TITLE    : Pain Ch. 05
STORYID  : pain-ch-05
SUMMARY  : The Pain Ends.
AUTHOR   : slow_n_gentle@lit
DATE     : 2009-03-07
CATEGORY : erotic-novels
FLAGS    : h
TAGS     : |drama|


It was a warm May day when they buried Sarah. Bill remembered seeing all the tulips in bloom. Sarah loved tulips. Anytime he cut tulips and brought them in the house, she would glow.



The private service was her idea. She had even written out the list of who to invite. She was always so thorough with everything she did.



As they drove him back from the cemetery, the sight of all those tulips made him remember Holland and the glow of Sarah's face when she saw all those fields of tulips. They spent three days touring the tulip gardens and farms on vacation.



Bill's eyes became red again as he remembered the last request he agreed to.



Sarah had written him a letter and sealed it. He was to open it after the funeral.



Bill looked around as he walked into his house. He could still smell her when he walked into a room, expecting to see her sitting in a chair smiling at him. Everywhere he looked reminded him of Sarah.



He poured a generous amount of brandy over a few ice cubes in his glass and picked up the envelope off the mantle before sitting in his chair.



He stared at the envelope as he sipped realizing this was the last thing she wrote. He remembered the day she asked him to bring her an envelope and the writing tablet. He knew she spent the afternoon finding the right words to express what she wanted to tell him. 



At the time, Bill thought she was making another list or a note to the kids. I wasn't until she finished it and sealed the envelope that she called him into the room.



"This is for you dear. I want you to do what it says on the outside envelope and think about what I wrote on the inside. I thought about this a long time before I decided it would be in your best interest if I wrote this for you. Now place it on the mantle and come back here and hold me."



Bill wiped away a tear with the back of his hand. She had passed away quietly in her sleep three days later. She told him she felt cold and would he cuddle up to her and take a nap. When he woke up, she was gone, her eyes closed and that angelic smile on her face.



Bill carefully opened the envelope and removed the letter. He took a gulp of his drink for courage and unfolded the letter.



My Dearest Bill,



I have cherished you since the day I met you. Your subtle smile and sparkling eyes made my days at work a pleasure. Your calm confident voice always settled my uncertainty. 



When I was at the low point of my life during my divorce, your words of encouragement kept me going. Your helping me to become a stronger independent person meant more to me than words could express or you could possibly realize.



I felt your anguish the day you called me to your house and I held you as you released your pain. Your tears were opening up my heart but in a different way. I was seeing the real Bill, not the relaxed, confident man I worked with who could solve any crisis in a cool calm manner. I was seeing the Bill that gave his love freely and in abundance. I saw the Bill who was decimated when that love was abused and cast aside. I watched that same man who once trusted and was painfully deceived learn to trust again. 



I felt privileged to receive your abundant love when you freely offered it to me. My heart grew warm when you graciously accepted my undying love for you. 



I planned on spending our golden years loving you each day. I wanted to be held in your arms and watch ten thousand sunsets and then kissed when the sun disappeared from view; but life doesn't always go as we plan.



I am grateful for the time we had together, including the later ones when we knew our time together was ending. As I lay here, I remember each and every special day we had together.



I know you are grieving now lover as I would be if it was you, but I want you to temper that grief with a dose of reality. It is fine to remember the time we had together, but I don't want you to stop living and dwell on it.



Starting tomorrow, I want you to begin planning your future and then move forward with it. I know you Bill; under that calm exterior is a caring passionate man that craves the love of a good woman. I expect you to take that beautiful heart of yours out into the world and share your love with someone else.



I want you to sell the house within a year. It was too big for two of us, and I know the memories we made there will only hold you back. Find a comfortable apartment and enjoy your free time.



I expect you to see the children and their families but I don't want you to make them your whole life. I have already told Sue and Terri to gently ask you to leave if you start spending too much time there.



Finally, I noticed you looking at her more often in the last few years. She is a changed woman since her near fatal incident. She has finally learned what love and trust really meant. The two of us have talked many times and I can tell you that she may have misplaced it for a while but she never lost her love for you. What you do with this information is now up to you.



With Love   Sarah



Bill replaced the letter in the envelope and set it on the table next to his glass. He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath through his nose, smelling her fragrance in the room. His mind could still see her moving around rearranging books and knickknacks while she hummed a song. He could see her smiling as she walked toward him. He gasped when he swore he felt her sit in his lap like she always did. 



