worry. I can fend for myself. But it would really help to have
a place to stay, at least for now. I thought I"d sell my car after
I got here, you know, to have some money to tide me over at
first. But of course I haven"t had a chance yet."
She nodded, then glanced out the window, remembering
how Audrey had dropped her off at the office. "Speaking of
cars, could you give me a ride home?"
She told Gavin about her trip to Desert Winds as he drove
to her house, explaining all about Greg and Rick"s plans to
develop the farmland, as well as how they swindled Arnold
Westerly Out of his property.
"I"ve done some pretty slimy things in my life," admitted
Gavin as he pulled into the driveway, "and I know in many
ways that I"m probably much worse than those two guys,
but what they"re doing is really wrong! For the sake of the
town, I hope they can be stopped before it"s too late."
"Oh, look," cried Maggie when she saw her house suddenly
beginning to glow with hundreds of little white lights. "They
put up Christmas lights while I was Out of town this weekend.
Oh, doesn"t it look wonderful!" She leaped from the car and
ran up to the front porch to see Spencer hobbling around on his
walking cast. "This looks great, Spence!" She hugged him. "But
please don"t tell me you climbed up on a ladder with that cast."
He laughed. "I would"ve, but Grandma wouldn"t let me.
Leah and Jed did all of the high stuff and I did the places I
could reach from the ground."
She looked at the evergreen wreath on the door and at the
garlands wrapped around the porch handrails. "This is so
lovely. What a beautiful homecoming."
"Yeah, that was Grandma"s idea. Hey, who"s that?" asked
Spencer, looking over at Gavin as he carried a suitcase from
his car.
"It"s Gavin Barnes. He"s going to stay with us a while."
Then, lowering her voice, "He"s really changed, Spencer. You
won"t believe it."
Looking for YouAllMy Life171
Audrey had never met Gavin before, but after Maggie
discreetly took her aside and explained everything, she
warmly welcomed him into their household, even inviting
him to help her in the kitchen by peeling potatoes. Without
complaining, he rolled up his sleeves and pitched right in.
After dinner, Audrey took Maggie aside and offered to let
Gavin use the guest house while he stayed with them.
"No, Mom. I don"t want to push you Out of your little
nest."
"But is it proper for him to stay with you in your home?"
asked Audrey with a concerned brow.
Maggie considered this. "Well, how would it be any dif-
ferent if I were running a bed-and-breakfast?"
"I suppose you"re right. After all, it"s not as if you"re