Looking For You All My Life Part 36

61.

62Melody Carlson

Maggie laughed as she poured the orange pumpkin batter

into the golden pie sh.e.l.l. "That's for sure. Last year Spencer

and I stayed home and had grilled chicken and watched TV"

"You told me you were going to be with friends last

year," scolded her mother.

"I just didn't want you feeling sorry for us and thinking

you had to drive down to L.A. and roast a big turkey."

Maggie licked the spicy batter from the wooden spoon

before dropping it in the sink. "Looking back now, I can see

how depressing our life really was, but back then I never

would have dreamed things could change so drastically in

just one year. Sometimes I think about how easily I could

have missed all this and it almost scares me."

"What scares you?" asked Jed as he poked his head in the

kitchen, a large ca.s.serole dish in his hands.

"Hey, you're here!" Maggie rinsed off her hands and

turned to face him.

4"Yeah, I saw Spencer outside hobbling around on his

crutches, and he said to go on in. So, anyway, what's this that

scares you?"

She leaned against the counter and smiled. "Oh, I was

just telling Mom how frightening it is to think how I might

not have moved up here, and about all that I would've

missed as a result."

He winked. "And the fun's just beginning." He handed

the dish to Audrey. "It might need to get warmed up a little."

Then he called over his shoulder, "Come on in here, Michael.

I want you to meet our lovely hosts."

A short man dressed in multiple layers of clothing

stepped into the kitchen doorway. "h.e.l.lo," he said with one

of the brightest smiles Maggie ever recalled seeing. His white

teeth gleamed against his coppery skin, and his eyes shone

with warmth and light. "I am Michael Abundi and I am very

pleased to make your acquaintance. His accent was a blend

of British and something else, but it rolled off his tongue

with courtesy and grace.

Looking for You Alt My Life63

Jed continued the introductions and Michael heartily

shook hands with each of them, smiling all the while. "It is

very good to be here in Pine Mountain. I have heard stories

and seen pictures of your country. Now I must pinch myself

to think I am really here."

"May I take your coat?" asked Maggie.

He shuddered slightly. "But it is very cold here."

Jed chuckled. "Michael's having a little difficulty getting

acclimated. He comes from a tropical island, you know."

"Oh, of course," said Maggie. "Why don't you both go

into the library. Spencer has a nice fire going in there. He and