Everyday Bill was at work he would look up whenever he heard high heels click on the floor hoping to see Sarah walking toward him. Every night he would sit in his chair with his eyes closed and breathe through his nose, bringing her back to life for another evening.



After two months, Bill knew he had to do something. He hadn't changed the sheets on the bed or vacuumed the rooms for fear that Sarah's fragrance would be gone forever.



Bill walked in to Chuck's office to request something he hadn't done since he was a rookie with the company.



"Chuck. I need you to send me to do an onsite project. I have to get away from here."



"Great! There is a project planned to start in three weeks. It is an estimated one year job in Clearwater, Florida. It's yours if you want it.



"I'll take it. Give me the details over the next few days."



Bill had lunch with Terri and Billy. He told them about the Florida job. He invited them over for Sunday afternoon. He called Sue after lunch and invited her family.



When everyone arrived Sunday, they found the house in disorder with the small kitchen table and 4 chairs piled in the den.



"I will be selling the house when I leave. I'm keeping what is in the den and the master bedroom. Mark or take anything that you want. I will give the rest to charity." He asked Sue and Terri to box up Sarah's clothes for him. He had tried several times, but couldn't do it.



Amid much emotion they talked about his plans. Bill admitted that he just needed to get away to think about what would come next. Finally with a promise to pick up their large selections next weekend, Bill's children loaded their cars and left him. 



Bill sat in his chair and closed his eyes. It was becoming harder to smell her fragrance now but he could still see her in his mind sitting on the couch watching him.



"I had Sue and Terri pack your clothes. I'm sorry dear, but I couldn't do it. I'll drop them off tomorrow at the battered women's shelter. The kids are taking what they want and I'll put my stuff in a storage locker until I return. I forgot to tell you that I took a year job in Florida. You said I should sell the house and move forward with my life. I will also try to consider what you asked while I'm gone."



********



Sue waved as she saw her mother enter the diner. They tried to have lunch together whenever Sue's schedule allowed.



"I didn't think you were going to make it. I was about ready to order without you."



"I should have walked over but my hip has been hurting lately. Must be a change in the weather coming. Anyway, the traffic was tied up because some idiot wanted to turn left in the middle of the block. So how have you been?"



"We're doing OK. The kids are doing well in school. Hopefully, they will want to go to the local university and not some out of state college. I don't know how you and dad afforded it?"



"College costs were a lot less back then, as did the price of housing and everything else. How's your brother and his family? I missed last month's lady's night so I don't know what is going on.



"I know what you mean. Since that last meeting at Sarah's house, I don't enjoy it like I use to. Oh, I was over at Sarah and dad's house Sunday. He is selling the house and wanted us to take what we wanted. 



He had Terri and I box up Sarah's clothes so he could donate them. He told us he just couldn't do it. He told us that he volunteered for an out of town project in Florida. He is putting the furniture he is keeping in storage so evidently he plans on returning." 



Sue saw her mother flinch at the news of her dad leaving town. As Sarah had taught her to forgive her mother, she hoped her dad would too. She knew her mother really missed him.



Pam shivered over the news of Bill going out of state. What if he found someone there? There were a lot of available women their age in Florida.



"It might be something Sarah told him to do." Pam replied. "She was afraid he would take her dying badly. She told me she was thinking about leaving him a letter. She thought she might have to order him out of the house so he wouldn't become depressed."



"He seemed in good spirits while we were there, but I noticed when we were packing her clothes that he hadn't changed the sheets."



"It's because he can still smell her on them Sue. If he changes them, she'll be gone. He's leaving because he isn't strong enough to remove the memory of her from the house or here. Bill is hoping being in Florida will help him heal."



"I'm supposed to be the psychologist mother. Where did you get your degree?" Sue chuckled.



"From Sarah. She taught me a lot about people and especially myself."



The women finished lunch and left. Pam hoped Bill would heal and do what Sarah said to her.



Bill stopped at Frank Gannon's office and signed a power of attorney for the house transaction. One of his junior attorneys would handle it.



Bill moved the furniture to storage and had the left over articles picked up by a charity.



He chose to drive to Florida so he could have a car for the year long project.



The company had leased him a condo about a mile from the beach and two miles from his project.



Bill forgot how busy and stressful an onsite project could be. He began taking walks on the beach in the early morning to clear his head and after work to relieve the stress. In the evening he would sit on the balcony and watch the sunset. If he closed his eyes he felt Sarah lean into him as they watched the sunset just like in her letter, He would tell her about his day and she would smile and listen, Bill knew it was just the ocean breeze, but it felt like Sarah when she touched his temples with her fingers or stroked the hair on the back of his neck. 



