Grays got back together? Katy thought to herself. She knew from many conversations with Angie over the years that she had never really gotten over Michael, the love of her life. Apparently that still held true from the way she spoke of him now. Katy also was aware of how hurt Michael had been by the divorce and that he had always kept a place in his heart for his ex-wife. He had shared his feelings with Katy after she had lost Bill, during one of the many heart-to-heart conversations the two of them had shared at that horrible time in her life.
The girls finished their lunch in relative silence, and prepared to board the plane for Dallas. Excited to get to their destination and to see their dear friend, Marianne, they dropped the subject of Michael Gray for time being, much to Angie’s relief.
The flight to Dallas was uneventful and when the plane landed at DFW airport, the girls gathered their luggage, picked up the rental car as planned, and drove to the hotel. Angie drove, Lizzie sat in the front with the directions and Katy sat in the backseat, watching happily as her two friends joked together in the front seat. Soon, they arrived at the Prava, handed the valet the keys to the rental, and made their way to the suite. When they entered, they were greeted by a very cheerful Marianne who held up her glass of wine as she toasted her three best friends.
CHAPTER 7
“I see you’ve started the party without us,” Angie chuckled, slightly taken aback at the glass of wine in Marianne’s hand. It was so unlike her to drink alone.
“Come here, you guys, I’ve been waiting patiently for hours for you to get here,” replied Marianne with a forced laugh.
With that, the three friends rushed to her. After much hugging, kissing, and crying, finally reunited again, the four friends sat down, each with a glass of wine in their hand now, ready to catch up on each other’s news.
“So, who wants to go first?” Marianne ventured.
The three looked at each other and giggled like schoolgirls. Lizzie and Katy both looked pointedly at Angie, who turned beet red.
“You already know something, don’t you?” asked Marianne, her curiosity building.
“Tell her, Angie, you know you are not going to get away with not telling,” Katy coaxed her gently.
“Alright, already, I can see I’m going to have to tell my story first or you two will burst.” She looked at Marianne and continued, “Well, Mari, I got the biggest surprise of my life yesterday. I had scheduled a meeting with an architectural firm to work on a new project for the hotel. It’s an expansion project.” She paused, took a sip of wine, and continued, “I pitched the idea a few months ago and it was wholeheartedly approved. I am basically in charge of the whole project, which is a major undertaking. I’ve been working long hours on it,” she explained, “which is why I am so looking forward to this week with you guys. I really needed a break before the bulk of the work begins.” She was taking her time telling the story, savoring every word.
“On with the good part, Ang,” Lizzie said impatiently.
“I’m getting to that. All in good time, my friend, all in good time,” Angie replied. “Anyway, when the architect walked in the door, it was none other than the still-gorgeous Michael Gray. There he was, a blast from the past after all these years, and still as hot as ever. He waltzed right in and sat down. Now are you happy? I’ve said it.” Angie waited for Marianne’s reaction, while her other two friends burst into yet another fit of giggles.
Marianne looked at each of her friends in disbelief. “You have got to be kidding me. What in the world did you do?”
“After I picked my jaw up off the floor and stammered a little, I acted like the professional career lady that I am and conducted the meeting, of course. He really had some wonderful ideas and I think I’ll like working with him, actually. On a professional level, of course,” she quickly added.
“What about on a personal level?” Marianne ventured to ask.
“That remains to be seen. We had dinner together last night. He is still single in answer to your next question,” Angie offered.
“Wow, you didn’t waste any time, now did you?” Marianne looked at her friend warily.
“Now what is that supposed to mean? It was a friendly