5 comments/ 4612 views/ 3 favorites Lydia's Dream Ch. 03-04 By: memorable_event Please stop and read Chapters 1 and 2 before this one. There is a very important message for readers before Chapter 1. Chapter 3 I have messages for you from Lydia. Pam stood and said she needed to get busy. "I'm going to bake a cake for your birthday. What's your favorite kind?" "I like them all but my favorite is carrot cake." "Let me see if we have the ingredients." She walked to the kitchen and looked up the recipe. After a few minutes of reading and searching through the fridge and cabinets, Pam determined that we were short on several ingredients. "Can you drive me to Publix again? I need sugar, pecans, cream cheese, and carrots." "Wouldn't it be easier just to buy a carrot cake mix?" She looked at me like I had slapped her. "That's cheating. I don't ever use mixes." "Uhhh, okay." On the way to the grocery, Pam mentioned, "By the way, I invited Susan to lunch at the cabin tomorrow." "Oh?" "Yes, she told me their diner is closed on Mondays so I thought it'd be a good opportunity for us to visit." "That's fine. It's been several years since they've been over." "Carl is going fishing with a buddy, so it'll only be Susan." "Was this part of the girl talk you had at lunch?" "Part." "Okay." "I was thinking about lamb chops. I didn't see those on her menu and thought it might be something a little different she might enjoy. Do you like them?" "I do. I could grill them, if you'd like." She thought for a second, "Yeah, that'd be very good. You like to grill?" "Yes and I brought a new bag of charcoal this week." "Then let's do it. I'll concentrate on the side dishes and salad. We could offer carrot cake for dessert." **** On the way home, I suggested grilling burgers for dinner. "We could use up the rest of the potato salad and we have a can of baked beans if you want." "Lovely. It's going to take a while to put this cake together so you doing the burgers would be a big help."
 As she emerged from the car, Pam reached for me. I couldn't resist giving her a lingering kiss. It was obvious she didn't like French kissing and I respected that. Lydia had taught me to love it but this was a whole new ballgame. Walking to the kitchen, Pam immediately sorted the ingredients and measured the proper proportions. In just minutes, she was mixing the batter while the oven was warming. I decided to clean the fireplace while waiting. There was a huge bed of ashes and I used a metal bucket and small shovel we had for that purpose. Should there be any hot coals remaining, the metal would contain the heat and prevent an unwanted fire. Within the hour, the cake was out and cooling and Pam joined me at the grill. The coals were ready and I gently placed three burgers over the hottest part of the fire. As they sizzled, we satn chairs, sipped beers and enjoyed the early evening fresh air. "I love this place, Tom. The lake is beautiful and this cabin is perfect. It's a quiet haven from the world. Did your dad build it?" "He bought it a year or two before I was born. I think it's about 50 years old. But he did many upgrades to it and has put a lot into maintaining it." "What upgrades did he do?" "He had the garage built, and the back porch added and screened in. There was no plumbing in the cabin so he had a well drilled and updated the bedrooms to include baths. He also had the metal roof installed. Of course, the kitchen is his doing. He enjoyed cooking for Mom, and he put in the best quality appliances he could afford back in the early 1980's. They enjoyed getting away and coming here for a few days at a time. Still do, in fact; but it's probably been six months since they were last here." I turned the burgers and sat again. "Do you have any brothers or sisters?" "One of each, both older. I've always thought I was an accident." Pam grinned. "There's the number three again. You were the third child. That means you're perfect, I suppose." "No, three can mean perfection or completion. In my case, it was completion." We both laughed. "Mom was almost 40 when I was born. My sister is Katherine and she lives in Nashville. Her husband Bob Witman is a music producer. They have beautiful twins, Amy and Traci, who are now in college. One goes to Vanderbilt and one to Tennessee. Since they're identical, they decided to split up. I think they got a little tired of being mistaken for each other. "My brother is the oldest at 43. His name is James and he lives in Dallas. He owns a small trucking business that specializes in local pickup and delivery. His company does a lot of deliveries for Home Depot, Lowe's and Sears. His wife is Joan and she's from Dallas. They don't have children."
 I took the burgers off and closed the top of the grill. Pam carried the plate and I opened the door for her. "Let's fix our burgers. While you were grilling, I pulled out the potato salad, pickles and the condiments. The baked beans should be ready."
 For just hamburgers, it was a very good meal. She had added chopped onions and hot peppers to the beans. And they were hot! Thank goodness for Stella and lots of ice water. Even Pam thought they were too hot and apologized for going overboard. I joked, "That's alright, I'll spank you later." Her eyes lit up and she replied, "Oh boy! Promise?" I studied her face to see if she was serious. She showed only a blank stare so I couldn't tell. I decided to change the subject. "You don't seem to like French kissing." "Actually, I do as long as I think my mouth is fresh and he doesn't have bad breath. Are you wondering why I didn't do that with you this afternoon?" "Well, now that you mention it, those jalapenos in the meat loaf were strong and I hadn't brushed my teeth." "Bingo." "I appreciate your honesty." She reached over and held my hand. "I'm into honesty." **** After I cleaned the grill and put the dishes in the dishwasher, Pam cut the cake and served my piece with a single candle. To my pleasant surprise, she sang "Happy Birthday." Her voice was amazing. "Have you had lessons? You're great." "Not really. I sang in our church choir and some of the musicals we presented in high school and college but never had any serious voice lessons." "Dad also has a great voice and he sings in the choir. Many people think he sounds like Kenny Rogers." "Oh, I love Kenny Rogers, especially the duets he did with Dottie West and Dolly Parton." "Well, there you go. You and he could cook together and sing together while you do it." Pam laughed and said, "Now you're in fantasy land."

