Jim had three weeks to wind up his affairs. The first week was spent training his replacement, a very intensive endeavor with a very intense young man. At the end of that week, he turned over the company car and was done. In the meantime, he talked to Pat every night. He had to sublet his apartment until his lease ran out and was fortunate enough to have his new replacement take it over. The kid took not only the apartment but the furniture as well. By Friday of the second week, Jim had packed up the pickup truck and had covered the bed with a cap. He drove to Silver Springs, arriving Friday evening, where he was met by a party of seven at Froggy’s. The wedding would take place the following morning. The minute he saw Pat, he was overcome with desire. He adored her.
Pat had taken a three–week leave from her position, insisting on being married before she went off with Jim to help get him settled. She said it would be their honeymoon, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. The two of them would be leaving immediately after the ceremony.
On Saturday morning, the wedding party gathered at Saint Andrew’s Church at nine o’clock. Maureen, Dan, Frank, and Laura sat in the first pews. Hank stood behind Jim, and Fran stood behind Pat. Jim wore a gray silk gabardine suit and looked quite distinguished. Pat was breathtakingly beautiful in a white silk sheath and chiffon coat embossed with pale pink rosebuds. Her shoes were pale pink satin, and so was her little pillbox hat that had a cloud of fine netting on it. Pastor Richards stood facing them all, and the ceremony took no more than fifteen minutes. Once it was over and everyone had congratulated them, they went to change into more comfortable traveling clothes, said their goodbyes, and took off.
Six people stood forlornly at the curb, waving goodbye, as Pat and Jim drove off for Dallas. Maureen had been weeping softly, and Dan assured her that Pat would be back in three weeks. “Give her credit for wanting to do things the right way, Mar. She has all kinds of loose ends to wrap up here before she can go down there to live. And the two of you can spend the rest of the summer planning for a real celebration in September, just as the two of you talked about.”
All six decided to go to the House of Pancakes for breakfast. Fran felt just great. It had been only two weeks since she’d talked to Jim at Froggy’s. She could hardly believe the results that had come from that conversation. Her sister was now married, and she had been her maid of honor. What an honor that was, knowing she was the one who had set it all in motion.
At the restaurant, Hank was sitting next to her. He whispered to her, “Did you ever think that in two weeks you would be sitting here eating pancakes after seeing your sister married?” He gave her a big smile.
“I was just thinking the same thing, Hank. I’m so happy to see they finally got the picture. It’s hard to imagine two people with such pent–up emotions for each other just sitting on it for all these years. I’m a fine one to play matchmaker, the mess I made out of my own life, but the job I did on Jim a couple of weeks ago was custom made for anyone close to it.”
“Don’t beat yourself up over making a mistake, Frannie. I’ve never been in love, but I’m sure it must affect your perception of things. As far as your sister and Jim are concerned, having been best buddies since age seven, their perspective would be quite different from the usual. I guess they were both worried about losing that friendship.”
No one could question the fact that both families were happy about the results. Breakfast hit the spot, and Hank picked up the check. When Dan objected, Hank said, “That’s what the best man is supposed to do. And if it isn’t, it should be. My pleasure.”
The group headed for their cars, and Hank walked Fran to hers. He said, “Fran, do you like to fish?”
Fran laughed. “Fish? I haven’t been fishing since I was a kid. My dad used to take us to Willow Lake sometimes, and I loved it. Why do you ask?”
“Well, it’s such a beautiful day, and we’ve got most of it left, so I wondered if you would like to go fishing with me.”
As Jim and Pat approached I–71, they began to sing. First out of the box was a Willie Nelson favorite, “On the Road Again.” Then Pat started “You Are My Sunshine,” a song the two of them had sung together many times as kids. They actually sang all the verses three times, then Jim said, “We have to sing this one, Pat, since we’re going to be living there.” He started “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” and Pat tried her best to keep up with the words. She only managed some, but she did a nifty job of clapping.
The truck was comfortable enough to ride in, but Pat wished she could cuddle closer to Jim. They had a long ride ahead of them. Every once in a while, she would reach over and take his hand off the wheel and just hold it, as though she might lose him if she didn’t. This engagement and wedding had happened so quickly that there had been no time for intimacy. She couldn’t wait until they stopped for the night. Just the idea of having him all to herself, without so many others around, made her excited.
