Crossroad To Love (Fab Five Series) Read online

  “Well, you all know that Alex has gone off to college. It has been wonderful raising him, even though we were very lonely at times. Now, it’s been ten years and it’s time for me to decide what I am going to do with the rest of my life. Bill would want me to move on and be happy. I need to decide on a job, for starters, and then who knows what will happen next? It has been so many years, I just don’t know if I can do the whole dating thing again. And things are so different now from when Bill and I got together. I mean, we were high school sweethearts, for God’s sake. I thought I could gain a little perspective this week while I’m here.” Katy was very serious now.

  “Well, Katy, I think you’re right, the time has come for you to start the rest of your life. It won’t be easy, I’m sure, but something or someone will come along when you least expect it and just like with Angie, it will be meant to be,” Lizzie said with a smile for her friend.

  “She’s right, you know. You need to see what happens. What kind of job are you thinking about?” Angie asked.

  “I really don’t know. I’ve always been interested in interior design, you know. I took those classes after high school and worked for a decorator before I had Bree.”

  “Well, maybe you could start a business of your own. I think it’s great you are thinking about doing something like that. Maybe you could work on some ideas for my project at the hotel. That would be a start for you. Let you get your feet wet and see if this is really your thing.”

  “I think that’s an excellent idea, Angie. That is so like you to think of something like that,” Marianne said.

  “Wow, I knew you guys would have ideas for me, but I never expected anything like this. Thank you, Angie, I would love to work on something for you. Let’s set a time this week to talk about it some more.” Katy was excited at the prospect of working with Angie.

  “Okay, two down and two to go. Whose problem do we solve next?” Angie laughed. This is great, being with the three of them again. She wondered how many other people could say that they had friendships that had stood the test of time like this.

  “Well, mine is not really a problem.” It was Lizzie’s turn to speak. “It’s just me being silly. I have been at loose ends since the twins have moved on with their own lives. Cara still lives at home, but she is super busy with her job and her guy. I’m expecting to hear that she will be either moving out or getting married any day now. And Colt has already moved out. He still comes over for the occasional home-cooked meal, but less and less often. He’s started a new job, which has been hard for Rex. He wanted Colt to come into the business with him right out of college. But Colt had other ideas. He wanted to test the waters first and try a job on his own. We’re still hoping that he will eventually change his mind, which brings me to Rex. He is still my sweet, charming, teddy bear Rex, don’t get me wrong, but he is so busy now that the agency has taken off. He is hardly ever home and when he is, he is exhausted. This should be a time in our lives when we are doing things together. Instead, we never see each other. I am really having a bad case of the empty nest syndrome, I’m afraid.” Lizzie sighed as she told her story to the group.

  It’s not silly, sounds to me like your dilemma is similar to Katy’s. Have you thought about going to work?” Angie asked with a smile.

  “Well, that brings me to an idea I had while having breakfast with Rex this morning. I want to run it by you guys and see what you think.” Lizzie went on to explain her brainstorm to the group and was met with approval all around.

  “And you think he would be against it?” Angie asked.

  “I just don’t know how he will react to me wanting to work with him. You would have thought he would have suggested it, but he hasn’t even given me a clue that he has thought about it. Maybe he doesn’t think I have the ability anymore or maybe he simply does not want me in the office every day,” Lizzie said with a worried look on her face.

  “Well, there is only one way to find out,” Angie was quick to reply. “When you get back to Columbus, you need to sit that man of yours down and have a real heart to heart. You need to tell him everything you have told us. I bet you’ll be surprised at his reaction. Maybe he has never given it a thought that you would even want to work, let alone with him. And if he says no, you convince him to give it a try. You have the ability. You know that and we know that. Your writing won you so many awards in school. And you have marketing experience. That was how you two met. And if he has forgotten that, then he is just getting senile and you need to prove to him that you can be an asset to the company.”

  “Okay, as always, you present a good case. I’ll talk to Rex when I get home. I will let you all know how it goes.” Lizzie felt better already.