 Before I could take a bite of the cake, she handed me a small wrapped present. I thanked her and gently opened it. Smiling, I said, "It's a magnetic key box. Just what I needed." "Now you can hide your cabin key in a little less obvious place." "Yeah, I must keep away all the gorgeous young women who would want to move in and have their way with me." She smiled and replied, "That's right." The carrot cake was the best I'd tasted in years. One could tell it was made from scratch as the pecans were still crunchy and the carrot slivers still tasted like carrots. The flavors needed a day or two to fully merge but that's true of all cakes. "Pam, this is outstanding! I'm very glad you hate mixes. The taste is amazing and will only get better tomorrow." "Thank you. I'm glad it turned out." The piece she cut for me was very large, so we shared it. I made a pot of coffee and we carried our cups to the fireplace. Pam snuggled into my arms as I maneuvered to keep my cup out of her way. We watched the dancing flames and sat in silence for several minutes. She reflected, "Life is so unpredictable. Three days ago, I never thought I'd meet someone like you. I was very depressed and angry at the world and myself. Sure, I made mistakes. I knew that a lot of it was my fault. I hated the thought of depending on friends in Atlanta and I don't have all that much money. I'm amazed that you're so nice to me." "You said you were planning to leave in a few days?" "Yeah, I was running out of your food so I was going to look for another cabin to use. If that failed, then I was going to Atlanta. I didn't have many choices." "Well, I'm glad I came here when I did." She smiled and snuggled in closer. We continued talking until bedtime just getting to know more about each other. **** I was up early and peeked in on Pam after starting a fire and making the coffee. "Good morning, sleepy head," I whispered. She rolled over and glared at me. "Do I have to get up?" I asked, "Do you want coffee in bed?" "No, let me go to the bathroom and get a robe on. It's cold in here. I want to sit by the fire." I returned to the kitchen, poured two fresh cups and carried them to the sofa. Pam emerged wearing the same beautiful housecoat as the day before. She had brushed her hair but had not yet put on makeup. She didn't need it. After plopping down beside me, she turned and raised her knees so she could slide her cold toes under my leg. I handed her the coffee and we gazed at the roaring fire. 
 "Tom, I had a wonderful dream about us last night." "Oh?" "We were in a boat on the lake and you made love to me under a large tree that hung out over the water. I remember studying the tree as you tended to me. I was so turned on by that." "Well, that's a lot better than dreaming about a stranger coming into your room late at night." She nodded and grinned. "Did you have any dreams?" "No. I slept soundly this time." "Susan is coming over at noon. What time is it now?" "About 8:30. What do you feel like for breakfast?" I asked. "We're going to have a heavy lunch so how about cereal?" "Sounds good. I could make oatmeal. We have strawberries, blueberries and raisins we could add. Oh, we also have some of those pecans left." "That'd be delicious."
She sat in front of the lively fire and sipped coffee as I worked. It was ready in just a few minutes and we sat at the table. "Tom, I was thinking about what to serve with the grilled lamb chops. What do you think about au gratin potato casserole and roasted mixed vegetables? We have green bell peppers, squash, onions and mushrooms. I could slice them into strips and drizzle 'em with a little olive oil and oven roast 'em. The flavors should go well with the lamb." "That'd be very nice. Susan doesn't have any of that on her menu so it'd be something different." ****

 As lunchtime approached, I prepared the charcoal but planned to wait until Susan arrived to light it. Pam worked on the potatoes and then put the casserole in the oven to bake while she prepped the veggies. Susan arrived just a few minutes after noon. I met her at the car with a hug and smile. "Tom, I'm so glad you're happy once again. When I met Pam yesterday, I just knew she was the one." I smiled and asked, "What do you mean?" She returned my smile and replied, "I'll tell you later." I opened the door for her and we entered the cabin. Pam exclaimed, "Susan, welcome! Tom, can you take her coat? I'm glad you could come. Oh, I love that outfit you're wearing." "Thank you, Pam. I'm happy you invited me." I took Susan's coat and laid it on the bed. She had a folder of papers that she kept with her and I wondered about that. Pam said, "Tom, if you're ready, go ahead and get the charcoal going. It's going to be another 20 minutes before the potatoes are done."
 I walked to the back porch and lit the briquettes. When I returned, I saw Pam and Susan hugging. I wondered what was going on. "Susan was just telling me about your parents and how sweet they are. I told her I couldn't wait to meet them someday." I smiled but that wasn't why they were hugging with tears in their eyes. When lunch was ready, we sat at the table and gorged ourselves on very tender lamb chops, flavorful au gratin potatoes and veggies fresh from the oven. "Tom, has your mom or dad mentioned that we're retiring early next year?" "No! I had no idea. So after 40 years, you're calling it quits?" "Yeah, we're ready. Carl will be 72 in March and I'm just a year younger. It's time for us to start taking it easier." "What about the diner?" "We're selling it. You know Tony. He's buying it from us and it'll continue on like it is." "Tony's been cooking for you a long time." "Over 20 years. For the last four years, he's been paying us a little at a time to buy the place. Carl and I are thrilled he wanted it. We think he and his wife will run it better than we did." "Do your regulars know yet?" I asked. "A few of our closest friends know. I told your parents this past summer. They surprised us with an invitation to go on a cruise with them." "Fantastic! They always have a good time on the ships. Where are you going?" "Alaska, next September. Your dad said that we'd see whales that time of the year. We've never been on a cruise so really don't know what to expect." "I've not been on one either but I understand they feed you well." After the carrot cake, which was a big hit with Susan (and me again), Pam asked that we move to the family room and enjoy the fire. 

 Once seated, Susan said, "Tom, the main reason Pam invited me here today is that I have a lot of messages for you from Lydia." "WHAT?" A sudden overwhelming chill of tingles raced through my body. I looked at Pam. Tears were welling in her eyes. I could feel that lightheadedness starting and fought to keep from fainting. "I know that you never knew this but she called me many times after you had left for work. You see, I had breast cancer many years ago. Lydia knew that and she needed a confidant, which I became. Cancer is such a terrible burden that it helps to have someone who's been there and fought it successfully." "You're right, I had no idea." The tears began rolling down my cheeks and I reached for my handkerchief. "In this file are all the records I kept of her calls and what she had to say. Before she died, she asked me to give these to you under certain circumstances." "What circumstances?" "We'll get to that in just a moment. "I understand that Lydia and you learned of her cancer on December 21, 2006." "That's right. It was just before Christmas. I remember how devastated we were just when we should have been celebrating." Susan checked her notes. "Lydia called me on January 3rd, 2007, and explained her diagnosis. We talked about our feelings and fears as I'd gone through the same thing many years earlier. She told me how upset you were and how worried she was about you. "Her operation was in early February and her next call to me was February 25th. She'd learned that the cancer had spread to her lymph system and that it was likely to be terminal. Amazingly, she wasn't worried about herself. She said she'd had a dream and in that dream, an angel visited her. It told her that she was assured of eternal life. That relieved her and gave her the inner peace she needed." I glanced at Pam and saw her weeping. Susan had tears in her eyes. "I'll skip over the next few calls but I'll give you these notes to read later. The next really important call was on September 20, 2007. She was so giddy when she called that I wasn't sure at first if it was Lydia. It was early in the morning and you were out of town for some reason. "She'd been visited again in a dream. The angel or messenger told her that you, Tom, would be fine after her death. This messenger knew that Lydia was concerned