Jim had said they weren’t going to rush; they would take a good three days on the road, maybe even four. They would need eighteen to twenty hours of driving to get to Dallas, and they had a good nine days before he had to show up for work. Pat wanted that time to be as leisurely and as personally satisfying as possible. She had dreamed about it long enough.
They stopped along the way for breakfast. Staying behind with the others would have caused them to dally too long. This way they could eat a big meal and pick up some snacks to hold them over until they stopped for the night. Jim said it would take six hours to get to Richmond, Kentucky, or they could travel ten hours to Nashville, Tennessee. “Which do you prefer, Pat?”
Within a heartbeat she said, “Kentucky. Shall I call ahead for reservations?”
“It wouldn’t hurt. How about a Hampton Inn? They’re usually dependable.”
Pat called the Hampton Inn in Richmond, Kentucky, and requested a suite with a king–sized bed for two days, arriving around 6:00 that evening.
Jim’s response to that was, “Wow, two days! And a suite! I guess we’re going first class, huh?”
“You betcha, Jim Murray. I only intend to get married once, to the man I have loved forever, and if I have to bankroll this honeymoon, I will, because I intend to have this time I need to make up for all of those nights I went to bed thinking of you. Is that okay with you?”
Jim looked at her, smiling. “You always did boss me around, Pat Carter.” Softly he said, “Honey, the sky’s the limit when it comes to making you happy. I expect you to pay for nothing. Whatever gives you pleasure will give me pleasure. And believe me, I have no objections to staying two days. I can’t wait for those two days to start.”
They pulled under the marquee of the hotel and Jim went to register. That done, he pulled to the side entrance. They took the elevator to the third floor. As soon as they entered their suite, they put down their luggage and kicked off their sandals immediately. In unison they said, “Boy, it’s stuffy in here.” Pat immediately headed for the thermostat.
Jim said, “How about a Bloody Mary?” and headed for the kitchenette. Opening his tote, he pulled out some vodka and Bloody Mary mix, then checked the fridge for ice. “Damn, no ice.” He called to Pat, “The ice trays are still on the counter. Would you go get some ice, honey? Here’s an ice bucket.”
“I’ll go as soon as I set this friggin’ thermostat,” Pat said. “I think I saw the ice machine at the end of the hall.”
When she took off for the ice machine, her steps slowed down. Nearing the other end of the hall, she began to experience an uneasy feeling that was quickly turning into real anxiety. She felt completely out of her comfort zone. This feeling of discomfort had overtaken her so quickly that she didn’t understand it. When she walked back into the suite, trying to catch her breath, Jim took the bucket of ice from her, took her face in one hand, and gave her a kiss. “Thanks, hon.” He put ice in two tall glasses.
Pat stood watching, wanting to put her arms around him. She desired to feel his body next to hers, but something inhibited her. It was almost as though she was overcome by shyness. She had never thought she could ever be shy around Jim.
Jim filled the glasses with Bloody Marys, and before he handed one to her, he gave her a long look. He put the glass down, took her in his arms, pulled her close, and said, “Pat, you never cease to amaze me. You look so beautiful, and I love you so much.” He leaned down and kissed her softly, but he could sense her unrest. “What’s wrong, honey?”
She said nothing. This was what she’d looked forward to all day, and now she was making a mess out of it. Overwhelmed with anxiety, she carried her drink to the very comfortable–looking loveseat next to the picture window in the sitting room. Jim followed.
She said, “Oh, thank goodness you are who you are, Jim. I love you so much, but I’m actually quite nervous. I couldn’t wait to get here, and now look at me. I’m a nervous wreck. I’ve dreamed about this for so long, but now I’m acting like a silly teenager. I’m so sorry!”
Jim put his arms around her, looked at her quite seriously, and said, “Pat, you’ve never shown me this side of you before. You’ve always been so sure of yourself. I don’t ever want you to be nervous around me. You and I have always been able to talk about anything and everything. The fact that we’re married shouldn’t change that. Are you telling me you’re sorry you married me?”
