Looking For You All My Life Part 50

His eyes lit up. "You want to write about me in your

newspaper?"

"Yes, I think it would interest our readers. Would that be

okay?"

He nodded vigorously. "It is wonderful. Praise be to G.o.d!

I will come tomorrow if that is all right. I am going with Jed

to do something special today."

"Yes. Tomorrow is perfect. How about nine o'clock in

the morning? That way we can get it into this week's paper

with your photo and everything."

82Melody Carlson

"I will come ifjed can bring me, for I do not drive a car."

He grew~thoughtful. "But I can paddle a canoe."

She grinned. "I bet you can. See you tomorrow then."

By late afternoon, at least six inches of snow had accu-

mulated. Maggie stepped out of the newspaper office and felt

as giddy as a child as she surveyed the town now coated in

a clean blanket of white. Shop windows glowed warmly, and

the old-fashioned lampposts looked cheerful, their golden

Llight reflected on the freshly fallen snow. It was like a Cur

rier & Ives card-a true winter wonderland! Jed had

returned her car only moments ago, and Abigail had encour

aged her to go home early so that she could practice her

snow driving while it was still light enough outside to see

4"Now, take it nice and slow, honey," the older woman had

sagely advised her. "No fast moves, gentle braking, gentle

steering.. and you'll be just fine." Maggie hurried over to her

car; relieved that her windows were still cleared of snow as

she hopped into the driver's seat, still slightly warm. On the

dashboard was a new ice sc.r.a.per probably a thank-you gift

from Jed for borrowing her car. How thoughtful of him. But

something seemed different inside. She sniffed the air curi

ously-there was a distinct, pungent aroma of rubber. She

turned around to see where it was coming from, and there in

the back of her station wagon was a set of four tires. How

very odd. Then she recalled Jed quizzing her on Thanks

giving about whether she'd gotten snow tires yet. She

hopped out of her car to examine her tires-and there, sure

*enough, she could see shiny, metal studs gleaming in the

afternoon light. Jed had taken her car over to Byron to get

snow tires put on for her! She smiled happily as she climbed

back in and started the engine. Now, if that wasn't

love.. .what indeed was? She carefully navigated Main Street,

her confidence growing steadily (and greatly, due to her new

tires). She turned off toward home alone. There was no need Lookin~ for You All M~ Life

to pick up Leah today as she'd said this morning

going to bring her home later-after they'd had dinner

Pine Mountain Hotel. Maggie hated to admit, even to herself,

that she'd felt a keen p.r.i.c.k of jealousy about this news,

wishing that Jed was taking her instead. But in the same

instant she'd been happy for Leah's sake, realizing how the