Crossroad to Love (Fab Five Series) - By Anna Kristell Page 0,1

possible, does it?” To Katy, Bree would always be a sweet, precocious, ten-year-old little girl. Her precious daughter, lost to her forever.

“No, but then Cara and Colt are twenty-two and that’s crazy too. Have you heard from Alex?” Lizzie inquired about Katy’s son.

“He called between classes this morning.” Katy spoke proudly of her only son, who had been her saving grace all these years. He had taken on the role of man of the family at the tender age of eight and had given her a reason to live. Now he was pursuing his own dreams with his mother’s reluctant blessing. She knew it was time, but it had been difficult to let him go.

“I couldn’t let the day pass without calling.”

“And I appreciate that more than you know, Liz. This trip couldn’t have come at a better time for me.”

“Or for me, that’s why I cooked it up. I really needed to get away and put some things in perspective. Like what I’m going to do with the rest of my life.” Katy’s friend replied jovially.

“I hear you. Now that Alex has gone off to college, I need to start living for myself again. Bill would want that for me.” And he would, she thought, thinking of the husband she had lost ten years ago today. Katy’s mind drifted to the gentle way he always caressed her cheek just before they made love. She remembered him holding her close as she fell asleep in the bed they had shared, the bed that was now cold and empty.

“Yes, honey, he would. Well, I’d better get off here and think about packing. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow. You have the gate number where we’re meeting in St. Louis?” Liz asked, bringing Katy back to reality.

“I have it. See you tomorrow.”

“Toodles, can’t wait to see you.”

“Bye, Lizzie.” Katy placed the receiver back in its cradle and sighed as she thought about the conversation she’d just had with Lizzie. I’ll have to find some time to talk with her alone next week, she thought as she headed to the sunny kitchen on the main floor of the house to find something in the cupboard for her lonely dinner.

****

Ryan O’Grady sat down to read the evening paper with a fresh cup of coffee. He glanced at the date, set the paper down, and closed his eyes. Ten years. Where had the time gone? Because of you, Marnie, no woman will ever break my heart again. But even knowing what I do, I would have never wished you dead. A flood of memories came rushing back, his mind a whirl of emotions. He remembered the night of the accident and the days, weeks, and months of numbness that had followed.

If it had not been for his younger brother, Shane, asking him to relocate to Dallas and go into business with him, he might never have survived. Now ten years later, the upscale, downtown restaurant was thriving, so much so that they were planning an expansion and also planning to open a chain of restaurants across the country. Life was good for Ryan, Shane, and his wife Chloe. But Ryan had stuck to his guns about women. Plenty of women had tried and failed to melt his cold heart. Some had made it to his bed, but he never stayed with one woman for long, thus earning the reputation as a playboy in the metroplex social circles of Dallas. He had even been dubbed as Dallas’s most eligible bachelor, and he intended to stay that way, a bachelor.

His thoughts returned to the present as he glanced at his watch and saw that it was time to go to work. It was his night to manage the restaurant. He said a silent prayer for his deceased wife, and for the man and little girl who had been in the other vehicle. And the man who had been with his wife.

CHAPTER 2

Angie Gray sat behind her large, mahogany desk, fidgeting with the plans in front of her. She absent-mindedly tapped her well-manicured fingertips on the desk as her gaze drifted to the window. She looked out at the Mississippi River and marveled at the water glistening in the late autumn sunlight before glancing at her watch for what had to be the third time. He was not late. She was just anxious to get the meeting with her new architect over with. It was the last thing on her agenda for the day. After the meeting,