Pat pulled away from him instantly and in a very surprised voice said, “My goodness, no! Oh, no, Jim, I love you so much! It’s not that. I guess it’s that we were just friends for so long, but that all changed the day you proposed. That was the only day I had to get used to the idea that we were really going to be a couple. But we’ve never dated. I never had the opportunity to hold your hand or be held by you or kissed by you until that day you proposed. And that was wonderful, but it was the only day we had together until today.
“Believe me, I’ve dreamed of this day many times. I couldn’t wait to get here, to this hotel. But I’m not a kid anymore, and I no longer run on raging hormones. I want you to hold me and kiss me, and I want to get used to the feel of you. I think it’s wonderful that you and I are best friends. We’ll always be that, but now we’re also going to be lovers, and all of a sudden, I feel a little strange. I want our first time together to be so special. Oh, I’m making a mess out of this! I’ve loved you for so long without actually… Oh, Jim, can we just go a little slower with this? I don’t seem to be able to explain myself. I really am sorry.” She was wringing her hands and looked at him with tears in her eyes.
Jim pulled her close and just held her. He finally whispered, “I do understand what you’re saying, Pat.” He handed her her drink, picked up his, and said, “Let’s drink a toast to our life together.” He tapped her glass with his, she smiled, and they both took a big swig. Then he said, “Now sit there like a good girl and finish your drink. Then we’ll talk about our first real date together. Where would you like to go to dinner?”
Pat looked at him with huge relief in her eyes. “How could I have gotten so lucky? You are so understanding. And I really like steak.”
They sat sipping their drinks slowly, discussing the rest of their trip. Jim knew that Pat was absolutely correct in feeling that these next two days would be the perfect time to discover the intimacy they so needed. It was the one thing they had never experienced in their friendship.
Jim said, “I’m willing to take all my cues from you, Pat. I love you, babe.”
Pat kissed him quickly on the lips, and they left for dinner.
Paul’s Steak House was a winner. The steaks were cooked perfectly, and they washed them down with a couple of beers. All of it was enjoyed under an awning–covered veranda. The evening was made for lovers. Pat reached over and took Jim’s hand. “I know we’re married, but I really do feel like a girl on a date. Thank you for doing this for me, Jim.”
Because it was Saturday night, the place was quite crowded, and there was a DJ and dancing inside. It struck both of them that they had never danced with each other.
That soon became a very arousing experience.
As Pat felt the rhythm of Jim’s body so close to hers, the movements and sensations were pure pleasure. She put her face next to his ear and murmured, “I have to say, Jim, you are a great dancer. Where’d you learn to dance like this? Because I’m lovin’ it.”
He grinned. “I believe it was a gorgeous young thing named June Carney that got me started. She was an excellent teacher.”
Pat gave him a slap on the shoulder and laughingly said, “How dare you bring up that female’s name on our honeymoon!”
Jim pulled her even closer, and she felt his hardness as he danced her over to the bar and said, “I thought that might get your blood moving. Are you still jealous?”
“When it comes to you, I will always be jealous. But I do think you got a rise out of something.” It was her turn to laugh.
He said, “Whoops, I didn’t think you noticed. That’s why I brought you over here. I had to cool down. And not to worry. I have the woman I want. Let’s get a beer.” He seated her at the bar, ordered two beers, and excused himself.
After talking to the DJ for a minute, he returned, and they sat at the bar listening to the music. Jim told her why he had requested the song that was coming up and why he was so happy that the DJ could oblige him. He explained, “This song is so old, and I learned it at a very young age. It was written by Irving Berlin for his wife. Here’s how I know that. When I was young, I used to hear my mother sing this song around the house. One day, after she died, it was playing on the radio, and my dad started crying. I asked him why he was crying, and he told me it was because it was the first song that he and my mother had ever danced to, and it became their song. Every time I heard that song, I always thought of my mother and how much my dad loved her. And because I love you so much, I would like it to be our song, too.”
The music stopped, and the DJ announced, “This next song will be dedicated to a couple who are on their honeymoon, Jim and Pat Murray. Jim wants to dedicate this song to his new bride. It’s an oldie but goodie, folks. It’s called “Always,” and it was recorded by none other than Patsy Cline.”