about leaving you behind. Lydia learned from the angel that you'd meet another woman and be happy. She was ecstatic." I choked back tears and responded, "I think it was about that time that I noticed a major change in her. She seemed happier and more at ease with her situation. She told me several times that she wanted me to re-marry after her death; but I didn't want to think about that." "In all, there are 42 calls that I documented up until a month before she died in July 2009. Now let me stop and say that the chemo drugs can cause weird and unusual dreams. So I just wrote down what she told me, no matter what she said. "The call that makes the most difference came on your birthday in 2008. She called at 10:00 am and told me about a dream. She had been visited again. In this dream, the angel was much more specific. It said that on your third birthday after her spirit was in the place of eternal life, that you, Tom, would come to this cabin and meet a young woman. That was this week." I screamed, "NO WAY!" I looked at Pam as she stood and came to sit beside me. We held hands and cried. I was in total shock and my mind was numb as tingling chills coursed through me. Susan continued as her tears flowed. "She asked the angel if you and the young woman would be married and have the children that you always wanted. Lydia often shared with me the regret that she never gave you a child. The messenger said that you and the young woman would have to make that decision. He told her that God creates the opportunity but does not force the outcome." I sat there speechless, shaking, and overcome with emotion. "Tom, Lydia loved you more that life. Most of her thoughts during her last year were about you and how you'd deal with her death. As we all know, the two of you came here every year to celebrate your birthdays. But you always came on her birthday, which is next week. She told me in December 2008 that she had asked you to begin coming on your birthday." After several moments of wiping away tears, I replied, "She did. That November was the last time we came here together. She was quite sick even then and she told me that she wanted me to come on my birthday every year and celebrate our marriage. I promised her I would but I never knew why she asked that. She never said an angel had visited her just a week before. "But now something else she said makes sense. Before we left the cabin, she wanted to walk around and look at it one last time. We both knew it was not likely she would live long enough for another visit. We spent maybe 20 minutes or so while she walked around and reminisced. Then, as we were leaving, she said that this would be a happy place again in a few years. I asked her why and she just smiled and kissed me. Until now, I had no idea why she said that. Pam glanced at me and smiled. We now understood the last few days and our dreams. "When you walked in with Pam yesterday, I knew that Lydia's dream had become reality. When she came to the restroom, I asked Pam if she first met you at the cabin. She finally admitted that was the case. I then assured her that she was led here for a purpose and I told her about Lydia's dream. We agreed that I'd come today and explain everything to you. "Lydia asked me to give you these records only after you had met the young lady. That way, you'd know for a fact that God loves you and answers prayers. Lydia had prayed many times for you to meet a woman and fall in love again. When the angel told her that'd happen, she was the happiest I'd ever heard her." I sat there with Pam in my arms, weeping. After several minutes, I composed myself enough to respond. "Susan, I appreciate you being there for her. She and I talked many times about her pending death. I didn't want to dwell on it as long as there was a chance the chemo would work. We gave up on that in the summer of 2008. I always knew she would go to heaven but I was selfish and wanted her for myself here on earth. I had no idea she was confiding in you but I'm glad she was. You probably helped her more than anyone." "I don't know about that. She always talked about the care and attention you gave her, especially when she became bed-ridden. I don't think a husband could have done any more than you did. 
 Lydia's Dream Ch. 03-04 "Well, I need to be going. I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about. I'll be praying for you both and the decisions you must make." She stood and hugged Pam and me for a long time. We all wept. After walking Susan to her car, we hugged again. She promised to stay in touch and I promised to stop by the diner before we left. Re-entering the cabin, I saw that Pam had added wood to the fire and was sitting on the sofa staring at the dancing flames. I walked over and sat next to her. We looked at each other and she reached for my hand. I asked, "Well, what do we do now? What are you thinking?" "Tom, I don't know what to think. I've been trying to wrap my thoughts around this since yesterday. I now know that all of this was not a coincidence and that this is serious. This is real serious. Your premonition was accurate and we were brought here to meet each other. This is the first time that I must get serious about life and the future. I've used the word 'scary' several times this week but now I'm really scared. What if it doesn't work out?" "Lydia and I dated for three years and we gradually fell in love over that time. You and I've known each other for three days. I think we need time together to see if true love develops and that we want to fully commit our lives to each other." "I agree. So what do we do?" "When you came on to me like a sex-starved woman yesterday afternoon, was it because of what Susan had told you?" "Partly. But, I was a sex-starved woman. Unlike most women, I need frequent sex. I love sex. If a lover is not available, I use the battery-powered one." "You said you were scared. Why is that?" "When Susan told me yesterday about Lydia's dream, I was both thrilled and scared. The thrill was from the fact that our relationship was meant to be. I felt a great freedom to come on to you, which I wanted to do anyway. You fascinated me; but I was scared that you'd reject me. You did refuse sex with me but you didn't reject me." "Why would I reject you?" "She was a lot better person than me. From what you said about Lydia, I knew I could never live up to her standards. I've had many guys but she was totally committed to you. I felt like a piece of crap compared to her." "Pam, you're the real deal. Sure Lydia was different from you, but that doesn't mean that she was perfect and you're not. You're perfect in a different way. Yes, I'm sure you've had a lot of experience with sex and that's fine. You're exciting, full of life and you showed a lot of compassion for me the last few days. With your beauty and personality, it'd have been easy for you to take a different path that paid lots of money; but you didn't. You worked in a restaurant and lived the best you could on hard work, not on your beauty and sexuality. "I'd like for you to come with me to Chattanooga. My house is big and rambling so you'll have your own space to the degree you want it. Is that okay?" She paused and thought for a moment. "Yes, I'd like that. Maybe I could go back to school if you could loan me the money." "Of course. I think that'd be great to do." "But I don't want to live off of you. I insist on getting a job and having an income." "Whatever you want. I think a job would help you to stay busy. It's important to interact with others." "The one thing I know I must do soon is visit with my mom. Would you go with me?" "Be glad to. When do you want to go?" "Let me call her now and maybe we can go tomorrow." "Oh, that quick. Okay."
She went to the bedroom for her phone. I could hear the conversation. "Hi Mom. "Yes, I'm fine. "I know, I should've called you before now. I'm sorry. Are you okay? "I'm with a friend in Georgia. "No, I quit the job in Charlotte and came here. "Well, that's one reason for my call. Are you going to be home tomorrow? "Good. I'd like to bring my friend and come see you. "Yes, it's a boyfriend. "We'll probably stay the night, if you don't mind. "Oh, she will? "Good. I want to see her. "Okay, we'll be there for lunch. "Thanks Mom. We'll see you tomorrow. "I love you too. "Bye." She returned and said, "It's set. She was glad I called and wanted to come see her. My sister Jerri is arriving tomorrow night for a visit. So you'll get to meet the entire family." "Good. What time do you want to leave?" "Mom wants us to come for lunch. I think it'll take between three and four hours from here." "So let's leave about 7:00 and we can stop for breakfast along the way." "As long as I have some coffee to get going," she replied. 
