Crossroad to Love (Fab Five Series)

chapter 26


Saturday morning came much too soon and it was finally time for the ‘Fab Four’ to say goodbye. They awakened early to alarm clocks blaring in their rooms.

Angie and Michael were planning to head out after breakfast. After everyone had taken their turn in the shower, the girls headed down to the coffee shop for breakfast. They met Michael and Rex there and all had a pleasant meal together, wishing each other well and making plans to get together again soon.

“Well, Honey, we had better hit the road, don’t you think?” Michael asked as he gulped down the last of his coffee. “It’ll take an hour of hugs and tears to get you out of here, so better start now.” He winked at the girls as he spoke.

“All right, I’ll go back up and say my goodbyes, grab my bags and meet you in the lobby.”

“Michael, best of luck to you, it’s good to have you back in the fold.” Lizzie leaned over to hug her friend.

“Thanks, Liz, it’s good to be back.” He returned the hug as he answered.

“Bye, Michael. Take care of Angie girl for us.” Marianne grinned at him.

“You can be sure of that. I won’t let her out of my sight.” Michael winked at Angie again.

“So glad you two worked things out. It’s been a long time coming.” Katy said softly as her eyes filled with tears.

“Katy, Ryan is a good man. You two will work it out too. I’m sure of it.” Michael gave Katy a hug before he headed to the elevator.

The girls went back up to the suite for a final goodbye.

“Well, I guess this is it,” Angie said tearfully as she set her suitcase by the door. “It has, as always, been great to see you guys. Let’s plan another get-together real soon.”

The other three girls came over to her and hugged her one by one.

“We’ll get together soon. Who knows, maybe for your wedding?” Marianne speculated.

“Who knows?” Angie laughed. “Thanks for listening to me this week and for understanding about what happened all those years ago.”

“Honey, if you can’t talk to your friends, who can you talk to? And I did my share of talking this week too,” Marianne answered with a smile.

“We’ve all had a lot to talk about this trip. I think we’ve all helped each other immensely. It seems we were all at a crossroad in our lives and it all came together this week. And the fun never ends… I have more to look forward to when I get home,” Lizzie laughed.

“And you promised to keep us posted on that scenario,” Katy said.

“Oh, believe me, you will all be hearing about that little drama. I’m sure I’ll need to hear your friendly voices on the phone during the whole ordeal,” Lizzie assured her friends.

“Katy, I’ll give you a call to set up a meeting in a few weeks so we can discuss the designs for the hotel.”

“Great, Angie, I’m looking forward to it.”

“Well, I’d better get going before Michael sends out a search party for me. I have kept the man waiting for too many years as it is.”

“Group hug now.” Marianne said, and they laughed as they all hugged and cried together. Their week was coming to an end. It would go down in their memory books as one of most eventful trips they had ever taken together. They vowed to keep in touch and finally Angie was on her way to meet the love of her life.

Michael smiled as she approached him in the lobby. He held out his hand to Angie. “Are you ready to begin the first day of the rest of our lives together?” He looked into her eyes and smiled as he hugged her.

“I’m ready,” she said simply as she hugged him back.

After Angie left, Lizzie finished getting her things together and prepared to meet Rex. She was going to his suite. They would leave later to catch their flight to St. Louis. She wanted to discuss Cara’s situation again before they left. She did not want it to ruin their trip, so she thought it better to discuss it before they left.

Lizzie said her goodbyes and left as Marianne was preparing to take Katy to the airport. There had been no call from Ryan. But no one had really expected one. He had told Katy he would not tell her goodbye.

Lizzie knocked on Rex’s door. He opened it and led her into the suite.

“Not a word about work, kids, or home from now until we get back to Columbus. Our vacation officially begins now. And we have several hours before we head to DFW, so how do you suggest we spend the time?”

So much for discussing Cara. But Rex was right. This was their vacation. And she intended to take full advantage of the time alone with her sweet teddy bear of a husband.

