{"id":1057,"date":"2019-02-10T21:47:44","date_gmt":"2019-02-11T02:47:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/read.whitefire-publishing.com\/?p=1057"},"modified":"2020-08-25T15:46:13","modified_gmt":"2020-08-25T19:46:13","slug":"someone-to-belong-to","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whitefire-publishing.com\/read\/someone-to-belong-to\/","title":{"rendered":"Someone to Belong To"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Someone to Belong To<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

by Melody Carlson<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maggie and her son have settled in Pine Mountain, where she has found love again. But trouble lurks as she plans her wedding. As she and Jed are enjoying their deepening love, Amber returns to Pine Mountain\u2014and proves to be more of a distraction for Jed than Maggie wants!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, a land development project divides the community. Can Maggie find a solution that will be good for Pine Mountain and those she loves? As editor of the newspaper, can she remain objective while throwing herself wholeheartedly into the fray?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t

Chapter 1<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Word of Maggie and\nJed\u2019s engagement spread through town faster than a change of mountain weather,\nso that for the next few days Maggie could hardly go anywhere without someone\nmentioning it. Even after it felt like old news, she was met by Rich from the\nEagle Tavern, who stopped her in front of the post office to offer his\ncongratulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOl\u2019\nJed sure didn\u2019t waste any time, did he?\u201d He sighed and then shook his head,\nthough she knew it was only for dramatic effect. \u201cNever even gave the rest of\nus half a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\nlaughed, then patted him on the arm in a mock-consolatory way. \u201cWell, I guess\nsome things are just meant to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy\nthe way, Maggie,\u201d he added as he held the door open for her, \u201cI\u2019ve been meaning\nto tell you that I never did sign that businessmen\u2019s petition supporting TS\nDevelopment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\nstudied him curiously, unsure of why he wanted her to know. \u201cThanks for telling\nme, Rich. I appreciate hearing it. I tried not to take that whole business too\nseriously last year. I figured once the snow came along things would settle\ndown around here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLooks\nlike you were right.\u201d He pulled down his hat and headed back out into the icy\nwind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\nsmiled to herself as she dropped her letters in the mail. How she longed to\ntell Rich and anyone else interested about the big surprise TS Development\nwould soon receive! But the deal wasn\u2019t completely sealed yet. And even if it\nwas, they had all agreed to keep the whole thing under wraps until just the\nright time. So far, Gavin\u2019s plan had gone even better than expected. Stan\nWilliams had been here for two days, and he\u2019d been absolutely delighted with\nthe town and recreational area in general, but when he saw Clyde\u2019s beautiful\nparcel of property just down the road from Maggie\u2019s house, he didn\u2019t even\nbother to conceal his pleasure. It seemed the partnership was meant to be, and\ntonight they would all meet at the hotel to discuss the whole thing over\ndinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\ncrossed the street over to Jed\u2019s shop, stepping over a pile of freshly plowed\nsnow next to the curb. She\u2019d spotted his pickup just moments ago on her way to\nthe post office and wanted to make sure she caught him before he headed back\nhome to his workshop. He\u2019d been putting in long hours lately trying to fill\nfurniture orders and remodel his house as well as work on the building that\nwould one day contain the new church. She and Leah had both grown a little\nconcerned that he might be overdoing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey\nthere,\u201d called Maggie as she spied him placing what looked like a newly made\npine table against the back wall of his shop. \u201cCaught you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\nwalked over to her and grinned. \u201cAnd I\u2019m glad you did!\u201d He swooped her up into\na big hug. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you pop in and catch me more often?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGuess\nI\u2019d better. It might be the only way I ever get to see you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\nlooked down into her eyes. \u201cHmm\u2026 maybe I have been burning the midnight oil\nlately. But there\u2019s so much to get done these days, and now that you and I are\non track I feel strangely energized.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\nknow what you mean. I think love does that to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey,\nyou love birds,\u201d called Leah as she came in the front door. \u201cI\u2019m back from\nlunch, so you guys can go finish making out in the back room if you want to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jed\nlaughed. \u201cThanks, Leah. We might just do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maggie\ngently extracted herself from his embrace. \u201cActually, I stopped by to see if I\ncould talk you into joining Clyde and Gavin and me for dinner tonight. Remember\nI told you we\u2019re meeting with Stan and his family<\/a> at the hotel?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\nfrowned. \u201cYou know I\u2019m willing to do almost anything for you, Maggie, but I\nhonestly think I\u2019d just be extra baggage. And I\u2019ve got so much work to do right\nnow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\ntried to hide her disappointment. \u201cI know. And I really do understand, but I\nthink your opinion would be helpful\u2014you know a lot about building and design.