Crossroad to Love (Fab Five Series)

chapter 24


Friday morning dawned bright with the Texas sunlight streaming brilliantly into the window of the bedroom.

Lizzie decided to let Katy sleep in, as she knew she had been awake most of the night tossing and turning. They shared a bedroom and Lizzie had heard her talking in her sleep from the next bed. Lizzie slipped quietly from her bed, showered and dressed for her meeting. When she went to kitchenette to make coffee, Marianne and Angie were already there. Angie poured a cup, handed it to Lizzie with a sweet roll, and inquired about Katy.

“She was apparently having nightmares all night. She tossed and turned and I heard her calling out for first Bill, then Bree, and finally for Ryan. I also heard her tell Ryan she loved him with all her heart,” Lizzie relayed sadly.

“Why in the world can’t Katy have any happiness in her life? She is the best person I know. She always is the one who helps all of us. She pulled herself up by her bootstraps when Bill died and went on with her life. She raised a wonderful son. Now, just when her life should be beginning a new chapter, she gets slapped down again. It’s just not fair,” Angie spouted angrily as she poured herself a second cup of coffee.

“I know, it doesn’t seem fair, but those two really do have a lot to work out before they could even begin to think of starting a relationship. There is a lot of baggage there. But all is not lost. Katy is starting an exciting new career,” Marianne replied.

“Take it from one who knows, a career does not keep you warm on a cold, winter’s night,” Angie answered with regret in her voice.

“Well, I need to get going. You guys keep an eye on her while I’m gone.” Lizzie prepared for her meeting with Rex and the O’Gradys. She grabbed her bag and the ads and went to meet Rex. Marianne and Angie agreed to stay with Katy until Lizzie returned. It was their last day together and they had made plans to do some last minute shopping later, but right now, Katy was their priority. The shopping would have to wait.

Katy was awake in the next room but not ready to face the day yet. She lay in bed thinking about each of her friends. They each had new plans to look forward to in the coming days and weeks. Michael and Angie were leaving early in the morning. They were driving back instead of flying. It would give them some time together before starting their work together. They were going to stop in Shreveport and tour a hotel at one of the casinos to get some ideas. They intended to spend the day there and head back to Iowa early Sunday morning. Angie had intended to be back at work on Monday, but really was not scheduled to be back until Tuesday, so she and Michael had decided to take full advantage of the extra day to be together. They were going to have a very full work load once they got back, so they might as well relax while they could. A road trip would be good for both of them.

Lizzie and Rex had discussed possibly taking a few extra days off. Rex had cleared his calendar before coming to Dallas. He was in need of a few days of rest and relaxation. They were flying out tomorrow afternoon to St. Louis and staying there for a few days and then flying home. That would give them some much needed time together before Lizzie began working at the agency.

Marianne would be taking Katy to the airport since it looked as if Ryan would not be. Katy would fly home on Saturday and begin working on her designs. There she would wait for Ryan’s call so she could make arrangements to come back to Dallas. She was glad Marianne had invited her to stay with her and Jon when she came back. She was sure she would need the support of her friend during that stay. Katy also would be making a trip to Iowa to meet with Angie. So she would have work and travel to fill her time while she recovered from this traumatic trip to Dallas. Would it be enough?

Marianne would be returning home to get her life back on track with Jon and was looking forward to a romantic getaway in San Antonio. Feeling slightly sorry for herself, Katy wondered when she would get a romantic getaway.

They had all promised to stay in touch with Chloe and to include her in their next get-together. That might be difficult. Katy would be the fifth wheel, so to speak. When those plans had been made, Katy thought Ryan would be at her side for all the future get-togethers.

What a week it had been, with each one of them at a crossroad in their lives. Marianne, Lizzie, and Angie had all chosen the turn in their road and were happy. Now that the week was winding down and they only had one more night together before heading back to their lives, it would be a special night for each of them. They savored their times together and looked forward to the next. They each had their own private thoughts and favorite times to remember. But this time, Katy would be going home with a heavy heart. She was still at her crossroad, unsure of which turn to take.

