The topic of Qwill’s gifts struck a chord with me, perhaps because I’m married to an accountant. Like just about any bean counter, Qwill is tight with money. It is not that he means to be stingy, because he has way more money than he’ll ever spend, and knows it on a conscious level. However, subconsciously, he is still that penniless reporter who sometimes didn’t know where his next meal was coming from. Old habits die hard. I think Qwill’s true nature is best shown in “Saw Red” when he wrote a check for three fourths of his hard won prize money to help his former flame, Joy, get free of her husband.

Qwill, like many men, is also clueless as to what women want in the gift department. Thus, he uses personal shoppers or lets the salesperson talk him into buying something because it is elegant, nicely made, etc. Once he makes the decision, he just multiplies it by the number of women who mean something to him and buys one for each. I think with Polly, Qwill has already decided that no matter what he buys for her, it will be the wrong thing, so what the heck, he’ll just buy the first thing that catches his eye.

This is not to say he is right. It just means that his background is showing.

Another reason to consider with Qwill’s lack of ability to commit–his first wife is in a mental hospital. Could it be that perhaps he feels that his own behavior put her there, and he doesn’t want to wish that on anyone else?

I guess we all approach this subject of Qwill to marry or not to marry, based on our own life experiences, our loves, hurts, successes, failures, marital status, belief system. I do not feel like every single person in the world was meant to marry and will be lonely and wish they had when they grow old. Some people are not afraid of marriage, they make a conscious choice that marriage is not something they want. It takes all kind of people. Qwill has let it be known, (or LJB) has let it be known that Qwill does not want to live the life of a married person. He prefers being single. I respect that in this character. I have enjoyed all the fan fiction on this site and each person's perspective. I do not feel like Qwill will ever marry or needs to, just my spin on things.

Dear Mrs. Dumont, We are writing to inform you that the reading of Maggie Sprinkle's will takes place on November 19. According to the terms of the will, each party included must by physically present at the reading to retain the inheritance Ms. Sprinkle has so generously set aside for them. We request your presence at this reading at 10:00 in the morning. We would appreciate an RSVP by November 10th.

Polly was stunned. She did not know Maggie Sprinkle had passed away. She had so completely cut herself off from Moose County for awhile. She needed to. She had not really been close to Maggie. Maggie had been on the library board at one time. Maggie had been far closer to Qwill than herself. She sighed, what in the world had Maggie left her and why the provision she had to go personally to the reading of the will.
Would it be considered the height of bad manners to refuse the gift maggie had left and not go? Did she care what people in Pickax thought of her? No doubt if she went, she would see Qwill at the reading. Maggie surely left him a memnto of their friendship. She would talk this over with Paul when he got home. Later, so there would not be a damper put on their joy over the completion of the kitchen. Polly walked through the apartment and opened the oven, pulling out a pan with two cornish hens roasting with a orange glaze. She basted the birds and returned them to the oven. She walked over to the stove top and absentmindedly stirred the creamed spinach. She took it off the stove, put a top on it and placed it in the warming drawer in the kitchen island, returning the red toile hot pads to the drawer she had decided to keep them in. Just then the apartment door opened and a tall, handsome man strolled in tossing his keys in the drawer of an antique french table in the entryway.

Polly stepped off the plane in Moose County that cold November day, and pulled her coat around her tighter. She took the shuddle van to the McIntosh Inn. The shuddle van was a new addition to airport service. She looked out at the bleek winter views as the van sped along. She wondered if the deer here were still such a problem this time of year, for drivers. As the van arrived in Pickax, proper, she looked about noticing a few changes in downtown. The Pickax Library had winter mums planted in a new planter box. The Post office had a new drop box by the street. Small changes. She walked into the lobby of the McIntosh Inn and stood in front of Lady Anne’s portrait and took in the beauty of the painting. As she turned around she was facing Susan Exbridge. Hello Polly. Hello Susan, Polly said. The two woman walked on without anything else. Susan was looking good in a chocolate brown suit with a turquoise scarf and suede chocolate brown high pumps. Polly noted Susan’s short modern hairstyle that allowed large copper earings to show. Susan wore clothes with polish.
However Polly thought she looked passable herself with her medium/short Paris hairstyle, pewter earings, black wool suit with bright turquoise print scarf. Polly was dying her hair a dark brown color called “expresso” now. The scarf had geometric shapes of black, gray and bright truquoise, and draped long down the front of her black suit. She wore a muted coppery red lipstick that she had received many compliments when wearing.

hey, I just found this story...great job and very interesting. Can't wait to see what is going to happen

