Abby Norris adjusts quickly to the college environment and develops a close friendship with her roommate, Ruth. What she does not expect is to fall in love with Jake Murphy. The two are from completely different socio-economic backgrounds, and a self-assured Jake has met his match in Abby. Combine a hilariously funny Thanksgiving weekend, a tender Valentine's Day, and a rambunctious touch-football game with passion and you will delight in this book. The couple's relationship deepens to an emotional and physical level that neither had anticipated. But constant conflicts test their love beginning with a serious cattle disease, numerous separations, substance abuse, a life-threatening automobile accident, and infidelity. Soon after they marry, Jake and Abby face more tragedy when their newborn son dies. They are ill equipped to deal with their sorrow and are unable to be of comfort to one another. Jake buries himself in farm business and Abby seeks solace in the arms of an old acquaintance. Just when life begins to seem normal, cancer rears its ugly head and death again enters their lives. A life-threatening pregnancy drives a wedge between the two when Abby refuses the doctor recommendation to end the pregnancy. A Painful Choice. Wealth and power aren't enough to sustain them as they work to restore the close personal ties with friends and reclaim the lost passion and love they once shared. Painful Choices have cost them dearly. Painful Choices By Margy New AuthorHouse Copyright © 2011 Margy New All right reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4634-2598-2 Chapter One The silver Lexus made two passes through the parking lot. Not finding a space, the driver finally pulled into a spot clearly marked "Reserved." "You're not parking here, are you?" Jake asked. "Hell, yes. The alarm will sound if one of our brave campus police cadets tries to put a ticket on it. I figure I've got a 50/50 chance," Gordy answered. They left the car parked and went into the bookstore. The place had changed during the summer. Bookshelves had given way to a trendy cafe, which from all appearances was popular with the student population. The aisles were packed with returning students. Freshman students could easily be spotted wearing their bright new UNT t-shirts and they all had that bewildered look on their face. Where do I go from here? I.D. card? Man, I can't do anything without an I.D. card and I don't even have an I.D. card yet. "Is there a good time for this? We should come back fifteen minutes before closing; maybe the crowd will have thinned out by then," Jake suggested. "We're already here. Let's just bite the bullet, but don't get behind one of those freshman or we'll be tied up forever," Gordy answered. An hour later, they had their textbooks and were back in the Lexus heading across campus. Their freshman year they lived in the same dorm—on the same floor. Their sophomore year and now again this year, each had his own condo. Jacob Murphy and Gordy Fisher were both Texans—born and raised. They'd been best friends for as long as anyone could remember. While their farms were almost fifteen miles apart, they'd been inseparable since third grade. Gordy was the son of a wealthy Texas farmer, and had an older sister. While he didn't exactly flaunt his family's money, he didn't hesitate to spend it either. He was determined to live life to the fullest. His tastes had turned more to the wild side since starting college. Music was his passion and he'd spend endless hours playing with various musicians on campus. If his academics suffered, he didn't really show any concern. Jake Murphy, on the other hand, was an only child. His mother died when he was two and the housekeeper had raised him. His father instilled a strong work ethic that taught him to appreciate the things derived from putting in a good day's work. He'd worked the farm along side his father since he was old enough to climb up on the equipment. At sixteen, his father passed away, and an older cousin managed the farm. Jake was expected to take over the responsibility of running the vast Murphy holdings once he graduated from college. "Got any plans for this evening?" Gordy asked. "We could hit the Stein and see who else is in town. You game?" "Why not—but I'll meet you there. I like having my own wheels; you never know what might come along in the course of an evening," Jake joked. Abigail Rene Norris knew she was going to have to make some concessions when she went away to college but never dreamed it would mean being served cream of wheat that looked like Elmer's glue—and lumpy glue at that. So much for dorm food! At least the milk was good and cold. She grabbed a box of Special K cereal and called it breakfast. Maybe lunch would be better. Blufton, Texas was a long way from Fayette, Indiana. When Abby thought of Texas, she thought of cowboys, ten-gallon hats, longhorn cattle and dust storms. Heck, this isn't so different from Indiana, she decide