“Pam, uh, what do you want to tell our kids? They’re going to ask about what happened.”
We were both close with our children, but I wasn’t sure how much ofthiswe wanted to share with them.
Pam’s hand stilled over my heart. “I mean, mine know about the kiss.” She took a deep breath. “But I think I’d like to keep the fact that we slept together between us.”
I couldn’t blame her. I was the first partner she’d had since Don, and we’d slept together on our first date. I had no issue with that.
I was happy about it.
Some things are that much better when they’re kept secret.
“I agree. I think it’s for the best.” I placed one more kiss on her head before rolling out of bed.
Pam followed suit, and I admired her nude form before she grabbed a robe from the back of the door and wrapped it around her.
We were silent while I got dressed, a sadness settling over us, making it difficult to speak.
As I finished buttoning my shirt, Pam stepped close and grabbed my hand.
“Ready?” she asked, her voice a low whisper.
I nodded, and we walked down the hall together, then descended the stairs.
“Come here,” I said, pulling her to me while we stood in the foyer.
She wrapped her arms around my waist and placed her head on my chest. “Promise me you’ll come back and visit.”
I slid my hand underneath her chin, tilting her face up so she was looking at me. “I promise.”
I leaned over and kissed her, using my actions to say everything I couldn’t put into words.
This wasn’t the end for us.
It couldn’t be.
I wouldn’t let it.
This was just the beginning.
Pam pulled away and looked at me, tears welling up in her eyes. “Can I text you?”
I had to fight back my own tears. I hated seeing her like this, knowing that I was responsible for causing her,for causing us, this pain. “Please text me. Call me. Send smoke signals. Whatever you want.”
A tear trailed down her cheek, but she gave me a little laugh. “Thank you for today, Al.”
“No, thank you, Pam. Truly. You’re a wonderful woman, and I had an amazing day.”
While I put on my coat, Pam dug through the bag of books.
“Here. I expect a play-by-play when you get around to reading it.” She handed me the book about ice planet aliens, and I ran my hand over the cover.
Something to remember her by. I’d start it on the plane ride back to Colorado and text her as soon as I landed. “Thank you.”
Pam glanced at where her scarf hung by the door. “I want you to have one more thing.” She grabbed it and wrapped it around my neck.
“Pam, I can’t take this,” I said, rubbing the well-loved material between my fingers.
“Please. I want you to have it.”