Polly was half way finished with a cup of tea and some poached eggs and toast, when she looked up and Weatherby Goode walked in. Polly he said, walking over to her. She stood up and he clasped both his hands in hers. Good to see you. I heard you were coming in for the reading of Maggie's will, and I decided to check in to make sure you were doing okay. Joe, Polly exclaimed, how good of you. How did you know I would be up so early. Well to be honest, i was just going to inquire at the desk............ask if you had arrived and checked in. I was going to leave you a message that I could pick you up to go over to the attorney's office. Oh Joe, thank you, that would be good. I do not have transportation. Also, he added, you might need an old friend for fortification and since I am named in the will, we might as well go together. Sit down Joe, sit and have a cup of tea with me. I am ready for a second cup. Make it coffee Polly. The waitress came over and Joe placed his order for coffee and omlet with cheese and ham. He picked up a piece of toast from the table and started nibbling. You have come alone Polly? Yes, she answered, Paul had buisness to attend to and I decided to come on alone. I cannot imagine what Maggie left me in her will. How kind of her to remember me. Well, Polly, after you left, Maggie soon lost most of her lovely ladies to old age. One passed away after another. I had Catta and Brutus boarded until I could decide on an adoptive family. Maggie stepped up and decided to adopt them. I have a feeling she left them to you. They are currently being boarded. I don't mean to spoil the surprise, but I thought you should know as soon as possible, so you can decide whether it is feasible for you to take them back, now that you are in U. S.
Polly was speachless.

Praline, this is wonderful! Thank you so very much!

Gotta love Amanda!! Praline, you captured her beautifully, as you did Mildred, Arch, Joe, and of course, Qwill.

With that, G. Allen Barter invited the group to join him at the Old Grist Mill for lunch. It has a new chef from New Orleans and a new lunch menu. Polly thought, do I dare....do I dare go...what if I make Qwill uncomfortable....I will go, I have missed these old friends. I will go and enjoy myself. Everyone agreed except Arch who was on deadline, and rushed back to his office. Polly drove out to the mill with Weatherby Good, who she never called Weatherby, always Joe. Look at the snow starting to fall, she commented, as they drove. Oh Joe, when I see a fresh snowfall start in the middle of the day, I always think of Lynette. She loved a new snow during the day. I miss her. Joe agreed, saying, yes Polly I will always partly blame myself for her death. If only I had stepped up and declared my fondness for her. Maybe she would not have had her head turned by that scheming criminal who came to town to rob and steal and destroy. Oh Joe, please don't blame yourself. One never can live by "what ifs" or "if onlys." Look what happened between Qwill and myself. I would not have been able to forge a new life for myself, after I decided to stay in Paris, if I lived by "if onlys". They arrived at the Old Grist Mill and was met by an attractive young hostess. I am Meredith, she said, Would you like the large table by the window. Yes that will be fine. They were seated, and Derrek Cuttlebrink, manager, came out of his office and also greeted them. There was a standing instruction for the hostess to inform him each time Jim Qwilleran came into the mill. Qwill he said, hello, what a great party you have brought to lunch, he laughed. G. Allen Barter spoke up, these are my guests, Derek. Just then Derek recognized Polly and said, Mrs. Duncan, so good to see you. Let me get your waiter for your drink order. It is good to see you to Derek, and congratulations on being manager. How is Elizabeth? Everyone froze. Mildred spoke first, Polly, Elizabeth passed away in a car accident earlier this year. Oh dear, I did not know Polly said, I am so sorry Derek, please accept my condolences. Polly thought, oh goodness, what else do I not know.
Yes, it was terrible, Mrs. Duncan, and Derek sauntered away.
Oh I hope I did not upset him, Polly exclaimed. No, no, he is dealing with it pretty well said Joe. He will be okay.

Polly was very embarrassed, but the lunch passed quickly and before she know it she had said goodbye to everyone and Joe drove her to the Boarding facility to see the cats. On the way, she told Joe that her husband was allergic to cats and dogs both. She would not be taking them home. She would talk to the animal boarding facility about a possible home for them in Moose County. She has made her goodbyes with them,, and was thrilled Maggie had given them a home. But her new husband was her first priority. Joe Bunker asked her, do you think it is better then, not to see them. I could handle the arrangements for them to be adopted for you, like I did when you stayed in Paris. Polly thought...........Would you do that, she finally said. Yes, think that is a better idea, Joe. I have some ideas Joe said. My sister, the university professor who loves crows has retired and is living in Mooseville bye the lake. She has expressed an interest in adopting an older pet so she would not have to go through the kitten or puppy stage. Perhaps you met her when she visited our area years ago? Polly chuckled at the memory of the "Republic of Croatia". Yes, she said, that is a wonderful idea.

With that taken care of, Joe Bunker drove her back to the hotel. She was to fly out that afternoon. He waited for her to pack and check out and drove her to the airport. Polly he said, I wish all the best with your new life in New York, your marriage, you deserve it. She gave him a hug and thanked him. Joe keep in touch and you are welcome to visit us if you can get away, anytime. Thank you , Joe said. He watched Polly's plane take off, deep in thought. No one imagined that Polly would be the one to break out of Moose County and start a new life. Of all his friends in his age group, she seemed the least likely. Drat that Qwill for letting her go like that. Maybe he should have encouraged Qwill to fight for her. Qwill was just so laid back sometimes. But he did not want to interfere between the two on such a personal subject, so he had never approached Qwill about it. With all Qwill's money, there was poor Polly, getting up every day early, working, taking vacation alone without him, she must have gotten so tired. She deserved not to work, to be treated with a life of a little luxery. The sad thing is Qwill could have provided this for her in an instant if he would have. Why did he let this wonderful woman slip away. He walked away from the airport, shaking his head. He had been so full of thought he had not even thought to make fun of the airplane or airport with Polly as was the custom of the locals, when they saw off a traveller. He reached his car and gave a big sigh.