She finally forced herself to get out of bed, showered, dressed, and, bracing herself for the onslaught of questions from her friends, walked into the kitchenette. She helped herself to the coffee and rolls and sat down on a barstool to eat, looking around for the others. Lizzie must have left already for her meeting. Angie was on the phone. Marianne rose from the couch and joined Katy at the bar. Marianne patted her hand and asked quietly, “Did you get any sleep at all, honey?”

“A little, I think I dreamed a lot, but they were all mixed up,” Katy replied.

“If you want to talk, know that I’m here. But if you’re not ready, I won’t push. We’re going shopping at the mall later. Do you feel like going?”

“Not really, but I’ll go anyway. I want to pick up something for Alex from Texas. I can’t sit around moping forever. I might as well get on with my life. I met a man and it didn’t work out. No big deal.”

“Oh, I think it was more than that, don’t you, Katy? I think this was a very big deal for you. Don’t underplay it.”

“Let’s head to the mall, or are we waiting for Liz to get back?” Katy asked, changing the subject abruptly.

“No, I think we can go without Liz. She may be gone for a while.” Angie walked in. She had finished her phone call to her secretary, Lynne, and had heard part of the conversation between Mari and Katy.

The three women walked through the mall, window shopping, and just enjoying their time together. Katy picked up a Texas tee shirt and a keychain for Alex, bought herself some jasmine-scented bath beads and watched as Angie scoured the entire Victoria’s Secret store for the perfect negligee for her honeymoon. Katy realized that evidently the wedding was going to be sooner rather than later from the sounds of it. That was wise. Those two had wasted enough time. Grab the golden ring while you can. You may never get the chance again, she thought wryly. They lunched in the food court at the mall, deciding to go back early to the suite and wait for Liz. Katy was anxious to hear about Ryan.

As they were walked into the lobby, Michael was entering from the direction of the elevators.

“Hi there, girls, are you enjoying the Texas sunshine?” he asked as he approached them. He leaned over and gave Angie a peck on the cheek and smiled at Marianne and Katy.

He certainly is a happy man these last few days, Katy thought enviously. Normally she would have been happy for him, but her senses were dulled by all that had taken place in her own life recently.

“We thought we had better check on Liz and see if she’s back yet.”

“I just came from the restaurant. I had some things to go over with the O’Gradys before I leave town. Rex and Liz were still there. I don’t know what was wrong with Ryan this morning. He looked pretty rough. I asked him if he wanted to talk about it, but he said he’d rather not.”

“That would be my fault, Michael. I told him some news last night that pretty much ended us before we began,” Katy explained and walked to the elevator. She got on and went ahead to the suite, leaving the others in the lobby.

“Do you think they’ll ever be able to work through this?” Angie asked with concern in her voice.

“Look at us, Baby, if we can do it, anyone can do it. Just give them some time. Ryan seems like a good guy. I got good vibes from him from the start.”

“I hope you’re right. It took Katy so long to find someone special. I just hate that it’s not working out for her.”

“They have to deal with it on their own. It would be a pretty bitter pill to swallow, finding out the connection they had in the past.”

“I still think it was fate that brought them together,” Marianne ventured. “But for what reason is the mystery.”

“You and your fate, I swear, Marianne.” Angie and Michael both laughed as they hugged their friend.

“Well, you girls had better go check on Katy. I may go back and see if I can buy Ryan a drink and get him to open up to me after his meeting with Lizzie and Rex this afternoon. He might welcome a friendly ear about now,” Michael offered. He wanted to help Katy in any way he could. She’d been a sympathetic listener and a good friend to him throughout the years.

“That would be so sweet of you, Michael.” Angie blew him a kiss as she headed for the elevator, trying in vain to hide her purchases from him. He pointed to the Victoria’s Secret package and gave her the thumbs up, causing her to blush again.

“Well, ma’am, I aim to please.” He winked at her as she got on the elevator to meet her friends. “And looks like you do, too. Honeymoon shopping is a good sign.” He smiled as he walked out into the autumn sunshine, whistling as he put on his sunglasses.