 We sat and talked in front of the fire the rest of the afternoon and snacked on leftovers for dinner. There was now infinitely more to consider about our relationship. We cuddled in front of the fire and marveled at the revelation, wondering why each of us was chosen for the other. Exhausted, we retired to our bedrooms at midnight. During the night, another messenger came. Chapter 4
 I think you've won my baby sister's heart. I heard the alarm scream at 6:00 am and struggled with the bedcovers to reach it. I muttered, "Damn, that alarm's loud." Walking to Pam's door, I knocked and slowly opened it. She was up on one elbow staring at me. "Was that the alarm in your room?" she asked. "Yeah, it's loud, I know." She collapsed back onto her pillow and stared at the ceiling. The room was almost dark at that time of the morning. As I turned to walk to the kitchen, she asked, "Do we have to get up yet?" "Why don't you relax a little longer," I said, "and I'll turn the coffee on." I always prepared the coffee for brewing the night before. Just as the brew cycle was ending, Pam walked in. She again had on that beautiful robe that'd belonged to Lydia. We kissed and she wrapped one arm around my waist and laid her head on my chest. I handed her a cup. She reached up and kissed me again. "Thanks sweetheart." I asked, "Did you have any dreams last night?" She glanced up at me and smiled. "Yeah, I did. It was really strange and I've no idea what to make of it. I heard a woman's voice and dreamed that I woke. She said 'give it back.' I remember in the dream getting out of bed and following her voice into the kitchen. Everything was then quiet and the voice stopped. That was it. I wasn't scared in the dream. If anything, I felt happy." "Wonder what, if anything, that means? Give what back? Who was the woman?" "I've never heard that voice before. All she said was 'give it back' but I don't know what to give back. What about you? Did you have any dreams?" "No. I thought about Lydia for a long time before dozing off. I was surprised she never told me about confiding in Susan. We had talked about everything, I thought, during those last two years but she never talked about those particular dreams or visits." "You said that she seemed happy and unconcerned about her pending death." "She was concerned about me; but yes, she was unconcerned about herself. I attributed that to her faith and trying to put up a good front for me. I knew she was worried about what I'd do after she was gone. You need to understand that I depended on her. She completely devoted herself to our marriage and to me. Her business helped by giving some balance to her activities and interests; but she always believed her number one job was to support me. I don't know why she didn't tell me about those dreams? I had no idea she was keeping secrets from me." "Maybe by doing it the way she did," Pam replied, "she was making sure you knew it was for real and not just some hallucination caused by the chemo. If she had told you that a woman would be at the cabin this week, would you have believed her?" "Probably not. I'd have thought it was the chemo affecting her." "Both of us know there's no way this could be faked-absolutely no way. For some reason, God brought us together. I don't know why He chose me. I sure wasn't being a good person." "Nor I. I wasn't being very nice to many people, in fact. I don't know why I was introduced to such a wonderful young lady as you. You are so far out of my league it's not funny." Pam thought for a few moments, as if trying to make sure she wanted to say something. "Tom, do you actually think I'm all that wonderful? I surely don't. I've slept around with several men, disobeyed and dishonored my parents and hardly even have a family because I chased them all away. I probably was the major cause of my dad dying so young. I was selfish and egotistical and very dumb." I could see tears welling in her eyes. I wrapped both arms around her and pull her head to my chest again. She started shaking as she wept. "I imagine you've had your moments, but we all have in one form or another. What matters is the future. I think God sees in you the things I see in you. You love people. You have a great compassion for others who are struggling. You realize you made mistakes and are working to move past them. I think you've asked for forgiveness in your own way and He forgave you." "I truly hope so. I've done a lot that needs forgiving." "Pam, we all have." We kissed again and walked to the bedrooms to shower and dress. **** As soon as we reached Interstate 85, we began looking for food. I asked, "Any place special you like?" "Not really. Cracker Barrel or Bob Evans Restaurants are usually good if we can find one." We eventually saw a Cracker Barrel at Exit 129 and pulled off into the parking lot. It was fairly busy but we were seated right away. As we sipped coffee and waited for our orders to come, I said, "You seemed very quiet in the car this morning. Are you worried about going home?" "Yeah, I am. The last time I was there, my mom and I got into a really big argument about my lifestyle and my future. She was right and I was wrong, that's what hurts so much. I must look her in the eye and apologize and tell her that she was right. She didn't deserve any of the abuse I gave her." I reached across the table for her hand. "She will forgive you and love you unconditionally. I remember some of my rebellious periods and how I put my parents through hell with my words and actions. They forgave me. Thankfully, that stuff is behind us and we learned from it. Moms and dads seem to have an infinite supply of forgiveness." "I hope so. I'm glad you're going with me. I need you." **** After leaving the restaurant, we made our way up I-85 and eventually saw a sign for Greenville. "Take the next exit and then turn left," she directed. I followed her turn-by-turn instructions for another six or seven miles as we drove into the foothills. The mountains here weren't as high as the Great Smoky Mountains but were stately and serene. We arrived and Pam directed me up a long gravel lane to the house. Her mother heard our car coming and walked out on the porch as we drove up. She waved as I parked the car. Much to my surprise, Pam burst from the car and ran at top speed to her mom. They stood on the porch, hugged and kissed, and for several minutes, exchanging quiet thoughts that I couldn't hear. I gave them the privacy they needed until Pam turned and yelled for me to come. Mrs. Davis started greeting me as I walked up the steps. "Welcome! Thank you for bringing Pam home." Both had tears in their eyes. Between sniffles, Pam introduced us. "Mom, this is Tom Sumter. Tom, this is my mom, Ruth." We briefly hugged. Ruth was a beautiful woman and obviously took great care of herself. "Tom, I'm very pleased to meet you." "Ruth, I am very happy to meet you. Pam has told me much about you and this farm. It certainly is a pretty place." I glanced at Pam. She appeared to be very relieved. "Thank you. Please come in out of the cold." We walked past the open screen door and heavy wooden front door into the living room. This was obviously an old and very traditional farmhouse. The ceilings were very high which helped cool the house in the summer before air conditioning was invented. There were two fireplaces in the large living room. Just beyond and to the left appeared to be the kitchen. I could smell various spicy aromas from the lunch Ruth was preparing. To my immediate left was the dining room with a beautiful old and large trestle table. "Please make yourself comfortable Tom. I have some cooking on and just need to check it." Pam and her mom walked together to the kitchen. Walking around the room, I looked at photos, mementos and all the little knickknacks that tend to find their way into our lives. Several photos were of the two girls at various ages. Both Pam and Jerri were beautiful, even as young girls. Their dad was a tall and ruggedly