Very much liked this chapter, particularly the Jam banter at the end. Looking forward to apartment hunting!!

Author's Response: Thank you! I promise we'll get more banter (though the apartment-shopping itself may be more summarized than shown)

I can imagine that it was all Jim could do to not choke on his lunch or pull a spit take. This is huge for him to be sure. You've got him handling very well. Making sure she's ok first and THEN leaning into humor. Well done Jim for making sure to get the priorities right.

A couple bubbles of new feelings coming in for Pam too. Granted she's still fresh off the breakup, but there's something stirring there. Now that she has a squire at her side, it'll be fun to see where this new adventure takes her.

Also I love that you keep putting in references to things like classic literature in your stories. You've brought other more academic shall we say topics in that past. It works really well here too. Great job.

Author's Response:

Oh yeah, Jim is biting his tongue really hard here. And Pam is...starting to think.

And thank you! I work with classic literature in my day job, so I guess this is that coming through, so thanks for noticing!

So sorry to hear you haven’t been well. Hope you’re doing ok now. Great chapter as always and glad to see Pam’s thinking about her future and what could be for her new home!

That whole last part made me laugh so much!! Very well written!

Author's Response: Aww, thanks! I was hoping it would hit!

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Thus the damn bursts. Took long enough. Well done on Pam for finally seeing through everything. She's ready for a hard conversation and Roy blows her off yet again. By action he proves she's not a priority. After everything she's been going through mentally he blew his last chance to try figure that out. Not sorry for Roy in the slightest. I do feel bad for Pam since she's going to be going through some hard times in the near future. Though I suspect things will look up sooner than later.

Great job as always.

Author's Response: Thank you as ever! Pam is going to have a tough time, but not immediately, because after every storm there should come a calm, I figure.

A bit of return to old habits here. Tomorrow, I'll do this big thing tomorrow. Still, considering the day seller has some allowances can be made. We'll be generous and say two steps forward one step back. So yes there is some progress, but not as much as there could have been. Old habits die hard after all. Hopefully Jim will be around to give her a bit of inspiration soon as well.

Author's Response: There will be progress, I assure you! But it's still Pam, so yes, still some old habits as well.

Really liking the introspection Pam is doing here. She's not letting Roy or herself off the hook. Instead it feels like she's taking a good long honest look at her life and relationship. It's long overdue. That she's seeing the splotches now shows she's getting some needed clarity. Of course she's still making some compromises, like getting topping they both like on the second pizza. She's not quite comfortable in breaking all the ties quite yet. However, she's closer to mentally breaking up with Roy which means closer to actually breaking up with him too.

Author's Response: Thank you! She's much closer, and today's update will only push her further...though actually doing it is certainly another thing than thinking it.

Wow, the guys is seriously unable to accept any form of responsibility. He screws up so he leaves. Doesn't apologize or anything. Yeah, no wonder she's mad. He says he loves her, but his actions are shouting so much more loudly than his words that he doesn't love her. He doesn't prioritize her. She's essentially an afterthought.

No wonder she's so upset. A bit more of her breaking away from him. Getting the pizza and watching what she wants. She's also growing more steady in confronting him. Then she sees he has no answer. Lots of stuff building here. Feels like it's not going to take much more to push it all over the edge.

Author's Response:

Roy is definitely handling things badly. If we were in his head, maybe I'd build in some sympathy through exploring how you could get to thinking that was a good idea--but we're not, so...that's his problem.

Things are indeed building. Thanks for reading!

The cracks are really starting to form here. Pam's not just rolling over and letting Roy getaway with things. Especially when it comes things that are clearly his fault. Not that he's willing to realize that of course. No wonder they had an angry night. Still I like that she's standing up for herself. I hope she keeps it up.

Author's Response: She's going to keep it up; the next prompt in my series was just too perfect for keeping Roy being a dick. I hope you keep enjoying!

She may think of it as an image of steadfastness, but I see a woman who is growing. Slowly and surely like that oak tree. Roots spreading out and eventually breaking the concrete around them. Really like seeing her do things for her. Not for anyone else, just her.

Author's Response: Thank you! I appreciate you noticing resonances and implications I haven't fully fleshed out yet :)

Very cute time with Larissa here. I love it when Jim sets it up that she can indulge in her artistic passions. A fun twist there with train loving Jim and by extension the paintings of said trains. I don't think I've ever come across him having a hobby like that before so it was very refreshing. Add mark on the things we have in common track for Jim here.

Author's Response: Thank you! I think Jim deserves some hobbies, so I give him more all the chances I get (see next chapter). I appreciate your careful readings of my fics.

Hilarious!

Author's Response: Oh, I am so glad the humor is coming through like I want it to!

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I won’t complain about 31 chapters! Very much enjoying this! And yay for Jim’s coincidence. Good job larissa needed that lift

Author's Response: Thank you! And yes, what a CONVENIENT COINCIDENCE.