After dinner and three slow dances, Pam and Jim walked around the botanical gardens. There was an amazing outdoor display with plants and trees carefully groomed. Jim held on to Pam’s hand as they passed through the maze of bushes and flowers. Many other couples were roaming the path. There was music playing, the air was crisp and clear, the stars were out, and Jim and Pam were together.

“This has been a very good date,” Pam said swinging Jim’s hand back and forth with hers.

“Yeah, I thought so too.”

“Where did you find out about all these little places?”

“Larry.”

“Is that your imaginary friend or something?” she said with a chuckle.

“The concierge.”

“Oh. Well, thank you Larry.”

Jim laughed and stopped on the sidewalk. “Hey, would you take a picture with me?”

“Um, where are we going to get our picture taken?”

“I have this,” he said, pulling a camera out of his jacket. “But, there is also a photographer up the hill here,” Jim said, pointing.

“You have all sorts of things up your sleeve tonight,” Pam said as she lifted her eyebrows.

“I’m prepared. So, you stand here and I will take the picture.”

“Wait, you have to be in it too.”

“Oh yeah. Okay….we’ll stand here while I take it. I just have to hold the camera too.”

“There you go,” Pam said pulling him close.

Jim held out the camera and leaned closer to Pam. “Ready? One. Two. Three.”

When the camera flashed, Jim felt Pam’s lips on his cheek. He turned and smiled at her. “What was that for? Your ruined the picture.”

“No, I added something to the picture.”

“Okay, let’s do it again, but no kissing my cheek this time,” Jim said as she stuck out his hand and counted to three.

During the second picture, Pam pulled Jim’s face to hers and quickly kissed him on the lips. After she pulled away from the kiss, she giggled and fixed her lipstick.

“Again with ruining the picture. Are we ever going to get a good one?”

“I thought those were pretty good,” she said winking.

“Well, let’s do one without you smooching on me so we can show your mom and Scarlet.”

Jim sighed, held out the camera and leaned back into position.

“I promise I'll be good this time,” Pam said, giving a sly grin.

“Okay. Let’s do this one right.”

Once Jim counted to three, he turned quickly and pecked Pam on the cheek. She jumped back in shock and dropped her jaw.

“That was supposed to be a good one! No more pictures.”

“I think I have all I need,” Jim said slipping the camera back into his pocket.

Pam giggled and then ran her hand along his arm. “Jim?”

“Yeah?”

“Is there more to this night or can we get back to the hotel soon?”

“I was going to take you to an art exhibit, but if you wanted to leave now we could.”

“I think the art exhibit is a great idea, but I think I’m a little beat,” she said as she slipping her hands into his coat and around his waist.

“Whoa, are you being provocative, Miss Beesly?” Jim asked with a grin.

“You just now caught my drift?”

“Sure did, and I really like that idea,” Jim said as he pulled her hand towards the garden’s gate.

-----

Standing in the elevator, Pam gently leaned up against Jim, staring up at his face. She loved that she could touch him anytime she wanted and he didn’t mind. Ever since he had told her how he felt, she always thought about running her hands over his forearms. Now, she could do that and more.

Pam pressed her lips against his. He responded with kissing her back and quickly pulling her off the elevator once the door opened. They rushed towards their room and he fumbled with the key until he dropped it.

“Dang it.”

“What are you doing? Hurry!” she said as she stood there bouncing up and down.

“I’m trying. If you hadn’t gotten me all riled up on the elevator, this might not be happening right now.”

“Here,” Pam said as she took the key from his hands and slowly put the card in the slot.

The door clicked and they pushed it open. One foot inside the door, Pam grabbed Jim and kissed him and nearly knocked him over. Jim caught his balance by bracing himself against the wall behind him.

Between Pam’s kisses, Jim croaked out, “Pam, what are you doing?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, but can’t we get in door before you attack me?”

“I don’t care…” she said helping him out of his jacket.

He pushed her slightly and rested his hands on her arms. “Listen, let’s slow down. We have all night…”

“I know, I know….”

“Well, cool it a second,” Jim said, walking towards the bed and adjusting his tie.

“Sorry, I didn’t know you were so….gentleman-like,” she said as she walked over to the couch.

“I just don’t want to ruin anything. Okay?” Jim said. Pam thought that his tone was a little harsh.

“Are you okay, Jim? Are you upset with me?” she said, hoping that he wasn’t upset.

Jim wiped his forehead and sat down on the bed. “No, I don’t what’s gotten into me. I just want this to be perfect and not purely based on emotions, you know.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Sorry…”

“No, don’t be. I understand completely,” Pam said, pulling her shoes off.

As Pam leaned down to kick off her heels, she caught a glimpse of her journal lying on the coffee table. She eyed it and then grabbed it up. She wanted to joke with Jim to get him out of his mood so she flipped to the page he had written on. She turned around on the couch and leaned her elbows on the back of it. She smiled at Jim and held the journal page out to him.

“Oh Jim!” she said, waving it in the air.

“What?” Jim said as he turned to see her taunting him with the journal.

“I think I might just read this now.”

“No don’t do that.”

“Why?” she said, looking at the page, not really reading it, just teasing him.

“Pam, seriously. Don’t read that right now,” Jim demanded, standing up and walking over to her.

“Why not? I think I should…”

“No. It’s not the right time.”

“What’s not the right time?” she asked, skimming over his writing.

“Pam. Stop!” he said as he rushed over to the couch to stop her.

Pam quickly stood and moved the journal out of Jim’s grasp.

“It’s my journal, Jim!”

“Please Pam, don’t read that until you write to that page. Please?”

“Why?” she said, hurrying over to the corner and reading his words.

Jim walked over to where she was hunched over in the corner reading the page that he had asked her not to read. He stood behind her with his head down and his hands in his pockets. “Pam…fine. I‘m going to the lobby while you‘re preoccupied.”

Pam ignored him and kept reading his words.

Tears flowed out of Pam’s eyes and she turned around to find Jim was gone.

“Jim?”

Pam then remembered hearing the click of the door. She put on her flip flops and carried the journal to the lobby with her. She found Jim resting his head in his hand as he sat in a chair. She walked up behind him and put her arms around his neck with the journal clutched in her hand. He responded by putting his hand on hers and turning his head to hers.

“You read it,” Jim stated.

“Yeah.”

“That’s not supposed to be the way you do it.”

“Why Jim? Why didn’t we talk about this sooner?”

“I didn’t think you were ready and I had it all planned out differently.”

“Really? First off, I’m way ready. Secondly, I’m sorry for ruining your plans but I’m glad I read it now.”

“You are?” he said, sitting up and looking deep into her eyes.

“Yeah.”

“Everything you said….I…”

“You don’t have to answer right now.”

“I want to…. I love you and yes, I want to…

Jim leaned closer to her ear and whispered like he did the night before, “Marry me.”

It wasn’t a question. It was the statement of the lifetime. Pam nodded and tears streamed her cheeks. She walked around from behind his chair and he stood. He kissed her and placed his hands along her waist. She still clutched to the journal as he kissed her passionately in the lobby. Once they both realized where they were, Jim smiled and pulled back.

“See. This isn’t how I planned it.”

“I’m sorry. I was just joking but when I saw the first sentence, it pulled me in.”

“I don’t have a ring right now.”

“No, that’s okay. This was perfect.”

“No it wasn’t. I got upset and left the room. How’s that for perfect?”

“Trust me, it was.”

“You need to listen to me more often.”

“Okay, I will from now on.”

“So, go get in our room.”

“Yes sir,” she said lightly skipping towards the elevator door.