Looking For You All My Life Part 178

is my investment, not yours. You're just the hired help."

Clyde studied Gavin, then added, "For now, anyway."

278Melody Carlson

Gavin looked relieved and smiled at his uncle. "Stan's

bringing his family for three days of skiing and vacation. I'll

 

personally try to show them a good time and hopefully

they'll fall in love with the small-town charm here. Maybe

one evening we can meet with the two of you for dinner at

the hotel."

"Sounds like a plan, Gavin," said Maggie. "Just let me

know. There's so much going on in the next couple of weeks,

I might need a reminder by then."

Maggie, Audrey, and Spencer spent Sat.u.r.day preparing

for Christmas and the upcoming wedding, with Leah joining

in that evening after work.

"The shop was so busy today," she said as she bit into a

piece of pizza that Maggie had thrown together for a quick

dinner. "I think Jed's going to be really pleased. A lot of the

sales were just small items, like towel racks and picture

frames, but it's amazing how quickly they start to add up."

"That's great," said Audrey. "Everyone in town should

be pleased with the traffic. I had to wait for five minutes to

get a cup of coffee at the Window Seat this morning."

"Yeah, but all these tourists present another problem

too,,' complained Spencer.

"What's that?" asked Maggie.

"No one wants to take any time to go s...o...b..arding.

Sierra is so busy at the deli that she can't get away, and, of

course, Daniel can't go anyway. Then you wouldn't even

take me up there today."

Maggie laughed. "But I promised if you helped me get

those guest rooms ready that I'd take you tomorrow after-

noon, now didn't I?"

"How's your physical therapy coming?" asked his grand-

mother. "Are you still doing those exercises to get your foot

nice and strong?"

Looking for You All My Life279

"Yeah, only about ten times a day! Pretty soon my

injured foot will be in better shape than the other one!"

"When do Jed and Michael get home, Leah?" asked

Audrey. Maggie hadn't really told her mother all of the

details about spending the night atjed's cabin with Leah, but

she knew her mother had noticed the change in their rela-

tions.h.i.+p.

"I think they're finished with the show today, and prob-

ably will get home tomorrow, unless they decide to stay

longer. I left Jed a note explaining that I'm staying back here

for the time being."

"Only for the time being?" complained Spencer. "Why

don't you just stay here for good? Then we can all do music

together, and Mom can take you to work with her, and we'll