It was after seven when they finally got home. Ted had decided they would stop for dinner at a local restaurant, followed by a quick stop at the closest grocery store before going to his house. Ted and Pam were quiet and probably thinking about the weekend. It was a letdown to return to their regular, everyday lives.
They had been free to be what they were and who they were for one long weekend. They had not had to hide their relationship but could expose it to the light of day. They had been free and happy in "that" world, but now they were back in "this" world.
Despite the joys of the previous three days, Ted and Pam were unwilling to admit it but felt just a little depressed. Three days of luxury and unlimited fun, but now, they were back in the real world.
Pam said that she wanted to fire up her computer and get a start on company emails.
Ted wanted to see if he needed to do some laundry.
Around 11:00, they went to bed, cuddled up, and fell asleep with almost no conversation.
On Monday, they worked all day and hardly spoke to one another. Ted had a client dinner on Monday night, and when he arrived home, Pam was in bed and asleep.
Tuesday morning, around 11:00, Pam called Ted. Never knowing if they were free to talk, Ted saw that it was Pam calling and said, "May I help you?"
He thought her voice was a little breathless. Finally, Pam said, "If you have a minute, I'd like to come to your office and show you something."
Deciding that they were not being overheard, Ted replied, "Sure, darlin', come on in. I've always got time for you."
Pam walked into Ted's office with a huge smile within two minutes. She turned and waved to someone before closing the office door. She circled around his desk and gave him a large wet kiss.
As he sat there wondering if she had lost her mind, Pam pushed his chair aside and leaned over to his computer keyboard. "Look at this," she said as she typed in an internet location on his computer.
After a few seconds, a picture appeared on his monitor. It took only a nanosecond for Ted to realize it was a photo of Jeanie. The Jeanie they'd shared their weekend with. She was in a beautiful dress, standing in front of a backdrop. The caption read, "Jean Winslow, star of the new Century Movies production of 'Forever in Love,' was in Atlanta last night for the premiere of her new film." Below the photo was a story about the new movie release filmed in and around the Atlanta area and how critics had already determined that Ms. Winslow was a leading contender for this year's Oscar for an actress in a lead role.
Ted turned to Pam with his mouth open. "We spent our weekend with an Oscar nominee? So our Jeanie is an actress?"
Pam took his hand in hers and kissed his palm. Looking into his eyes, she said, "We not only spent time with her, but we also had sex with her. Both of us. And here's the next piece of news. When we were getting ready to leave, Jeanie took me aside and said that she would really like to see us again, but without Bill, if she was ever near us. She gave me her telephone number and email address, and I gave her my information. Before I found this story on the internet, I received a message from her. It said, 'Will be in your city next month and would love to get together.'
"Before I knew she was THE Jean Winslow, a Hollywood star, I answered her saying, 'You are always welcome. We have a big bed that sleeps three.' And honestly, babe, before I found this story on the internet, she wrote back to me and said, 'I've never met two sexier people than you and your man. So I hope the three of us can find a few hours to relive our two-act play.'
"So, what do you think?" Pam asked.
Ted thought for five seconds and said, "If she wants to come and spend a night or two with us, it would certainly be rude for us to say NO. She is exceptionally beautiful and sexy, and I think we should welcome her."
"You are being a jerk," Pam said. "And I am being serious. Can she stay with us?"
Ted stood up and put his arms around Pam. "I am being a jerk, and of course, she can stay with us forever if she wants to, but I'm guessing her agents won't let her do that. She's a star now. They'll want to control every minute of her life. So you write back to her and tell her that we are both excited to see her and let her know that she can stay with us for a week if her schedule allows it. Does that work for you, babe?"
Pam looked at Ted for a long time before speaking. "I'm certain that you're right. But I'll send her the message."
That night, arriving home, they were both in a better mood. Ted quickly changed into his usual shorts and polo. As he walked out the bedroom door, he called back to Pam, "Maybe you should wear that sweet little red jacket that you wore to the pool last weekend."
Ted stood there long enough for Pam to stick her head out of the large walk-in closet and give him a big smile.
"I'm going to open a bottle of wine for us to share while you find something appropriate to wear."
Ted had been in the kitchen long enough to find and open a nice bottle of chilled chardonnay. He was pulling some glasses from the cabinet when Pam walked around the corner. She stood there smiling at him and slowly turned for Ted to look her over. Pam wore the dress shirt he had just taken off with its sleeves rolled up. She stopped when she faced him, and he saw that she was naked under the shirt. She gave him a big smile and said, "Being at home alone with you is as good as being in that special cabin. Maybe we can do some of the things we did at the cabin tonight?"