handsome man, his face showing the evidence of hard farm work. Only one of the fireplaces was burning and I added a stick of wood to it. Standing with my back to the flames, I warmed my trouser legs and hands. Occasionally, I could hear snippets of the conversation in the kitchen. "Well, he sure is handsome." "Chattanooga?" "Oh, I'm so happy for that." "She's flying in from Houston tonight." "We can go together." I decided to join them and walked to the doorway and knocked on the open door. "Come in, Tom. Sorry for the mess. Pam was just telling me a bit more about you." I joked, "Does that mean I have to leave now?" Both laughed. "No, of course not. It sounds to me like she thinks a lot of you. Pam says you can even cook." "Not me! I enjoy puttering around the kitchen but I just stand back and watch when Pam takes over. You did a wonderful thing by teaching her to cook." Ruth stood at the range and stirred whatever was in the pot. She turned and smiled. "Both girls spent time in the kitchen but I had the impression it was more like a jail sentence than a classroom." I smiled when Pam exclaimed, "MOM! You know we loved to be in here with you." "Yes, but that was because the alternative was out in the fields with your dad." Pam replied, "Well..." I said, "So she learned to cook by default." I smiled as they laughed. "Tom, do you like vegetable soup?" "I love it, and my mouth is watering as I stand here." "I always add some sirloin steak and veal sausage and let it simmer for several hours so all the flavors blend." "Mom is also baking her legendary sourdough bread. Wait until you taste it. I've missed her cooking. Mom, how long will it be until it's ready?" "About 15 minutes before the bread's done. The soup is ready now." Pam responded, "Tom, could we bring our luggage in?" "Sure, please excuse us Ruth." She smiled and turned back to her soup. As we walked to the car, Pam reached inside my arm and said, "You were exactly right. It was like our last argument never happened. I can't believe she was so happy to see me." I smiled. As I unloaded the two overnight bags, Pam asked, "Is it okay if we stay an extra day? I was thinking we'd just stay tonight and go back tomorrow afternoon. But I think I want to stay a little longer. My sister is going home on Saturday." "That's fine. I'll need to wash a shirt and underwear but the jeans will be good for another day." "Do you have to wear underwear?" I glanced and saw that devious grin I was learning to love. I smiled. "I suppose not." "Good, you never know when this sex-starved lady will attack. The fewer layers I have to remove, the better." She leaned into me and we kissed before she flashed that grin again. I carried the bags upstairs. There was a long central hallway with bedrooms on both sides. Whoever designed the house planned for maximum ventilation during the summer months. There were windows at each end of the hall to create a nice breezeway. There were transom windows that could be opened above each bedroom doorway. This allowed the outside bedroom windows to be open and let the air flow through the room into the breezeway created in the hall. It was an ingenious design for an earlier time. Pam led me to one of the bedrooms. "I told her you'd be here in the guest room and I'd sleep in my old room. Jerri will be in her old room. Of course, I can visit you at night, just to make sure you're okay." Again, she flashed that grin I found so charming. "You're cute, young lady." She replied, "If you think I'm cute, wait until you see Jerri. You'll probably want to do nightly visits to her room." "You're more than I can imagine, plus she's an old married lady." "Yeah, but she loves sex as much as I do. I'll bet anything that you'll hear a lot of buzzing in her room after she meets you. Maybe I should lay a spare set of batteries on her nightstand." She grinned again. "When does she arrive?" "Her plane lands at 5:00. She's on Southwest from Houston. The airport is only 45 minutes from here and I told Mom we'd all go together to pick her up. Maybe we can have dinner somewhere." "That's a good idea. We don't want to be a burden on your mom any more than necessary." "There's a fine restaurant named Soby's on Main Street. They have good Southern-style food but with a contemporary twist... lots of unusual food combinations, and they're really fun to try." "Sounds good. I always like to check out what other good restaurants are doing." "I'll call and make a reservation for 6:30. That should give us time to get her luggage and drive to the restaurant." We walked downstairs to the kitchen and arrived just as Ruth was ladling the soup. The loaves of bread looked fantastic, as good as any bakery bread I'd seen. We took our bowls and a basket of the warm bread to the dining room, which was next to the living room and on the front of the house. The large front windows let in a flood of sunlight that warmed the room. We sat and Ruth said she wanted to ask the blessing. We bowed our heads and held hands. "Our Father, thank you so much for bringing Pam home. It means the world to me that she and Tom are here. I ask that Jerri has a safe trip in and that this family reunion will be perfect in every way. Bless this food and us to Your service. Amen." I glanced at Pam and saw her wiping a tear away as she said, "Thank you, Mom." The soup was very flavorful... a little spicy but with a rich vegetable taste that comes from using the best ingredients and simmering a long time. The sourdough bread was among the best I've tasted. I was amazed she could get such a wonderful hard crust using a home oven. "Pam, could you learn how to make this bread? I'm blown away by its taste and texture. And the soup is delicious." I smiled at Ruth and added, "You madam, are a marvelous cook." She grinned and thanked me. She looked at Pam. "I can give you some of the sourdough starter if you'd like." "I'd love that, Mom." After lunch, Pam and I washed the dishes and the pot while Ruth put the leftovers away. Once everything was in its place, Pam called the restaurant and made the reservation. Ruth said, "Let go to the living room and enjoy the fire. I want to get to know you a little better Tom." Pam and I sat on the sofa facing the fire and Ruth was in her favorite chair to our right. Pam took my hand. "Pam tells me that you two recently met and that she's really impressed with you." "The feeling is mutual. You raised a wonderful young lady." Ruth smiled and glanced at Pam. "She's a wonderful daughter. We've had our rough patches, like all families do, but that's all behind us now. Pam is a very passionate person. She and Jerri can be the sweetest people in the world but they can also fight like two wildcats." "MOM! That's all behind us. I've changed my ways." "I'm sure you have, sweet. Tom, she tells me you live in Chattanooga." "Yes, just outside the city on a hill overlooking the valley." "What do you do for a living?" "I own a few restaurants and a retail store that sells kitchen equipment and supplies." Lydia's Dream Ch. 03-04 "Pam, why didn't you tell me I'd be cooking for a restaurant owner? I'd have fixed something other than soup." "Ruth, I love soup and yours was wonderful. I'd like to serve it in my restaurants." She smiled. "Okay. I don't want to embarrass myself too much." "You'll never be embarrassed with that cooking." "Pam told me that you're nine years old than she." I thought that might come up so I prepared myself for the speech as Ruth continued. "That was exactly the same age difference between her dad and me. I'm very relieved that she now has a more mature, experienced and settled guy in her life." I quietly sighed with relief. "Ruth, I'm glad you think that. I was concerned you'd think I was too old for her." "Of course not. Richard and I had a great marriage. He was a wonderful husband and provided well for us. He worked very hard both on and off the farm and I miss him. We were married over 25 years before his heart attack. Have you been married?" "Yes, my