggie and Spencer for one

' more skiing day after Christmas, and the following

day they prepared to depart. "I just can't believe the

life you guys live here," said Barry with a frown as he loaded

their things into his car. "It's just not fair."

"Not fair?" exclaimed Maggie, hoping for his sake to

play down what she considered to be a perfectly wonderful

life. "We live out here in the sticks with little more than

weather and small-town gossip to entertain us while you two

have all the glamour and glitter of city living. I'll bet that

you're already planning some fantastic big~ity New Year's

Eve celebration."

Rebecca laughed sarcastically. "I'm not even going to

honor that with a response."

"Oh, come on, sis," urged Barry. "Admit it, you've got it

pretty sweet here."

She smiled sheepishly. "Okay. Well, I happen to like it,

but it's certainly not for everyone."

He shook his head. "I don't know. I might like to give it

a try someday...

She grabbed his arm. "Are you serious, Barry? What

about your fancy job in that prestigious international design

firm?"

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