\nAnd\u2026 I mostly just wanted to see you myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow\nabout if I promise that we\u2019ll do something soon\u2014just the two of us?\u201d He looked\nat her hopefully. \u201cWouldn\u2019t that be more fun anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf\ncourse. But I also want to make sure you\u2019re not working too hard, Jed.\u201d She\nglanced at Leah for support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah,\nDad,\u201d said Leah, stepping up with that exaggerated swagger that seems to come\nonly with adolescence. Maggie smiled\u2014she loved that Leah had taken to calling\nJed \u201cDad\u201d lately. And he seemed to like it even more. \u201cYeah,\u201d she continued,\nhands on hips, \u201cjust the other day, Maggie and I were discussing how we think\nyou\u2019re working way too hard. It\u2019s not healthy. And we mean to put a stop to\nit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\ngrew thoughtful, then slowly nodded. \u201cYou\u2019re probably right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maggie\nblinked. \u201cYou mean, you agree with us so easily? Just like that? We expected a little\nmore struggle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo\ntell you the truth,\u201d he looked from one to the other, \u201cI\u2019ve been thinking about\nhiring an apprentice to help me out some. I\u2019ve easily got enough work for two\npeople right now, and the orders just keep coming\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\nknow, Dad. I had a lady call just this morning who wants to do a whole room in\nrustic birch. I think she wanted a dozen different pieces, all totaled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\nsettles it. Leah, can you call the newspapers and place a classified ad for an\napprentice?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leah\nglanced at Maggie, perhaps a small plea for help, and she just nodded as if to\nreassure. \u201cSure, Dad,\u201d Leah answered with confidence. \u201cI\u2019ll get on it first\nthing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jed\nturned to Maggie. \u201cSo, have you had lunch yet? If I\u2019m getting some help, I\nmight be able to afford the time to get a quick bite to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\nseized his arm.\u2019 \u201cIt\u2019s a date, Mr. Whitewater.\u201d Then winking at Leah she said,\n\u201cAnd I promise to have him back in\u2014\u201d she glanced at her watch. \u201cOh, maybe by\nthe end of the day, at the very latest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\ndeli was crowded, and Rosa looked pleased but busy. She just waved to them from\nthe kitchen while Sierra took their order. \u201cI\u2019ll bet Spencer is up on the\nmountain right now,\u201d she said glumly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maggie\nnodded. \u201cYeah, he talked his grandma into taking him up. But I thought you were\nsupposed to be up there today too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sierra\nrolled her eyes. \u201cCara called in sick this morning, so guess who gets to fill\nin for her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s\ntoo bad,\u201d said Jed kindly. \u201cI know how Leah wishes she could get in more\nsnowboarding too, but the alternative wouldn\u2019t be so hot either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah,\nit\u2019s always feast or famine.\u201d Sierra handed them their drinks. \u201cJust as long as\nI don\u2019t hear about Cara being up on the mountain today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019d\nbe pretty low-down.\u201d Maggie tried not to chuckle as they made their way to the\nonly empty table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen\ndo Scott and Chloe get back from their honeymoon?\u201d asked Jed as he pulled a\nchair out for her. She still wasn\u2019t completely used to his courteous, albeit\nslightly old-fashioned, manners. She remembered that Phil had always been\npretty casual about such niceties. But Jed seemed to take the little things\nseriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\nsat down. \u201cI think they get back next week.\u201d She smiled dreamily. \u201cMaui must be\nawfully nice this time of year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\nsure was generous of Chloe\u2019s parents to foot the bill for their trip at the\nlast minute like that,\u201d he commented as he stirred his coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah,\nScott was pretty shocked. He\u2019d planned to keep everything local since their\nfinances were fairly well stretched just by the wedding. But I\u2019m sure her folks\nfelt guilty about not helping out with the whole thing. I think it was simply\ntheir way of apologizing for being such poor sports at the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\nlaughed. \u201cI\u2019m glad we\u2019re old enough that we won\u2019t have to put up with all that\nkind of nonsense for our wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes,\nit is a relief, isn\u2019t it.\u201d She paused as Sierra placed their order on the\ntable, then Jed said a brief blessing. \u201cBy the way, Jed, everyone\u2019s been asking\nme if we\u2019ve set a date yet\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\nnodded. \u201cI know, I\u2019ve been getting the same drill. I suppose we should talk\nabout it. What are you thinking?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\npicked up her spoon and thought for a moment. \u201cI\u2019m not really sure. I mean, on\nthe one hand, I\u2019ve had moments when I think we should just do it right away,\nbut then I consider how busy we both are. And then on the other hand, I\nsometimes think we should just wait and give it lots of time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\nknow exactly what you mean.