wife died from breast cancer over two years ago. She was 29." "Oh my! That's awful. I'm so sorry." "I still miss her; but like you said a few minutes ago, that's behind us. Pam and I are looking to the future." Ruth smiled and nodded her head. I continued, "Tell me about your farm." "Well, we have a little over 180 acres. It's hilly but the cattle don't seem to mind. We have two good spring-fed creeks and some good timber. I only have about 50 head but the calves bring in enough to pay the taxes and provide what little cash I need. I've a large garden and put up most of my vegetables. There's an old orchard with apple and pear trees. Richard's great-grandfather bought this land and built the house in the 1890's." "Pam indicated that you might want to sell it." "Yeah, it's getting more expensive to operate the farm and the taxes are going up. My neighbors help with maintenance and the cattle but there are vet bills that seem to be higher every year. A few people have indicated an interest so I might let it go. I don't think either Pam or Jerri want it so it's probably time to move on." "Do you mind if I take a walk and see it?" "No, of course not. Pam will be glad to show you around. Be careful with that bull. He's out in the pasture to graze for a few days. He's a new one and I'm not sure I trust being around him yet." We visited a few more minutes before Pam and I put on jackets and walked out the back door. The chickens scrambled to get out of our way once they realized we weren't going to feed them. The crisp air had a cold edge to it. She took my arm and we walked to the first outbuilding about 100 feet behind the house. It appeared to be a very old building, made of wood and painted white, like the house, with windows along the sides. "This is the tool shed. Dad kept many of his farm tools and some of the tractor equipment here." I swung open the wide door and heard the loud screeching of the rusty hinges. A large John Deere tractor was facing me. It was larger than I expected to see so I asked, "Why did your dad need such a big tractor?" "He bought it second-hand and mowed hay for several of the other farmers around here. They traded work in the old way. Dad would mow, rake and bale the hay for our neighbors and they would help him with harvesting the corn, tending the cattle, cutting firewood and making repairs around here. That's the way it's been done for hundreds of years." "What happens now?" "I'm not sure but I imagine that is still going on. Maybe someone else is using his tractor, mower and baler. We should ask Mom." I walked past the tractor to see what else was there. The building smelled of dried grass, motor oil, gasoline and axle grease. But there was something else familiar in the air. I asked, "Did he store black walnuts in here?" "Yes, how did you know?" "I can still smell them. They're very distinctive." She replied, "Let's look around. I haven't been in this shed in years." We looked behind several boards of lumber leaning against the wall and some old empty cardboard boxes before Pam found a bushel of hulled nuts. I picked up a few and said, "These are still good." I handed one to Pam. "Feel how heavy it is. Why don't we take them back to the cabin if your mom doesn't want 'em." "I'll ask her." "I love their flavor and the shelled nuts are hard to find and expensive when you do." As I turned, Pam put her hands around my neck and we kissed several times. "The next spot I want to show you is our barn loft. The hay is so soft and one of my fantasies has been to entertain a young man, just like you, in the hay." There was that grin again. "I like soft hay," I replied with a smile. We walked approximately 100 yards down a lane and through a gate to an old gray barn. As we entered the large open door, the smell of cattle and hay permeated the air. The dirt floor inside was very hard and dry with a thick layer of dust and a musty odor. I could hear a chicken announcing to the world that she had just laid an egg. There was a ladder built into the structure leading straight up to the loft. Pam started up and I watched her shapely bottom go into the loft before following. For the next twenty minutes, we snuggled together in the hay. Although we didn't technically have sex, we were close to it. We had fun exploring each other but the cold air forced us to rush. Pam was thrilled with my full attention to her loins. I held her close as she came off the climax and regained her strength. "That was amazing. Wonder why it was so powerful?" she asked. "Maybe it's the hay, or that you're relaxed and very happy being here with your mom. Maybe it's the smell of the barn or that you find me totally charming and irresistible!" She grinned. "It's got to be those last two. Whatever caused it, that was special!" "Let's get your jeans on and walk around." I held her waist while she reached down to pull up her panties and jeans. I helped by dusting the hay from her legs and bottom. We walked through a gate and down a hill into the next valley. There was a cold breeze blowing in our face. Even though it was late fall, there was still green grass in the pasture and we could see the cattle grazing down near one of the creeks. We kept watch for the bull but he seemed to be focused on the tender grass. Turning and walking around the crest of a second hill, we walked down to another creek in the next pasture. This was a serene and very pretty place. From this spot, there were no houses or man-made structures in sight, in any direction. We saw a great blue heron in the creek standing perfectly still watching for minnows. It warily glanced at us before flying gracefully in the other direction. After an hour, we decided to begin our return. We needed to take baths and change for the trip to pick up Jerri. As we walked, I asked, "You're not interested in keeping the farm?" "No, not really. It was a good place to grow up and my childhood was very happy here. But everywhere I look, I remember Dad and that brings to mind how badly I hurt him. If Mom wasn't here, I don't think I'd ever want to come back." We walked through the back door and found Ruth still enjoying the fire while reading a newspaper. "Did you get the grand tour?" she asked. Glancing at Pam, I smiled and said, "I did. The hills and valleys are beautiful." I locked eyes with Pam who glared at me and frowned at the obvious double entendre. Ruth asked Pam, "What was the name of the police officer you were dating in Charlotte?" "Why do you ask?" Pam replied. "I was just reading in the paper that three officers were arrested yesterday and charged with drug dealing. They're accused of stealing drugs out of the evidence locker and selling them." "His name is John Cramer." "That's what I thought. He was one of them." Pam took the paper and quickly read the article. John was charged and released on bail along with the two others. She also knew one of the other officers charged. All three were placed on administrative leave and released on bail. Pam looked at me with fear in her eyes and shook her head. "Mom, we're going up to change our clothes for the airport and dinner." "I need to change too," Ruth replied. "We need to leave in about an hour." We walked upstairs to my bedroom. Pam closed the door before saying, "That's what the little book was about. It's his records of the deals and his customers phone numbers. Tom, I didn't tell you this because I didn't want you to know; but I took his book and have it in my suitcase." "Why did you do that?" "I thought it was important to him and I wanted to get back at him for beating me up. If he'd had any money there, I'd have taken that also. You have no idea how mad I was at that bastard." "Do you think your dream last night was your conscience telling you to give it back?" "I suppose that's a possibility," she replied. "If it's evidence of a crime, I can't give it back to him now. I could be charged as an accessory." "Should we give it to the police?" "You don't know about their code?" she