On the next chairlift ride, Jed told her all about how Leah
had confessed to him about her close call with hypothermia
that night. "I don"t even know how to begin to thank you,
Maggie."
"Thank me?" She turned and looked at him, trying to
gauge his expression halfway hidden beneath his goggles. "I
love Leah, Jed. I thank G.o.d that I found her."
He smiled then. "I think he was looking out for both of
you. By the way, it was generous of you to give her the dog.
She"s been good company for her at the shop."
Maggie swallowed hard, wondering how or even if she
should say this, but somehow she wanted to make it clear.
"Jed, I want you to understand that my feelings for Leah
stand alone. I have loved her since she first came to live with
us. And even if you and I were to permanently part ways, I
would continue to love her just as fiercely as I do now. Does
that make any sense?"
He looked slightly surprised by her intensity, but as it was
time to unload from the chair, he could only nod and say
briefly, "I understand."
On the next ride up the mountain, Jed told Maggie that
Leah had confessed something else to him. "She admitted
that she was trying to come between us, Maggie." He
seemed uncomfortable. "I just couldn"t believe that she
would do something like that."
Suddenly Maggie felt defensive of Leah. "But you must
understand how it all relates to her mother-and how all
those men took her away from Leah. She didn"t want to lose
you too, Jed. She was afraid that I would take you away
from her. I understand all about that now, and I have com-
pletely forgiven her."
"She told me that you had. And I have too. I"m just trying
to understand the whole thing. I guess it makes me feel kind
of foolish for being taken in by it."
294Melody Carison7
Maggie smiled at him. "Jed, I hate to tell you this, but I"m
afraid you"ve got a lot to learn about women."
He grinned. "Well, I"m looking forward to some really
excellent instruction from both you and Leah."
After that run, they checked on the two kids. Leah said
she was ready to try a run on the beginner lift. Maggie
encouraged both Jed and Spencer to accompany her on the
three-person lift, explaining that she was just about skied out
for the day (not wanting to admit to her son that last night"s
late chat session with Rebecca was starting to take its toll on
her). She asked if he could catch a ride with either Jed or
Barry, and then she headed on home to help Audrey with
preparations for the evening"s get-together.
For Christmas Eve dinner, Audrey and Maggie served a
buffet for their boisterous guests. Everyone was in good
spirits, but they steadily became more subdued and relaxed