********



"Hey dad, is it freezing down there yet?" Sue said laughing. It was their monthly phone call.



"Almost got down to 50 yesterday the weatherman said. One of the coldest Januarys in a long time." How's the heat wave up there?" 



"We're supposed to make it above freezing today. How's the job going? Billy wanted to know if the babes are still on the beach in their bikinis."



"The job is going fine. Tell Billy I wouldn't know. I walk the beach at sunrise and only a few people are out looking for shells. They are in jeans and a jacket."



"Any ladies in your life dad? You are in senior citizen heaven." Sue said chuckling.



"Probably plenty around Sue, but no time or interest in looking. I'll talk to you next month."



Bill cut the conversation short. Sue was always hinting for him to start dating. After almost a year he wasn't seeing Sarah very often, but he wasn't ready to abandon her either.



Bill was walking at sunrise when he noticed a woman ahead of him. The sun made the blowing hair glow like fire. Bill started to increase his pace for a minute until he remembered and slowed down. It couldn't be her, Pam had a limp.



*******



"How have you been mom? I'm sorry I haven't been able to meet you for lunch in quite a while but my client load has increased lately. Something must be in the air disrupting marriages."



"I'm doing fine Sue. I just feel a little depressed. I talked to your brother last week and he said your dad is finishing the Florida project. He took one in Mississippi starting next month."



"I've got his number if you want to talk to him mom. I'm sure he would be happy to hear from you."



"No, if your dad wanted to talk to me, he would call. I don't think he is ready for anything but work Sue. I think he is still mourning Sarah."



"You're probably right. He keeps cutting our calls short whenever I mention women or dating. I've got to go mom, my next appointment is here. Bye."



********



Pam thanked her friend, but turned down the offer for dinner with her cousin. She wished her friends and co workers would quit trying to fix her up. She had been on enough disasters after the incident to know one of two things would happen. 



Either they would be turned off by her now improved but still injured face or they were the ones that thought she would jump in bed with them because she was a desperate cripple. 



Pam was still hoping. She still had a year to go on her promise.



********



Bill found Mississippi nice and friendly, but he missed the ocean breeze and the walks on the beach. The work was going better than expected. He might finish up in time to take that Phase 2 project back in Clearwater.



Thinking of Clearwater made Bill remember that woman on the beach. He could still picture her hair glowing golden red as it flowed in the breeze. Pam's hair did that in the picture they had on the wall at their old house. It was taken at the lake when they had just found out she was pregnant with Billy. She was sitting on a stump with Sue in her lap. The wind picked up just as he took the picture causing her hair to glow in the sunlight. Bill always loved that picture. 



********



Hey Mom. I'm still loaded with work so I can't do lunch. I called to let you know dad is going back to Florida. They want him to do the second part of the project he did last year."



"Did Billy say when he was supposed to be there?"



"I talked to Terri. She works in the same department as dad. I can give you her work number and you can talk to her."



"Let me get a pen and paper. OK, give it to me. Talk to you tonight Sue. Bye"



"Terri Anderson."



"Hi Terri, its Pam. Do you know when is Bill supposed to be back in Florida?"



"Let me pull the job packet and I'll give you all the details."



"He is starting there on the seventeenth of next month. They rented him a condo for a year. If you give me a fax number, I'll send you the lodging sheet with the address and a mini street map. OK.... It's sending. You planning on going to see him?"



Pam thought about the question. "Let's just say it is time to give fate a little nudge."



"If it helps any, whenever I talk to him when he calls in, he always asks it I talked to you and how you are doing. He doesn't ask me that about Sue or Billy."



"Thanks Terri. I'll keep that in mind."



********



Things weren't going as planned as Pam mumbled to herself.



"It's been two mornings I have walked this beach and two at the other one. The guy at the hotel said these would be the closest ones to his condo and job site. Sue said he walks before sunrise or at sunset. To hell with it. I'll give sunset a shot and then just go knock on his door and the hell with fate."



********



Another morning Bill didn't keep his promise to himself and get back to walking on the beach at sunrise. That Mississippi project let him sleep in and made him lazy. Bill promised to start tomorrow. He sat on the balcony and watched the sun light up the ocean. They got him a condo on the beach this time. He had to call Sue today and get Pam's number. He'd been thinking about her a lot lately and now he swore she was walking on the beach. Fate must be trying to tell him something. Fate had been telling him other things too. This was going to be his last project. He would finish this and put in his retirement papers. He had about six weeks vacation coming, maybe he would retire right here in Clearwater. 



