Part 14 (1/2)

now. Spencer had eagerly filled the floor-to-ceiling book-

shelves he'd so beautifully refinished with her many boxes of

books that had been stored out in the barn. Probably just in

the nick of time too as Jed had warned her that mice would

27.

28Melody Carlson

come in from the cold to nibble and nest in there. Naturally,

Spencer hadn't bothered to organize her books, but just

seeing them on the shelves brought comfort, and she could

rearrange them more carefully later-perhaps on some cold,

snowy day. She glanced over to the desk Jed had made for

her. It was so perfect for this room with its dark, gleaming

wood and clean Craftsman lines. And then Audrey had

donated the old mahogany office chair; it had once belonged

to Maggie's grandfather, a newspaper man himself. He had

used it at his own desk while working for the San Francisco

Herald. Maggie had added some rich earth-toned pillows

and other decorative touches, along with numerous candles,

which she now took time to light. The cozy room glowed

with warmth and personality. Before closing the wooden

shutters, she peered out the window to the darkness outside.

She wondered if and when this predicted dusting of snow

might actually occur. Like a young child looking forward to

Christmas, she antic.i.p.ated this first snow with an almost

juvenile eagerness. She wondered if this was simply part of

being the newcomer, or did others feel this way too?