asked. "They always protect each other." "Yeah, I know; but what can you do?" She responded, "I don't know. Let me think about it. The great thing is that he has no idea where I am. Hey, we need to get a move on. Let's get out of these dirty clothes, sweetheart, and take a bath." "I saw the old claw foot bath tub. It's been many years since I had a true bath. Showers are so easy." "Yeah, but this old house never had showers. We could bathe together." We both grinned. "Let's do it. By the way, where's your mom's bedroom?" "Oh, there's a large bedroom to the right of the living room and it's on the back side of the house. There's also a nice bath down there that is very modern. That gives us lots of privacy up here." Pam walked down the hall to her bedroom and then to the bathroom. I could hear the water as she started filling the tub. In a moment, she appeared at my door with her change of clothes. I picked out mine and followed her to the bath. While the water was still running, she added bubble bath that worked quickly. I held her hand as she stepped into the large tub. Pam sat on one end and I took the other. We stared at each other and smiled. I suddenly felt her foot worm its way between my legs. I could feel her other foot join the party and her toes rubbing me slowly up and down. "Pam, why are you torturing me like this?" She grinned. I added, "I'm glad you're entertained." "This is what these big tubs are for, sweetheart." I shook my head and tried to relax. Pam reached to place my foot between her legs and massage my toes and the sole. That felt great, especially with it nestled in her valley. **** As we dressed, I said, "I think we need to install one of these old tubs at the Chattanooga house. There's a lot to be said for them." She giggled. Once ready, we walked downstairs and waited for her mom. I separated what little burning wood was left in the fireplace so it'd extinguish quicker. In just a few minutes, Ruth walked in. She wore a very attractive autumn dress. I could see where the girls got their beauty. With her fashion makeup, she was a lovely and sexy woman in very fine shape and still young, only in her mid-forties. Any man would be proud to be seen with her. I escorted the ladies to the car and opened the doors for them. Pam insisted that her mom sat up front with me. As we headed to the airport Pam said, "Mom, when we were walking around, we found a bushel of black walnuts in the tool shed. Do you want them for any reason or can I have them?" "Sweet, I didn't even know they were there. I'd like a gallon or so. A friend of mine loves black walnut cake, but I've not been able to find the nuts." Pam asked, "Is this friend a woman or a man?" Ruth hesitated before saying, "A man." I glanced over at Ruth. She was looking straight ahead and smiling. I glanced in the mirror at Pam. She was obviously intrigued and trying not to laugh. After a moment, she said, "Now Mom, tell me about this man." "Well, he lives a couple of miles down the road and we go to church together. He lost his wife to cancer last year. We've become good friends." "How good?" "PAM! That's not something I'm ready to talk about." "Okay, just remember if you need any advice on how to please a man, don't call me. Maybe Tom can help you." "You keep me out of this. I'm sure Ruth has everything under control." I again glanced at Ruth and she was looking straight ahead and still smiling. I glanced in the rear view mirror again and Pam had her hand over her mouth and shaking as she tried not to laugh. We arrived at the airport and parked in the short-term lot. All of us went to the arrival area to await Jerri. About ten minutes later, the doors opened and people flooded through, looking for their loved ones, a driver or for baggage claim. Jerri was in the middle of the pack and started waving to us when she saw Ruth and Pam waving. "Hi guys." She hugged her mom and then Pam. Pam put her arm inside mine, "Jerri, I want you to meet Tom Sumter. Tom, this is Jerri." She noticed me for the first time. "PAM! I had no idea you were seeing someone. Tom, it's a pleasure to meet you." I expected a handshake but she insisted on a hug. She was indeed beautiful with long auburn hair that was very wavy. Like Pam's, her hair had a brilliant luster. Jerri was approximately 5'7"... just a little taller than Pam. They shared similar facial features, including the same gorgeous blue eyes; but Jerri had a couple of sexy dimples. She was curvy in all the right places and not an ounce overweight. "My honor, Jerri. Pam has told me many good things about you." "Wow, that's a shock. Are you sure it was this Pam?" "Tom, I haven't yet told you about her dark side." We all laughed, as Ruth butted in. "Now girls, don't start picking at each other until we at least get home." Pam and Jerri hugged again and both told each other how good it was to be together. As we waited for Jerri's baggage, Pam told her that we were going to Soby's for dinner. "Good, I've not been there in a couple of years. Is Jimmy still the manager?" Pam responded, "I've no idea. You've been there since I was." "You remember that night with Jimmy?" Pam grabbed her arm and said, "Shhhhh! Don't bring that up." Ruth asked, "What are you two talking about?" "Nothing Mom." The luggage arrived and I rolled it to the car. We drove back to Greenville with Ruth up front and the two sisters in the back. I could hear some soft whispering back there but just ignored it. I glanced in the mirror once and saw the two of them giggling and holding their mouths closed with their hands. We arrived at Soby's and the valet took our car. The restaurant was in the restored part of town and was housed in an old mill building. Its street presence was very attractive and it fit perfectly with the old town character they were trying to achieve. The hostess escorted us to the table, which was in the center of the room. I casually scanned the other tables and every male eye in the place was locked onto Jerri, Pam and Ruth. Even some of the women were staring. As we studied the menu, a guy a few years younger than me walked over. Pam saw him first. "Hi Jimmy, good to see you." "It's great to see y'all again. It's been too long. Hi Mrs. Davis." "Hi Jimmy." Jimmy leaned over and gave both Pam and Jerri kisses on their offered cheeks. As Pam introduced me I stood and shook hands with him. "Tom, you have a lovely trio of tablemates tonight. I'm glad y'all came in." "Thanks Jimmy. This looks like a very interesting place." "Thanks. I hope you enjoy it." We returned to our menus as he walked away. For starters, we decided to split the lobster mac & cheese with white truffle Parmesan streusel and the Hudson Valley foie gras on cinnamon bun French toast with huckleberry jam. As we enjoyed these intriguing and delicious dishes, Jerri began asking me many of the same questions that Ruth had asked. I reviewed my life one more time. Then she threw a new one at me. "Now exactly what are your intentions toward my baby sister?" Pam exclaimed, "JERRI!" I touched Pam's arm and said, "Hey, that's a fair question." They all looked at me. "Pam and I met recently, and we've spent considerable time together. I think we both feel a connection and want to see how it develops. I find her to be a fascinating young lady, full of life, and energy, and someone whom I admire." Pam was smiling. Jerri then focused on Pam and asked, "Okay, what's special about Tom?" Pam pursed her lips and thought. "He's unlike anyone I've ever met. He's mature, fun, a great listener, a good cook, and he makes me feel important and wanted." She looked at me and continued, "I'm able to talk to him about anything and he's given me the wisest advice I've ever had. We don't know yet if we're in love but we have a start toward that and we want to see how it develops." Jerri looked at me and smiled. "I think you've won my baby sister's heart." I smiled as Pam squeezed my hand. I could tell that Ruth was pleased. The main courses arrived. Jerri