Jim took Pat’s hand and led her to the dance floor. Everyone else sat down and applauded the handsome young couple on the dance floor. The music began very softly as Patsy sang. Jim whispered the tender lyrics, which promised a lifetime of love and support, in Pat’s ear. As Patsy continued to sing, Jim held Pat tightly, and they finished dancing.
Pat said, “I love you so much, Jim. Thank you for that wonderful memory. Now let’s go back to the hotel.”
The group applauded and Jim gave a little bow, while Pat curtsied. They smiled, waved at the DJ, and left.
It was around 1:00 a.m. when they got back to their suite. They both said in unison, “Oh, wow, this feels so much more comfortable,” as, once again, they each kicked off their shoes, a habit neither of them had known the other one had. Another milestone of discovery.
They moved into the bedroom in the dark, and Pat turned on a bedside lamp. They sat down on the bed, side by side, and embraced. Nervous anxiety be damned. Pat began taking off Jim’s shirt, and he took off her tank top. They kissed and continued to undress each other until they were naked. All pent–up passion was now loosed, all inhibitions now gone, as the two of them made glorious love.
When they were spent, Pat said, “Hold me, honey. I think this after the lovin’ has to become part of the lovin’, at least for me. It’s my way of saying thank you for loving me, and it also makes me feel very special. And I look forward to doing this again— real soon.” When they finished with the after the lovin’ part, they made love again. This went on all night and into the next day. They finally came up for air, ate dinner, and started all over. The next morning, they finished before checkout time and went to have breakfast. It was almost two o’clock when they got back on the road. The impasse had been overcome.
After two more Hampton Inns and the discovery that they were not only very good friends but extremely compatible lovers, they arrived in Dallas at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday. This time, they registered at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel. They were no sooner in the room than they were on the king–sized bed, making love. After lunch, they decided to check out the accommodations GE had provided for them. The concierge was a great help and gave them the directions to 55 Juniper Lane.
Those directions took them to a gated community, then two blocks in, on a corner.
They pulled into the driveway of 55 Juniper Lane. They were astonished. The place was far beyond their expectations. It was a sprawling villa that looked like a Spanish hacienda. It had a red tile roof and beige stucco siding. The windows were trimmed in dark red. Toward the center of the house was a large, decorative, wrought–iron gate that led into a small courtyard. The curved walkway from the driveway to the gate was made up of red tiles. A tall, sentinel–like arborvitae stood at each corner of the house. Interspersed along the villa were bright, colorful bougainvillea and other budding shrubs. On the left was a large picture window, and on the right were three tall, slender windows with diamond–shaped panes. Each one was graced with an overflowing window box.
Pat said, “It’s a picture. I can’t believe we’re going to be living here.” The sprinklers were on, watering a very large and perfectly manicured lawn. As Pat looked up and down the fairly long blocks, she could see houses of various designs, each one quite lovely. “I just want to pinch myself,” she said in awe.
Jim said, “Let’s take a ride around the neighborhood and get acquainted with the layout.”
They had no idea of the real estate values in Dallas, but they were pretty sure this was an upscale gated community. You had to make some pretty serious money to live here. The best part of this little ride was the discovery of a park–like area right in the center of the development. It contained a clubhouse and office, a parking lot, a pool, and tennis courts. The landscaping was fabulous. All they could do was ooh and aah.
Back in their driveway, they sat for a moment, slightly overwhelmed. A man came from behind the house and began walking toward the car. He appeared to have been working hard, because when he took off his wide–brimmed straw hat, his hair was plastered on his head. He wiped his face with a big red handkerchief as he walked to Jim’s side of the car. Still wiping his sweat away, he grinned and said, “Buenos días, Mister Murray. I’m Luis Cortez, your groundskeeper. I was told to look out for you today and welcome you to your new villa.”
“Well, thank you, Luis. I’m glad to have someone here to greet us.”
“Happy to do this for you, señor. I just want you to know that when I saw you pull in the first time, I went in and turned on your security system. I believe you have been given all the keys to everything, but if you need help, I’ll be in the back finishing up. I think you will find your home nice and cool. I turned the air conditioning on this morning. I am here every Wednesday to take care of your outside maintenance. If you have any other questions or requests, please let me know. I’ll be in the area every day. The number to reach me is on a card in the kitchen.”