Ted stepped over to her, put his hands inside the shirt, and pulled Pam to him. After a long and delicious kiss, he said, "Being alone with you anywhere is always the best moment of my life. Now, why don't we drink a glass of wine and discuss which of our cabin activities we want to try."
As he started to pour wine, Pam said, "OH! I almost forgot." She disappeared into the bedroom and then came hurrying back. "I found these in my suitcase while I was looking for the red top you liked so much," Pam said excitedly. She handed the gifts Bill had given them when they were leaving. "I put these in my bag and completely forgot them."
Ted handed Pam her glass of wine. They touched their glasses in a toast and took a sip. Setting his glass down, he took the box Bill had given him and said, "Let's see what he came up with."
Once the wrapping was off, Ted held a small green leather box embossed with a gold crown.
They both gasped when Ted opened the box to find what they both knew was a costly Rolex watch. Ted took it out and noticed it had been engraved on the back. It read, "Thanks, ole son. You're the Best."
"Oh... My... God," Pam said. "That is fantastic."
"Get yours open," Ted said.
Pam smiled and said, "My shirt or the box?"
"First, the box," Ted said, "I'll take care of the shirt afterward."
Much too slowly, Pam took the paper off her package, discovering just a plain brown box. She put it down on the countertop and slowly removed the top. Inside was a lot of tissue paper that had to be removed before she discovered five one thousand dollar bills. Pam took them from the box, saying once again, "OH… MY… GOD!"
At the bottom of the box was a handwritten note from Bill. Pam read out loud, "Maybe you can use this to buy some pretty lingerie to entertain that man of yours."
"That would buy some pretty special lingerie," Ted said. "What do you think?"
Pam leaned into him, dropped a hand between his legs, squeezed it, and said, "I'm thinking Hot Tub."
It was five weeks until Pam heard from Jeanie again. Her message read,
Hi love.
It's been too long since I've seen you and your extraordinary man. I had hoped to be in your city within four weeks, but it didn't work out for me. Instead, I've been on a whirlwind tour of the country. My new film has been a bigger hit than the company expected. There have been hundreds of requests for me to do interviews and local TV shows. But, of course, my agent wants me to do every one of them, saying it will increase my popularity and help me when Oscar time rolls around.
However, I've managed to get permission to take three days off next weekend. So, with your consent, I'll have a private plane bring me to your town on Friday and pick me up on Monday morning. I hope that works out for you and Ted. I'll understand if you have other plans. This is relatively short notice.
Jeanie
After checking with Ted, Pam wrote back to Jeanie. Your plan works well for us. We'll pick you up at the airport and take you home. We are thrilled to have you stay with us, even for just a few days.
Two days later, Pam received another message from Jeanie.
I'm so glad that my plans fit yours. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to spending quality time in your bed. Spending a few days with you and Ted makes me drool with excitement. Don't plan anything special other than being naked with me.
I hope you won't mind if I don't want to go out to eat. Whenever I'm out in public, someone recognizes me, and then we have to go through thirty minutes of signing autographs. I'm not complaining. I'm grateful for the attention. But it does make doing ordinary things difficult.
I'll call you when I get a better idea of when I'll arrive.
I'm excited to see you.
Jeanie
On Friday morning, Pam went into Ted's office. "I've just heard from Jeanie. She said her private plane is scheduled to land at 5:30 today. Will that create a problem for us?"
Grinning, Ted said, "Not at all. I expect everyone here will be slipping out by 4:30. We'll do the same thing and drop your car at my house before heading to the airport."
Pam frowned. "How 'bout I leave here at 2:00 and pick up some groceries and wine?"
"An excellent idea," Ted replied. "That's why you are my highly-paid assistant."
"Assistant, yes. Highly paid… I don't think so."
"But look at all your fringe benefits," Ted said with a grin. "You sleep in the boss' bed and perform sexual favors for him. And this weekend, you'll enjoy his bed with another fascinating woman. You can't complain about that."
Pam cocked an eyebrow. "I'm willing to admit that the non-cash benefits outweigh any other considerations. Just promise me that you aren't going to fall in love with Jeanie."
"Not a chance," Ted laughed. "She's much too old for me."
"Smart ass," Pam whispered but smiled.
At 5:30 that afternoon, Ted and Pam sat outside the private plane terminal in his car.