  “Well, we all seem to be solving our problems on the first day of the trip. Now the rest of the week can be spent reminiscing and having a good time,” Angie added.

  “Marianne, you’ve been awfully quiet. It’s your turn. What can we help you with today?” Katy looked at her friend with concern. The half-empty wine bottle had not gone unnoticed by her keen eye.

  Much to the surprise of the other three, Marianne burst into tears. “I think you all had better pour yourselves another glass of wine for this one. Your problems are all a piece of cake to what I am about to tell you. I’ve been sitting here listening to all of you. Katy is beginning a new life, Lizzie may be starting an exciting new career, and Angie is embarking on the greatest thing she has ever done in her career, not to mention the fact that she is probably going to get back together with the love of her life when all is said and done. I just don’t think any of you can solve my problem. And it is a true problem.” Marianne looked solemnly at the group gathered around her.

  “Sweetie, what in the world is it? We all thought you had it all, great part-time nursing job, beautiful house, two great kids, plenty of money, and the most handsome, successful husband in the world. What could possibly be wrong in your world?” Lizzie asked in awe.

  “Looks can be deceiving, you know. Up until a short time ago, I thought I had it all, too. How quickly that can change. My world came crashing down around me in a heartbeat.” Marianne burst into fresh tears.

  Her three friends were at a total loss. None of them knew what to do or say next. Marianne seemed to be in such a fragile state, which was not the Marianne they all knew.

  Lizzie was the first to speak. She broke the silence by asking gently, “Can you tell us what happened? Just take your time, catch your breath, and tell us slowly everything that happened. You know that whatever it is, we are all here for you, one hundred and ten percent.”

  The other two nodded in agreement. Whatever was bothering Marianne had certainly unnerved her. And how many glasses of wine had she had already? Something was really wrong in her life. And for the first time in all the years they had been friends, would they even be able to help her through it?

  Marianne took a deep breath, took a sip of the wine still in her glass and began telling her story. She told them about what Julie had seen. She told them about how distraught she had been. And then she told them about how loving Jon had been before she left for the hotel.

  “I am at my wit’s end. I don’t know what to think, I don’t know what to do. All I know is that I have got to make a decision this week, once and for all. I can’t go on like this. I am drinking way too much, but I just don’t seem to care anymore.”

  “Oh, honey, we are here for you, whatever you need. You know that. Even if life seems to be against you, you will always have us.” Lizzie put her arms around her friend.

  “The snake, how can he do this to you, after you put him through med school, gave him two wonderful sons, and catered to his every need all these years? I guess it was all too good to be true. Maybe I had the right idea after all, getting rid of the man in my life years ago.” Angie was livid.

  “Now, now, Ang, calm down, your situation with Michael was completely different. He loved you with every fiber of his being.” Katy went on, “I know we are all up
set with Jon right now, but maybe there is more to this. Maybe Julie was mistaken. You really need to get Jon’s side of the story. Does he even know that you suspect anything?”

  “I don’t think Julie would lie to me. She has been through this herself,” Marianne answered as the tears rolled down her cheeks once again.

  “Well, Marianne, there is just one thing you can do,” Katy said. “When the week is over, you’ll go home, confront Jon and get everything out in the open. You get his side of the story and go from there. He may break your heart. You may split up. You may stay together. There is no use fretting about it or ruining your health because of it. I know this sounds harsh, but it is your only option. You cannot walk out on him after all these years without at least hearing him out. Do the boys know anything, by the way?”

  “No, I haven’t had the heart to tell them. I have been trying to keep things as normal as possible so they don’t suspect a problem. Jackson was home from school last weekend. And Jordan is so busy with football and school and girls, he wouldn’t notice if anything were amiss anyway, I don’t think.”

  “Let’s not let this ruin our week. You need to put it out of your mind, as much as you can anyway, and relax. Enjoy this time we have together. Then, next week, you need to deal with the problem head on, once and for all.” Angie gently patted Marianne’s hand as she spoke. “I shouldn’t have spouted off like I did before. This has been hard enough for you as it is, without me going off at the mouth like that. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, Mari.”