had the shrimp and grits, low country style. The grits had small pieces of country ham and was made with a chardonnay cream sauce. Ruth had the grilled North Carolina trout with creamy polenta and green beans. Pam had the duck breast with butternut squash ragout and mustard greens. I had a tough choice but finally decided on the hunter style rabbit confit leg, backstrap rabbit risotto, sweet peas, and carrots. We shared bites of each other's dishes. It was all very good. I made a mental note to call one of my chefs the next day and have him think about adding rabbit to our menu. Our dinner conversation continued with discussion of my family and background, Jerri's husband David and their house in Houston and the future of the farm. Pam stayed away from the subject of Ruth's new beau but I knew it'd come up later. **** As 11:00 pm approached, Ruth said she needed to call it a night and wished all of us sweet dreams. Jerri, Pam and I continued to talk but soon decided we needed sleep. All of us had a long day and were tired. After taking turns in the bathroom, we retired to our bedrooms. All was quiet and I assumed that Pam had decided not to visit me when 12:30 came. In another moment, I heard a soft tap on my door and opened it to find Jerri standing there in a short nightie. "Jerri!" "Can I come in?" I stammered, "Uhhh, sure." Thankfully, I had my underwear on. "Now don't get excited, Tom. I just want to talk." My quick prayer was immediately answered when the door opened again and Pam walked in. She also wore a short nightie. Pam exclaimed, "Well it sure didn't take long for you two to hook up!" She had fire in her eyes. Jerri said, "Pam, it's not what you think. I just came in to ask Tom for some advice." "Sure you did." I expected Pam to attack her at any moment so I stepped between them. "Pam, I haven't touched Jerri. She just came in a few seconds ago. I'd never cheat on you." That seemed to calm her and a silence filled the room; but I could feel the angry tension. I asked, "Can we sit and talk about this and hear what Jerri has to say?" They both continued to glare at each other. There were no chairs in the room so I suggested we sit on the bed. I climbed up first and sat on the pillows. Pam was next to me and Jerri was at the foot of the bed. All of us sat cross-legged. Jerri's perfectly shaped tanned legs and her thinly covered crotch was very distracting so I tried to focus on her eyes. I broke the silence and asked, "Jerri, what do you want to ask?" Jerri glanced at Pam and then at me. "My husband and I are thinking about a divorce." Pam gasped. "When Pam said tonight that you had given her great advice, I decided I needed to ask for some also." Pam laid her hand on my leg and squeezed it before crawling down to Jerri and hugging her. Lydia's Dream Ch. 03-04 "I'm so sorry," Pam said. "I had no idea." "No one does. I came here this week to tell Mom about our problems and seek her advice. I still need to do that. But then I was thinking earlier tonight that maybe Tom could take a more impersonal view of the situation and give me some ideas." Pam glanced at me and responded, "A very wise person told me one time that it's easier to talk to a stranger than to a loved one." Again, silence engulfed us for a few moments. Pam then asked, "Is it alright if I stay and hear the discussion? I promise to keep it totally to myself and maybe there's some way I can help." Jerri studied her face and finally agreed. "My husband hasn't been faithful to me and I have to admit that I've not been faithful to him. It started about three months ago. He had been working very late several nights in a row and I went to sleep without him. One morning, I found a note in his pants pocket from a woman named Brenda asking him to meet her at one of the bars. I worried about it all day and confronted him with it that night. He said that Brenda was a co-worker and that she just wanted to have a drink and talk about a project they were estimating. That sounded plausible but I still had a nagging feeling about it. "A couple of days later, I called his office and asked for Brenda. The operator said no one by that name worked there. They only have the one office building so then I was really angry; but I decided to wait and see if anything else happened. "The following week, as I was doing the laundry, I could detect the fragrance of a strange perfume on one of his shirts. I confronted him again. He finally admitted that a woman had been coming on to him and that he'd had sex with her one time. He started crying and promised me it was over and that he regretted it. "I was so mad I could have killed him. We didn't speak for several days and didn't have sex for several weeks. Pam, you know how I am about needing sex. You're the same way. I just kind of go crazy. "Anyway, there's a guy living behind us who's been out of work for a while. He's cute, not married and he's hit on me a few times. I always told him I wasn't interested. But then, one morning I was sunning near the pool and one thing led to another and we ended up doing it in every possible position all day. That was some of the best sex I've ever had." I sat silently and watched Jerri cry. Pam put her arm around Jerri's back and tried to console her. After several sad moments she asked, "Tom, is there anyway you see for us to save our marriage? I really don't want to leave him but I can't trust him and I know he shouldn't trust me." There were again several moments of silence. "Jerri, I'm not a marriage counselor and I certainly don't know all the answers. But let me say that honesty and a frank and open discussion with your husband is very important. He probably already knows that you need frequent sex and may have already guessed that after several weeks you were getting it somewhere else. But guessing isn't the same as knowing and I think it'd be wise for you to tell him how it happened. Since you're both guilty, I think that any true love you have for each other will survive. However, you both need to be totally up front and honest about the causes of your straying. Has he given you any reason to think he's continued to be unfaithful?" "No." "Then don't give up on him. Do you still love him?" "Yes." "Even more reason to try again. I suggest that before you tell your mom about any of this and get her concerned that you call David and tell him of your love. Tell him that you want to get away for a weekend and talk through all your mutual concerns and the future. Ask him to take you to a nice resort for two or three days and just totally focus on each other. I'll bet he'll come to his senses, if he hasn't already, and that you two will have a great, sex-filled weekend." "You think so?" "Jerri, other than Pam, you're the prettiest women I've ever seen. You two are amazing and so full of love. No man would turn his back on you without thinking long and hard. But with that beauty comes a responsibility that requires self-discipline. It is now gut-check time. If you truly feel that you can't be totally committed to one man, you should admit that to yourself and to him and then move on. You and your husband will only end up heartbroken if you try to live a lie. He has that same responsibility and you two need to discuss it. Sometimes we men are impulsive fools. We let our hormones take over while our brains take a vacation." Pam responded, "We women can be the same way." "Thanks Tom. I like your idea. Pam, you're a lucky girl to have this guy. I'm sorry to burden you with my problems." The sisters hugged again before Jerri left. Pam looked over and said to me, "I'm sorry I assumed the worst when I saw you two. Thank you for trying to help her. Your advice also helped me." She walked to the door, turned the lights off and slipped under the covers with me. We held each other and kissed but Pam was clearly upset. She turned on her side with her back to me and we spooned with my arm across her chest. * End of Chapter 4. Please vote and leave comments.