“Oh, I think I can come up with a thing or two we can do to pass the time.” Lizzie smiled as she moved toward the bedroom, beckoning him to follow.

Marianne and Katy arrived at Dallas-Fort Worth airport in plenty of time for Katy to catch her flight. They stepped into a coffee shop for a last few minutes together, neither one anxious for their time together to end.

“Now, Katy, call me anytime you need to talk. And be sure and let me know when you’ll be back in Dallas, you’ll stay with us, of course.”

“Same goes for you, Marianne, call me if things get rocky at home and you need to vent. You know I’m a good listener. And you can always come to Chicago for a visit, if you need to get away for a while. Remember that,” Katy offered.

“I half expected Ryan to show up at the airport at the last minute.” Marianne looked around as if she thought he might still arrive at any second.

“It would have been nice, but he said ‘no goodbyes,’ and I guess he meant it,” Katy replied sadly.

“I still think there’s hope for the two of you. Just hang in there. But for now, we had better finish our coffee and get you to your gate. Be a shame if you missed your flight. Or would it?” Marianne laughed as an idea came to her. “You could stay just a little longer…” She laughed as she pitched the idea to Katy.

Katy laughed. “Yes, I could, but I won’t. I’ll go home as planned. Ryan said he would call. I’m not going to chase him. He knows how I feel.”

Marianne thought that Katy was just a little too strong for her own good. She had always helped everyone else but did not want to accept help. Marianne hugged her friend at the gate and watched her walk toward the plane. She waited by the window until the plane had taken off and waved to her friend in the air. “Be safe, my friend.” She turned and walked to the parking garage. As she drove home to McKinney, she wondered what would be waiting for her at home. She was still angry with Jon for not telling her about the Jennifer incident, but in the grand scheme of things, was it worth staying angry? Why waste a precious minute? After seeing what Angie and Michael had gone through, and now Katy and Ryan, was it really worth it? As she rounded the corner on her street and pulled into the driveway, the front door opened. Her husband stood in the doorway, smiling welcomingly.

“Welcome back. I’ve made you a scrumptious lunch. Thought we could eat on the patio. We have the house all to ourselves for the rest of the weekend. Jordan is camping with friends.”

With tears in her eyes, Marianne walked into the house with her dashing doctor husband to begin the process of repairing a damaged relationship.

Meanwhile, at ‘Chloe’s Place,’ Ryan sat at one of the tables in the private dining room with a mug of strong, black steaming coffee in front of him. He was staring at the wall. Chloe walked in and sat down across from him.

“This is where I spent my last happy time with her, Chloe.”

“I know, Ryan, but you can have more happy times. Just wait and see.”

“Her plane took off a little while ago. I just couldn’t bring myself to tell her goodbye.”

“Y’all need to call her soon about coming back down to work on the designs. That will give you the excuse you need to talk to her.”

“I will, but not just yet. Chloe, I really love her.” He looked at his sister-in-law with sadness in his eyes.

“I know, Sweetie, and for what it’s worth, I think she loves you too. You just need to work through all of the unresolved feelings of guilt you’ve been harboring for all these years.”

The handsome Irishman sighed as he took a drink of his coffee. “Katy, my love, I am so sorry, but I am afraid we can never be.” He spoke under his breath as his sister-in-law left the room quietly.

He picked up his cell phone and dialed Katy’s number. He left her a voice mail telling her that he hoped she had a good flight and he would be in touch with her soon about working on the expansion. He said nothing more.

When Katy arrived home, she dropped her luggage in the foyer, kicked off her shoes and checked her messages. Ryan had called. She held her breath as she listened to his message. It was brief and to the point, with no emotion whatsoever.

“I will not give up on us,” she said aloud as the tears rolled down her cheeks. “Our story was written in the stars ten years ago, before we ever met. And it is a love that will not be denied. I am sure of it.”