  “You didn’t say anything I haven’t thought a thousand times over, Angie. And I agree. I need to enjoy this week. I have needed this break for a while now and I am not going to let Jon ruin it for me too.”

  “Now you’re talking. The ‘Fab Four’ are together again. Let’s move on to important issues. Like, where are we going for dinner?” Lizzie tried to lighten the mood.

  And with that choice to make, the four of them all began chattering at once, trying to decide whether to go out on the town or to order in and have one of their good old-fashioned slumber parties like in the old days. They unanimously voted on the latter and the party began.

  CHAPTER 8

  The girls decided to have pizza and ice cream sent up to their room. After changing into their pajamas and putting their problems aside for the night, they began the age-old ritual of reminiscing.

  “Remember that slumber party we had at your house, Katy? We must have been all of sweet sixteen at the time,” Lizzie asked as she popped a chocolate into her mouth.

  “Oh, how could I ever forget it? We snuck the boys in the basement window and my dad caught us. I wasn’t allowed to see Bill for a month. I thought I would die before that month was over.” Katy giggled like a schoolgirl.

  “And then there were all the sleepovers at Lizzie’s house, our resident junk food junkie. We ate so much junk food when were there,” Angie remembered.

  “And you always knew what you were having for breakfast at Lizzie’s house, fried bologna on toast. I have not touched bologna since then, I don’t think.” Marianne remembered with a smile. She was actually beginning to relax a little. She had not had another glass of wine since she had poured her heart out to her friends earlier. Maybe this really is going to be a good week, after all, she thought as she looked at each of her friends and smiled.

  “Ah, those were the days, weren’t they, carefree and fun?” Katy said wistfully.

  They all nodded in agreement. They spent the rest of the night and into the morning hours remembering the days of their youth in an Indiana small town, and of course, filling up on junk food. When they finally gave it up and fell asleep at four a.m., each one of the girls had a smile on her face.

  When they awoke on Sunday morning, they all felt refreshed and relaxed. After taking turns in the shower, they sat down to figure out what they would do with the rest of the day. It was decided that they would go across the street to the Galleria mall for a while. As they leisurely read the paper and finished their coffee, they also discussed where they would go for dinner that evening.

  “I have had enough junk food to last me for a year,” Katy said. She was never one to eat junk food, being the petite one of the bunch. Last night had been a rare exception.

  “You can say that again,” quipped Marianne with a sidelong glance at Lizzie.

  “Now, girls, what’s a ‘Fab Four’ party without junk food?” Lizzie laughed.

  “You could eat junk food without the ‘Fab Four,’ honey,” Angie answered with a smile.

  They eventually decided on a restaurant that Marianne suggested. It had a great reputation and she had heard that they were planning to expand. “Supposedly they are going to be adding a party room and possibly more restaurants,” Marianne told them. “It’s owned by two brothers, Ryan and Shane O’Grady. All the articles I’ve read say Shane’s wife, Chloe, is an excellent cook and Ryan is said to have the distinct reputation of being considered one of Dallas’s most eligible bachelors.” Marianne continued to fill them in with all she knew about the family from local talk. “He’s quite the playboy from what I’ve seen in the society pages, never with the same woman more than a few times.”

  “Well, then we have to go there, because I want to see this local legend in the flesh,” Lizzie laughed.

  “I agree. If he’s so hot that all the women are after him, I want to see him too. Hey, maybe Katy can have a vacation affair with this dude. It’d be a great way to get back in the dating pool.” Angie burst into giggles.

  “And why on earth would I want to do that?” Katy began giggling as well.

  “I don’t think Katy wants to get mixed up with that one,” Marianne added.

  “I can see it now. We’ll walk in there and all go into one of our giggling fits when we see ‘Mr. Sexy Dallas.’” Lizzie was giggling too by this point.