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\nlooked into his eyes, suddenly feeling self-conscious. \u201cAnd then I think\u2026 a\nspring wedding has always appealed to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His\nbrows lifted. \u201cSpring?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\nnodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs\nin this coming spring?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell,\nI suppose we could wait until spring of next year.\u201d\nShe tried to conceal how she felt slightly offended by his reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo\nway. I don\u2019t want to wait that long. I guess when you\nsaid spring it just sounded so close, like next week\nor something.\u201d He chuckled. \u201cYou know how it can be with someone who\u2019s been a\nbachelor as long as I have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\nsmiled. \u201cYes, I\u2019ll try to be patient. And if spring feels too soon\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\nactually I think spring might be just right.\u201d Then he grinned knowingly. \u201cBut\nhas anyone told you when spring actually comes to Pine Mountain?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\nshook her head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\ndon\u2019t usually see much sign of spring until around May.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMay\nsounds perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen\nit\u2019s settled?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\nlooked into his eyes. \u201cIs it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\nreached across the table and took her left hand in his, gently fingering the\nshiny new ring on her finger. \u201cI just hope I can wait that long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\nfelt her cheeks grow warm. \u201cGood thing we\u2019ve both got a lot of things to keep\nus busy then, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

After\nlunch Maggie finished her Saturday errands, then stopped by the fitness center\nfor a quick workout. As usual, the place was busy, but Cherise took time to\npull Maggie aside before she left. \u201cIt\u2019s all finished upstairs,\u201d she announced\nwith pride. \u201cWant to come up and see?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure,\nI\u2019d love to if you can spare the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cherise\nglanced around the workout area as if taking a quick inventory. \u201cEverything\nseems to be under control down here.\u201d As they walked up the steps she explained\nhow she hoped to be able to hire a helper in a month or two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThings\nmust be going well then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah.\nGreg always used to say how this place was nothing more than an expensive hobby\nand tax deduction. But he was wrong. I can really make a living off it.\u201d She\nstopped at the top of the stairs and waved her arms in a flourish. \u201cWell, here\nit is in all its glory!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maggie\nlooked around. \u201cCherise, it\u2019s absolutely fantastic. Even better than before,\nand I thought it looked good then. That kitchenette is adorable\u2014I love all\nthose bright-colored tiles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStill\nlook like L.A.?\u201d Cherise\u2019s eyes sparkled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\nbet. Hey, can I plan your housewarming now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019d\nreally do that for me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf\ncourse. Why not?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cherise\nshook her head. \u201cOh, I just remember how Greg was always so down on you\u2014acting\nlike you really didn\u2019t give a hoot about someone like me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maggie\nwaved her hand. \u201cWell, Greg was all wet about a lot of things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cherise\nlaughed. \u201cHe sure was!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maggie\ninstantly felt bad. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I don\u2019t mean to suggest that you guys can\u2019t\nwork this out or any\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t\nworry, Maggie. I know what you mean. But, believe me, Greg\u2019s made it pretty\nclear that he\u2019s thrilled to have me out of the picture. I think especially now\nthat he\u2019s so sure he\u2019s going to be some big ol\u2019 millionaire with his land\ndeals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maggie\nsmiled. \u201cWell, at least you seem happy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cherise\nspun around in her pretty little loft apartment. \u201cOh, I am!\u201d Then she turned to\nMaggie with a more serious look. \u201cAnd you know how I\u2019ve been going to church\nreal regular like? Well, I really do like the way Michael preaches. I never\nheard anyone talk about God like that before. He makes it so real and personal\nthat I\u2019ve actually started praying myself. Can you believe that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure.\nAnd I think it\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMan,\nwouldn\u2019t Greg be shocked about that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maggie\njust nodded, thinking to herself that Greg was going to be shocked about a\nnumber of things before too long. She glanced up at the retro-style clock on\nthe wall. \u201cOh, I had better get going, Cherise. But thanks for showing me\naround\u2014you\u2019ve done an incredible job with this place. And I\u2019ll get back to you\nabout the housewarming dates. Because I really do want\nto do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cherise\nthrew her arms around Maggie. \u201cYou\u2019re such a good friend!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n