Bill called his office when he only got Sue's voice mail at hers.



"Billy, its dad. Do you have your mother's phone number?"



"Sure dad, write this down. If you call just leave a message. Terri told me last week that she was going on vacation for a couple of weeks."



"OK son. Thanks for the number. I'll call then. Give my love to the family. Bye"



Bill finished his lunch and sat out on the balcony of his current project, another two condo buildings with 120 units each. He closed his eyes and called to her. He saw Sarah walking toward him with her angelic smile. He felt her lean over him and whisper to him, and then touch his shoulder like she always did before she left the house. A shiver ran down his spine as he opened his eyes and looked around. Bill knew it had to be his mind playing tricks on him or maybe he was forcing the images but he swore she whispered "goodbye lover" before she disappeared from his mind.



Bill grabbed a light dinner on his way home. Florida was agreeing with him as he felt slimmer and fitter than he had in a long time. 



The sun was going down when he stepped out on the beach and started his walk. He had walked nearly a mile of the beach and started back. The sun was low enough that it made the ocean look as if it was on fire. He saw a woman in the distance moving slowly in his direction. The sun and the breeze combined to make her hair glow a golden red. Bill watched her as she approached, enjoying the beauty of her glowing hair flying in the breeze.



Pam saw him as she started down the beach. He looked like he had lost some weight and got a nice tan from working here. The closer she came, the more nervous she became. 



"Was this really a good idea?" she softly said to herself, "what if Sarah was wrong and he doesn't really care for me or maybe he isn't over grieving yet. If I turn around now, he won't know it was me and I can leave for home in the morning."



Bill saw her approaching. It looked like the woman he saw last year, but there was something a little different about her. She acted more like the one he saw the other morning with the slower pace. The closer they came the more he began to notice. He started to smile when he realized she had a slight limp as she walked. Bill increased his pace toward her. 



When he reached her, Bill picked her up and swung her around before she could say a word. He hugged her to him and buried his nose in her hair, smelling her fragrance.



"Set me down before you hurt yourself Bill," Pam laughed, "It must be the air that makes you act like a teenager." 



Bill set her down and lightly kissed her lips. He touched her arms as he looked in her sparkling eyes.



"Billy said you were on vacation. What are you doing here?"



Pam thought for a minute. Should she or shouldn't she?



"I came down here to find you. I have waited my promised time and I came here to find you."



Bill was confused and his face showed it.



"I am in love with you Bill. I always have and always will. I promised Sarah that if you didn't come after me or find someone else after two years that I would go to you and tell you how I felt. Sarah believed we belonged together again."



Bill smiled as he saw the truth radiating from her eyes. Bill knew in his heart that Sarah had arranged the whole thing from the Lady's night conversations to her gently encouraging Bill to forgive and to let the past fade away. Ever since they had returned from that vacation, Sarah had gently reminded him how much Pam had changed for the better over the years.

<hr pg="2" />Bill stood behind Pam silently watching the sun slowly set. He wrapped his arms around her as she leaned back into him. As the sun light finally extinguished in the ocean He gently turned her, placing an inquiring kiss on her lips. She placed her hand behind his neck pulled his head down, she parted her lips in acceptance and invited him to explore further.



"This is what Sarah wrote in her letter." Bill thought as he continued exploring Pam's mouth with his tongue. His arms pulled her closer trying to meld their bodies into one.



"This is what I told Sarah my lover did in my dreams." Pam thought as she molded her body with Bill's.



The kiss softly ended as they gazed silently into each other's eyes. 



"Please make love to me Bill." Pam softly whispered.



The couple slowly walked back to his condo.



Bill turned on the table lamp as they entered the living room.



"Please leave the rest of the lights off." Pam softly said as she walked toward his bedroom.



She had her back to him as she removed her clothes before slipping under the covers and watching him undress.



Pam sighed as he softly placed kisses from her earlobe to her shoulder. His fingers were lightly playing with the underside of her breast, occasionally wandering over the top to let his thumb graze her nipple. 



Bill softly and slowly kissed across her collar bone to her throat and up to her lips. His lips began their trail down the other side continuing lower until they stopped to languish attention on her breasts. All that with abundant time spent sucking her sensitive nipples until she held his head still while whimpering.



His eyes grew misty when he continued downward running into the scar on her abdomen. He kissed it tenderly before descending slowing kissing his way as she shivered in anticipation of his arrival.