  “And so my friends come to Dallas just to embarrass me in public. I see how you are,” Marianne teased.

  “Ok, we’ll behave. But I still think Katy should have a fling with him,” Angie said.

  “Oh, brother,” Katy rolled her eyes and threw a pillow at Angie’s head.

  The girls left for the mall shortly after that, putting an end to the discussion of the infamous Mr. O’Grady.

  It was just like old times, the four of them shopping together. They had spent many a Sunday afternoon in the malls together over the years. They each made a few purchases and headed back to the suite to get ready for their big evening out.

  Petite Katy chose a simple black dress. She finished it off with pearls that Bill had given her one year for their anniversary, matching earrings and bracelet, and a pair of strappy black sandals. With her short dark hair cut in the latest style, she looked very chic. Lizzie had bought a beautiful floral skirt with a peasant blouse while shopping. The bright turquoise had always been a good color for her. She was a blonde with a classic pageboy hairstyle, the back cut just a tiny bit shorter than the sides and stacked. She wore southwestern-style turquoise jewelry. Angie, ever the career girl, donned a navy pinstripe skirt with matching blazer. She dressed it up with a feminine white blouse and gold jewelry. She had decided to wear her long hair up for the evening. Marianne walked into the room with a cute, green paisley dress that accentuated her figure nicely.

  “Well, I think we are ready to take on the Big D in style,” Angie laughed as they grabbed their purses and walked out the door, happily anticipating the evening ahead.

  Since Marianne knew the way to the restaurant, she offered to drive rather than take the rental. The girls were all chatting at once the entire ride, taking in the lights of Dallas on the way.

  Marianne pulled into the parking lot of ‘Chloe’s Place’ and quickly parked her SUV in one of the few remaining parking spots. The nearly full parking lot was a good indication that the food would be excellent. They piled out of the car and strolled into the restaurant, which had a pleasant atmosphere. The dining room was tastefully decorated in shades of mauve a
nd gray and a fire was burning in the huge stone fireplace in one corner. Fresh flowers served as centerpieces on each table. Everyone was bustling about doing his or her job, but everything seemed to be running quite smoothly.

  “Marianne, this is lovely. I am so glad you suggested this place,” Angie stated in awe.

  The others quickly agreed with her.

  “Welcome to Chloe’s Place, would this be your first time here?” asked the man who had just walked up to greet them.

  The four women stared at the man in disbelief. He had to be the most gorgeous hunk of manhood any of them had ever seen. He was tall and well-groomed, with dark hair and big brown eyes that held a tiny fleck of gold in each of them. He looked to be in his forties, very muscular and definitely all man. Now, Michael, Jon, and Rex were all good-looking men, but there was definitely something different about this one.

  Katy could not seem to take her eyes off him. He smiled at her and she struggled to regain her composure as she answered, “Yes, it is. We are visiting Dallas and heard great things about ‘Chloe’s Place,’ so we thought we’d try it out.”

  “We will try to live up to the good things you have heard, then. I am Ryan O’Grady. I own the restaurant with my brother and sister-in-law, Shane and Chloe. And you lovely ladies are…?”

  “We are the ‘Fab Four,’” Angie laughed.

  Ryan gave them a quizzical look and Lizzie laughingly explained, “It’s a childhood nickname we gave ourselves when we were growing up in Indiana. I am Lizzie from Ohio, this is Marianne, who actually lives near Dallas, that’s Angie from Iowa, and you have already had the pleasure of speaking to Katy, who hails from Chicago.”

  The gold flecks in Ryan’s eyes sparkled as he answered, “Indiana you say? I lived there once, a lifetime ago, in Indianapolis. It is a pleasure for us to be serving the ‘Fab Four’ this evening. May I show you to a table, ladies?” He led them to a table near the beautiful fireplace. After they were seated, he took their drink orders and handed them menus. “Your waiter will be with you shortly. I’ll check back with you ladies later and see how you are doing. It has been a pleasure.” He winked at Katy as he turned to go.