“Thanks again, Luis.”
The man disappeared around the house.
Jim and Pat got out of the car and walked up to the gate, holding hands. Jim had received all the keys and the combinations to the security system by mail a week after he was hired, and now he was looking for the key labeled Gate. As they stepped into the courtyard, they could hear water. It was a hot day, but inside the courtyard, it was noticeably cooler. The red tile walkway continued, and on the left was a fountain. A stone nymph sat on a pedestal, holding an urn on her shoulder, pouring water that splashed into a marble basin. The fountain had a very soothing effect.
Surrounding the fountain was a large circular garden of brightly colored begonias. The rest was a ground cover of myrtle. On the right side was a lovely dwarf Japanese cherry tree. In the shade of that tree was the statue of a young boy in a baseball uniform, sitting on a white cast iron bench. His cap was askew. He was holding his bat on his shoulder and looking quite lovingly at his dog, who was staring up at him with adoring eyes. All of this also sat in a patch of myrtle.
The two of them just stood there, looking, appreciating whoever it was that had given them this little oasis of beauty. After soaking up the ambience that surrounded them, Pat turned to Jim and said, “Will you just hold me a minute before we go in? I want to say a prayer of thanks.”
Jim held her, and the two of them stood there, holding each other, their eyes closed, lost in prayer as the sound of the water washed over them. When they made a move to go inside, Jim unlocked the door, turned, picked Pat up, and carried her over the threshold. Before he put her down, Pat hugged him and kissed him hard. She looked at him and said, “I’m sure glad your dad bought you that bike.”
Jim put her down. They were standing in a little foyer with a red tile floor that looked out onto their living and dining rooms. Pat was glad this house didn’t have one of those newer open floor plans. She liked the idea that these two rooms were separate and formal, meant for entertaining. The ceilings had dark wooden beams, and the large fireplace on the left wall of the living room blended perfectly with them. The big picture window was draped in a rich, tone–on–tone, oyster–colored brocade. The floors in the living room, dining room, and hallway were covered with plush, oyster–colored carpeting. The walls were a neutral off–white. Pat loved it all.
The dining room was to the left of the living room, and the first thing that caught their attention was the stunning chandelier. Pat had never seen one quite like it. The bay window in that room had the same window treatment as in the living room, except that the draperies were shorter. This allowed for the long rose–colored cushion and assorted pastel pillows on the window seat in front of the window.
When they entered the kitchen, Pat felt as thought she was in a dream. The floor was covered with gray–patterned tile. The countertops were of highly polished gray granite, with veins of darker gray. The cupboards were whitewashed, and all appliances were stainless steel. To the left of the kitchen was a pantry almost as large as the dining room. The kitchen was open to a large family room with a nearly black oak floor, which was almost completely covered with a carpet of variegated colors in a Mexican design. There was a huge stone fireplace on the right and a laundry room and small bathroom on the left. Large sliding glass doors on the outside wall were draped in a brilliant pattern of colors that blended witn the carpet. The entire room filled the kitchen with life. The draperies were closed, and Pat assumed it was because of the midday sun. She loved this living space. It would be perfect for raising children, and this would be the heart of their home.
The other rooms of the house proved to be a large study, a bathroom across the hall from it, a master bedroom with his and hers walk–in closets, and a glorious bathroom, with a shower large enough for two. They were both extremely impressed. The two bedrooms in the back had an adjoining bath. All the rooms were spacious, and all the floors were covered with that same plush, oyster–colored carpeting. Pat was ecstatic.
They went to the truck to carry in the many boxes of Jim’s clothing and personal things. The rest could go in the garage for the time being. After storing Jim’s belongings, which would get sorted out at a later date, they breathed a sigh of relief. Since there were so many things about the house they wanted to talk about, but no chairs, they sat on the floor. The plush carpet was too enticing, and the next thing they knew, they were making love on it. Aferwards, Jim held her in his arms, and they talked for a long time.
As they went back down the hall, Jim said, “We haven’t looked at what’s in the back of the house. Maybe Luis is still there.”
