Cross Roads Read Online Free PDF Page B

melted butter and banana syrup, with a side order of Canadian bacon.”
    â€œThat certainly sounds better than a bran muffin with decaf coffee,” Annie said. “I hate bran; it makes your stomach expand and growl, and you get gas.”
    â€œThank you for sharing that, Annie.”
    â€œIt’s a standard breakfast in Las Vegas. All I said was, I don’t care for it. I can’t wait, Charles.” And off she went to the staircase at the far end of the kitchen that led to the second floor.
    â€œIs there anything you’d like to share this morning, my love?”
    â€œNo, Charles, there isn’t. I’ll be down in half an hour. It looks like it is going to be a nice day, doesn’t it? Annie and I are going to go into town to see Maggie. Do you mind?”
    Charles’s eyes twinkled. “And if I did?”
    â€œToo bad,” Myra called over her shoulder as she made her way to the staircase.
    The moment Myra was out of sight, Charles’s fist shot in the air. “Yessss.” This was the Myra he knew and loved. Thank God for Annie’s visit. It was just what Myra needed to jolt her out of her funk.
    Upstairs, the two women talked back and forth as they prepared for the new day.
    â€œAnnie, I told Charles we were going to town to meet up with Maggie. Did I dream that, or did we really make plans to do that?”
    â€œI can’t remember, Myra. It does sound like a plan, though. This might be a good time to tell you I suspect Maggie has a secret. Well, maybe it isn’t a secret, but I had the feeling she was holding back on something. It might have to do with her and Ted, but then again, she might be onto something and just isn’t ready to share. By the way, she doesn’t chew her nails anymore, and she has those acrylic things. Her ring is beautiful, and the nails really show it off. She gets French manicures these days.”
    â€œThat’s interesting,” Myra yelled as she stepped into the shower. When she got out ten minutes later, she said, “Let’s not mention your suspicions to Charles, okay?”
    â€œOkay.”
    Dressed in summer linen and sandals and smelling like a flower garden, Annie and Myra descended the steps. Little Lady appeared out of nowhere, circled them, sniffed them, then woofed her approval before she trotted back to her babies.
    Charles whistled appreciatively as the two women seated themselves at the kitchen table, shook out their napkins, and waited to be served.
    Conversation consisted of the weather, with a possible pop-up storm later in the day; the condition of Charles’s vegetable garden, which was nowhere near as wonderful as the one Yoko had on the mountain; falling gas prices; and his decision to write his memoir that would never get published but was something to do during his off-hours.
    Breakfast over, Charles said, “Since you ladies are dressed so elegantly, I will do the cleanup today. If you’d like to sit out on the patio, I can bring your coffee to you.”
    â€œThen we’ll have full bladders on the ride to Washington. One must be cognizant of such things at our age, Charles. Thanks, but no thanks,” Annie said. Myra rolled her eyes, and Charles just grinned. Annie was so entertaining, even this early in the morning.
    Outside, Annie pointed to the flashy car she had arrived in. “What do you think, Myra, should I buy it?”
    â€œIt certainly is sleek-looking. What is it?”
    â€œA Lamborghini. I only took it to piss off the salesman. I could see by the expression on his face that he thought a set of wheels like that would be wasted on an old woman like me. And to add insult to injury, I don’t think he thought I could pay for it. I even had to have my bank call the dealership and tell them I could afford it. Myra, when that weasel came back, he had such respect for me, or should I say for my money, that I wanted to punch him in the nose. I think