“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