Pam's sudden gasp as he slid his tongue through her lower lips gradually turned in to a moan as he leisurely continued exploring with his lips and tongue before inserting a finger into her moist opening. Her hips began to move as he added a second finger moving in and out in a slowly increasing pace. Pam's breath quickened when he licked her clit. Bill moved a little as he felt her beginning to tense.



Pam muffled her cry of release into a pillow as he placed his mouth over her clit and quickly tongued it while slightly squeezing her nipple.



Billed returned to gently licking her clean of her juices as she calmed down. She reached down and gently tugged on his hair, signaling him to move up next to her.



With them lying on their sides face to face, Pam placed her leg over his and held his rigid member at her entrance before moving her hips to impale herself on him.



They slid in a slow, gentle movement as they continued to touch one another.



Pam tensed when Bill lighted glazed the scars on her pelvis and leg as their movement increased. He gently kissed her until she relaxed. Their orgasm came as a gentle rush instead of an explosion. They lay joined together gazing at one another, as they searched for the words to express their feelings.



"Please stay the night." Bill whispered as he pulled the covers over them. He lightly kissed her as he waited for her reply.



"Let me use one of your tee shirts to sleep in." she replied smiling, "and give me the spare toothbrush you always have."



Bill kissed her nose and whispered yes. They drifted off to sleep for a couple of hours.



She was awake; silently watching him when he opened his eyes. Her eyes sparkled as she leaned over to kiss him.



"Shower with me?" Bill asked as he stood up.



Pam hesitated for a long moment. "What about the scars Bill? Are you really ready to see them?"



"I'm ready Pam." Bill softly answered, "If you're ready to show me." Bill walked to her side of the bed and held out his hand.



She rolled over and took a deep breath before turning back the cover to sit on the side of the bed. Pam took his hand, grimacing slightly as she stood up.



Bill hugged her naked form to him for a minute before leading her to the bathroom.



She stopped before entering the brightly lit room. Bill could see the fear in her eyes and feel the tension in her hand.



"It will be fine Pam. I'll start the water and close my eyes so you can enter first. We will get through this."



"No one has seen my scars except the medical staff Bill. My mother never saw them when I lived with her. They're an ugly and a painful reminder of the consequences of a stupid decision I made a long time ago. Bill please keep your eyes open. I don't want to hide anymore."



Bill adjusted the water and held out his hand for her. When she stepped in he began soaping up a wash cloth and scrubbing her neck and shoulders. He gently moved down her back and butt before kneeling down to wash her legs. 



Pam gently touched his shoulder as he slowly turned her to wash the front of her legs. Bill felt her tense as he washed the scars on her leg and pelvis. He rinsed both before softly kissing each scar. Bill did the same to her abdomen before he stood to finish her breasts and shoulders. He finished by taking her in his arms and kissing her lips. Pam closed her eyes as she wrapped her arms around him. Her mind returned to when they were just married and couldn't keep their hands off one another. Back then, nothing seemed important except to be together. She wiped away a tear wishing those days could return. 



Bill quickly washed off and turned off the shower. He toweled her dry and handed her a tee shirt, and then stepped into his boxers. He smiled as he handed her the new toothbrush, amazed she would remember such a small idiosyncrasy of his. Bill left her to finish her nightly routine. He made a brandy on the rocks before walking out on the balcony.



The slight glimmer of a late moon and the sound of the surf contributed to his relaxed feeling as he sat in the chair. Bill had to admit that it felt good to have Pam in his arms again. Sarah had healed him well during their years together. He felt love for Pam without even thinking about the pain of the past. He knew it existed, but he no longer cared. He knew in his heart that he would freely give this woman his love without hesitation. It was time.



Bill smiled as he felt a hand lightly touch his shoulder as she reached for his glass.



Pam took a sip, feeling the warmth as the liquid traveled down her throat. "I see you still drink brandy. It's after 2am and time to go to bed lover."



Bill rose and headed for the bathroom as Pam set the glass in the kitchen sink and turned off the light. She slowed for a moment and looked at him as she walked to the bedroom. He may be graying and a little heavier, but he still looked handsome to her. She smiled as she lay in bed waiting for him. It had felt so natural for him to hold her and make love to her that she wanted it to never end. She snuggled into him as soon as he lay down. Bill thought he heard her sigh as she fell asleep.



Pam woke to the sound of the surf drifting into the room. She tensed at the strange surroundings until she remembered last night. Wrapping the robe around her, she headed for the kitchen, with a brief stop at the bathroom, where she found a carafe of coffee on the counter. She saw Bill sitting on the balcony watching the people walk the beach.