Jim pulled the drapes to open the sliding doors and said, “Hey, Pat, come look at this.” He opened the doors, and the two of them went out to see a beautiful, roofed lanai, completely furnished. There was a card on the glass table in the middle of the lanai. Pat picked it up and read it aloud.
“Dear Jim and Pat, I hope you enjoy your lanai for many years to come. It was an honor for me to have such a special part in your wedding. I wish you happiness in your new home and will make it a point to visit one day. Love, Hank.”
The two of them stood in amazement at what Hank had done for them. The wrought–iron table with the glass top in the middle was large enough to seat eight. There were plush chairs, plus a love seat and recliner. There were lamps and end tables and beautiful decorative pillows. There was also a state–of–the–art grill and two tall fans on either side of the doors to keep the lanai cool.
Since these were the first chairs they had seen since their arrival, Pat sat in the love seat, and Jim took the recliner. The last thing Pat remembered saying was, “Don’t let me forget to send Hank a thank–you note first thing tomorrow.
Jim responded. “Okay, hon. It sure was nice of Hank to do this for us. He’s a great guy.” Pat never heard the first word. She was sound asleep. Jim flicked the knob on his recliner, and he was also in the land of nod.
Pat woke up first. She looked at Jim sleeping soundly, then checked the time. It was almost 6:00, and she realized what a very long and busy day they’d had. She leaned down and kissed him lightly on the lips. He opened his eyes and pulled her down on him. She lay contented in his arms, and somehow they ended up on the loveseat, making love yet again.
They were both hungry and decided to eat anyplace that appealed to them as they drove back to their hotel. Jim pulled into a place called Charley’s. As soon as they walked in the door and the owner, Charley, stepped up to greet them, the two of them knew the place reminded them of Froggy’s. Of course it came Texas–sized, but the atmosphere was very similar. Everyone was friendly, and there was mainly country music on the jukebox. Their steaks were delicious. They ate, danced, and met two couples that lived in their community. All of a sudden, in the middle of a conversation with a gentleman at the next table, the juke box began to play a song by Patsy Cline. Both Jim and Pat looked at each other. Jim said to their new acquaintance, “Sorry, pal, gotta go! This is our song.”
He led Pat onto the dance floor, took her in his arms, and said, “Pat, I’ve been married to you for five days, and I love you more each day. I also think you’ve brought me more blessings and happiness in five days than I’ve had in five years.” He held her tightly, and the two of them didn’t say another word. They just danced and then went back to the hotel. They really needed a good night’s sleep.
Thursday morning, the pair stayed in bed and made love. That day, the after the lovin’ took so long that they ended up making love again. But no one was counting.
It was now 3:30 in the afternoon, and they had to go furniture shopping. By the end of the week, they had furnished the kitchen down to the dish soap and the master bedroom. They celebrated on their new king–sized bed minus the linens. After they made love, Jim began to laugh.
Pat asked, “What’s so funny?”
Jim said, “We aren’t much different than a couple of dogs.”
“How so?”
“Pat, we’ve marked our territory in practically every room of the house.”
Pat got a mischievous look on her face and said, “Well, then, I want to be a poodle, and you can be a Great Dane.”
She would get serious about the rest of the place on Monday, after Jim left for his first day of work. The weekend was theirs for dinner, dancing, exploring, and lovemaking.
But there was something else brewing in the back of Pat’s mind. She knew she was never going back home without Jim. She had only been gone one week, but she didn’t want to ever leave him again, not even for two months and then a larger wedding celebration. She still had two weeks of vacation time, and she figured those two weeks were enough time to hand in her notice. She would call her boss, Hillary, on Monday.
That Monday, Pat drove Jim to work, went back to the hotel, and checked out. She called her boss and gave her two weeks’ notice. Then she spent the day shopping for the household linens, went back to the villa, and washed them. While they were washing, she went grocery shopping and spent $231.52. She came home and put the groceries away. She thawed a pan of frozen lasagna while she finished the linens, lovingly folded them, and made the bed. It was time to pick up Jim.
The first thing he said to her after he kissed her was, “Honey, we’re going to have to rent you a car until you go back home.” She surprised him by driving him back to the villa instead of the hotel. She asked him how his first day of work had gone, and he told her he was quite happy with the reception he’d been given. He was sure he’d made the right move.
