Looking For You All My Life Part 84

and just a couple tables away she spotted Barbara Harris

with Jed seated to her right. He was staring directly at

Maggie with what seemed to be a confused expression. She

smiled pleasantly and waved his way to signal that all was

well and not to worry. Barbara waved back then turned to

make a comment to Jed, smiling and nodding at Maggie as

she did so. Maggie suspected the older woman was speaking

133.

134Melody Carlson

of her, but felt no concern as she turned her attention back

to Cohn Byers.

"This is such a small town," she said apologetically. "It's

impossible to go anywhere without seeing people you know,

so you just learn to expect it. But I do think that's part of its

charm too."

"Pine Mountain is certainly charming," he agreed. "I'm

surprised it's gone so long without much development-until

now that is."

Cindy approached their table, and Maggie could tell by

her eyes that she was full of questions, but she simply smiled

and asked if they'd like to order drinks and then recited the

specials of the day to them. Maggie knew she'd have to tell

Cindy the details about this later. She didn't want to give

anyone in town the wrong impression. Hopefully, they

wouldn't see this as an endors.e.m.e.nt of the development, but

as a sincere effort on her part to be truly nonpartisan.

Cohn was excellent at making small talk and, without

really saying much, managed to keep the conversation

flowing smoothly until the waitress came to take their

orders. Then he moved on to business matters. "I figured you

might like to come down to see a development as soon as

possible," he began. "There's a community in Nevada called

Desert Winds that has its own airstrip, and it isn't a very long

flight from here. That might be a good place for you to

start."

"That sounds fine. But first, Mr. Byers-"

"Please, call me Cohn." He smiled. "That Mr. Byers stuff

always makes me feel old. I think it could send me straight

into a midlife crisis."

She glanced quickly at his left hand. No ring. But that

didn't always mean anything. When she looked up she knew

that he'd caught her peeking and hoped he didn't a.s.sume it

was because she was interested in something beyond a busi-

ness relationship, which she certainly was not! So with a

journalist's curiosity she asked, "You must travel a lot. Do

-you have a family?"

Looking for You All My Life135

"I'm divorced, going on ten years now. Both kids are

grown. One in college, he graduates this year. And one who's

about to make me a grandfather." He laughed. "I think it's

Heather's way of getting revenge at me for me leaving her