"It's after 9am, when do you have to go to work?" 



"I called over there and told them I would stop by this afternoon. They can survive half a day without me. I wanted to wait until you woke up to talk to you. Would you consider spending the rest of your vacation here with me? We could go to your hotel and move your things over here, and then spend the rest of the morning doing whatever you want."



"I'd love to stay with you Bill." answered Pam leaning down to kiss him, "I'll get dressed right after this cup of coffee."



They picked up her things. Pam paid her bill as he loaded the car. He followed her to the airport rental so she could drop off her car. They returned to the condo to unload her clothes before starting her request; to walk around the old section of town and then have lunch.



After lunch, he drove back to the condo. Pam gave him a questioning look when he turned the car around without letting her out and drove down the road.



"There's a map of the area in the door panel here if you get lost. On your left are the twin buildings I'm working on. Please pick me up around 5pm or it's a four mile walk home."



Bill pulled into the construction site and put the car in park. She walked around to the driver's side as he waited for her. After she was seated, he closed the door; leaned in and softly kissed her.



"The key to the condo is the red one on the key chain. Think about what or where you want dinner."



Bill smiled as she drove off and he went to work.



Thus began their routine for the rest of her vacation.



They walked the beach at sunrise before returning to the condo for breakfast. Pam took Bill to work, and then returned home to straighten the place and relax, before running any errands.



She met him for lunch; returned to pick him up at 5pm. They went to dinner after a little rest at home. They walked the beach at sunset and then returned home to make love. They showered together and went to sleep. Sightseeing replaced work on the weekend.



With only three days left in Pam's vacation, Bill was ready for a serious discussion.



"What you see me working on here is my final job for the company. I plan on retiring when it is finished. I found out I love it here and want to spend the rest of my life here. My question to you is will you spend it with me as my wife?"



Pam smiled for a moment as she looked at Bill. It was what she had hoped for, but would he accept her answer. 



"I would love nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you Bill. I also love it here. I will gladly stay with you the rest of our lives and be your lover and partner, but I will not marry you. 



Sarah and I had this discussion when she told me to wait for you. We argued for over an hour about my refusal on marriage. I will tell you what I told her. I have loved you through all these years even when you thought otherwise. 



I am thrilled to spend the rest of my life loving you, but I threw away the privilege to be married to you when I followed my lust instead of my heart. 



I will promise to be your lover and only yours until the day I take my last breath, but I cannot marry you. If you can accept that, I'm yours." 



Bill felt sad at her refusal. He knew they were meant to be together. He suddenly smiled as he looked at her.



"I will agree to your terms provided we talk about marriage again at a future date."



Pam took his hand and led him to the bedroom to seal the agreement.



They spent the remaining days picking out a condo on or near the beach. Bill put money down on a two bedroom condo they both loved. It was one of the remaining ones Bill had built across the street from the ocean with beach access.



Bill made arrangements with Chuck for a week off and flew back with Pam. He made arrangements for his furniture to be moved to Florida and his money transferred to his new bank account. 



Bill took Chuck to lunch and told him of his plans. Chuck was sad, but Bill explained he already had two Andersons as replacements and their new home had a guest room for old friends who wanted to visit.



Pam placed her house on the market and transferred her savings to Bills account. They could now buy the condo outright. She would retire and move when her house sold or Bill retired, whichever came first.



Before Bill returned to Florida, they held a meeting in a small banquet room of one of their favorite restaurants with Sue, Billy and all their family. There were lots of smiles and some tears as they explained their plan for the future.



Pam smiled as she watched Bill's plane take off, but wiped away a few tears on the way home.



*********



Pam was able to retire a couple of months before Bill when her house sold. Pam gave her car to one of the grandkids. Sue took a week off to fly down with her mother. The furniture Pam was bringing would be arriving in a few days.



Sue fell in love with the area. She understood why her parents would rather live their senior years here than the cold north. Bill and Pam gave her the royal treatment for a week before loading her on a plane for home.



Pam and Bill resumed their old routine as soon as she left. When Bill retired, everyday became the weekend schedule.



***********



Bill and Pam have enjoyed their routine for over fifteen years now. They have had old friends come visit for a week and all the kids, grandkids, and now great grandkids.



Pam has remained his faithful lover all these years.



Once a year, Bill brings up the question of marriage. 



Once a year, Pam politely refuses.



The End