He told her they were invited to Harold Bannister’s ranch on Saturday. Harold was one of the CEOs at GE and had said, “I want everyone to meet you and the little Mrs. and give ya’ll a big Texas welcome.” Because Pat had missed Jim so much all day, he had to tell her this on the way to the bedroom. They had now moved in.
On Tuesday, Pat called her mother to talk. She had called her the day they got into Dallas, but that was just to let her know they’d arrived safely. That conversation had been brief. This call was meant to tell her mother that she loved her, but also—and this was the hard part—that she wasn’t coming home. She was also going to ask if her dad would sell her car and if her mom would pack up all her belongings and ship them to her via UPS.
Her finger shook as she dialed the phone. She hated disappointing her mom. When she heard her voice, they launched into talking for a good hour about the villa and her plans for decorating, and of course Jim’s job, how much he liked it, and how well he’d been received. Maureen couldn’t help being pleased to hear about all the things that were making her daughter happy, and then she asked her what flight she had booked for coming home.
Pat shut her eyes, squeezed them tight, and spit out the words. “I won’t be coming home, Mom.” There was a long silence. When Maureen had regained her bearings, they talked quietly of Pat’s plan to stay. Maureen knew she had no choice but to accept her daughter’s decision. Pat’s requests regarding the car and her belongings were agreed upon without question. After some tears, Maureen also agreed that the money for a wedding celebration would be better spent on a trip with her husband and Fran. She accepted that this was the way it was going to be. She and Dan would plan a trip to Dallas. Nothing was etched in stone. Pat promised to call her every Saturday, and they hung up. Pat was very relieved to have cleared that unpleasant hurdle.
Pat couldn’t have been happier. Every day, she went shopping for something—a chair, pictures, a vase. She needed all kinds of things to make their house a home, but she wasn’t going to rush it. Yet it seemed that something was being delivered every day. She found she loved cooking and scoured cookbooks to find interesting recipes. Her dad had sold her Honda right away and sent her the money to buy herself another Honda. She liked them because she felt they were good, dependable cars.
One day, they delivered a kitchen table and chairs. Then Jim came home and they discovered it was a great place to have sex. Having had sex for the third time that day, Jim said, “Pat, I sure am glad you started in low gear, because if that’s what it took for you to shift into overdrive, I’m loving it.”
Jim had been working for almost three weeks, and the Bannister barbeque was on Saturday. Pat asked him to find out what everyone wore to these shindigs. So, on Thursday, all furniture shopping was on hold. As soon as Jim got home from work, they took off to a store called Rick’s Ranch Wear. They each bought a pair of jeans, a western shirt, and a pair of boots. Pat suggested Jim buy a Stetson hat, but Jim said he didn’t think he was a Texan quite yet. They already had bathing suits.
Harold’s ranch was quite impressive, but the party was centered around the pool. Pat hadn’t brought their suits, because neither she nor Jim had any desire to go in the pool.
She had never seen so many beautiful, young, half–naked women at one gathering before. Since most of these men seemed to be very successful and forty or older, she decided that these women were, for the most part, trophy wives. She guessed there might be a few single ones in the mix who were working on becoming trophies. Everyone was congenial, some very friendly. She and Jim were given the royal treatment. Before they left, they’d been invited to two cocktail parties and a hoedown. Pat hoped Jim got the information for the cocktail parties, but a person by the name of Denise got Pat’s number and said she would call about the hoedown. Pat thought that might be a fun thing to go to.
Every day when Pat got up, she was happy. She often thought of her sister, Fran. She knew how difficult it had been for her to have been married for only a day, leaving the man she loved after she found out that he didn’t feel the same way about her. Pat had a new respect for the courage it must have taken for Fran to do what she did.
Pat talked to her parents at least once a week, sometimes more often. Her mother had overcome her disappointment that Pat wasn’t coming back for a big wedding celebration, and now she talked at length about the clothes she was buying and the plans she and Dan were making for the trip to Dallas. Pat didn’t say anything, but she was pretty sure she was going to have some good news to tell them when they got there.