“What’s wrong Jim?” Pam asked as she pulled one of their bags off the rotating belt.

Jim picked up another suitcase. “Just tired. That’s all.”

“Okay. Well, you need to let me know when something is wrong. I’m still getting used to you,” she said with a sly smile on her face.

“Yup.”

“Okay, now that wasn’t just from being tired. What’s wrong?” Pam asked, pulling her sleeves up to her elbows.

“Pam, I just got off a fourteen hour flight. I’m not myself right now.”

“Fine,” she said, rolling her luggage away from the rotating belt.

“Are you ready to go home?” he asked.

“Oh God, yes.”

“Good, because when we get there, we have to unpack all our junk at the new place.”

“I forgot all about unpacking. Why did you remind me?”

“Sorry. But guess what?”

“What?”

“I conned your mother into keeping Scarlet for a few more days so we could get the house ready before she comes home.”

“Really?”

“Serious as a heart attack.”

Pam didn’t look happy at his news. She smiled and nodded. “Cool.”

“Wait. You don’t look happy about that.”

“Well…it’s just…I haven’t been away from Scarlet for this long before. I’ve missed her,” Pam said quietly.

“Oh, Pam. I’m sorry. I just assumed that you would like to get some of the house stuff done without having to keep tabs on Scarlet. That’s all. I can call your mother if you want.”

“No. It’s probably wise that we get it done before she returns. You’re right.”

Jim looked down at Pam whose face was flushed. “I should've talked to you about it first. I was hoping that it would be a surprise but as I can tell, you aren’t really enjoying this surprise.”

Pam slowed her walking pace to a stop. “Hey. Don’t worry. I can call her and talk to her more now that we’re home. No biggie.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” Pam said, continuing her walking pace.

“Okay.”

----

Sitting in their driveway, Jim shut the car off and didn’t move. Pam didn’t move from her position either. She had her head resting in her palm as she leaned against the car door. Their car ride home had been silent due to both of them being exhausted from the flights and the time change.

Jim reached across Pam and opened her door for her. She blinked and yawned, got out of the car and staggered towards the trunk. Jim popped the trunk and made his way to where she stood. As Pam lifted the lid and began pulling on a heavy suitcase, Jim grabbed her arm, pulled it away from the luggage and pushed the trunk shut.

Pam looked up through her sleepy eyes. “What was that for?”

“Let’s do this in the morning.”

“That sounds like a good plan,” Pam said, grabbing Jim’s hand and pulling him towards the front door.

Jim fumbled with the key and struggled with getting the key in the door. Pam watched on and giggled slightly.

“Are you drunk?” she asked.

“No. Just insanely tired. Can you help me out here,” he said, holding the keys out towards Pam.

She took the keys and found the right one and stuck it in the doorknob. She popped the door open and when it swung open into their new house, they found stacks of boxes covering the living room.

“Great,” Jim said sarcastically.

“Hey, it was your idea to have our stuff moved when we were out of town,” she said, shutting the door behind her.

“My mistake,” Jim said, sauntering into the kitchen and flicking on the light. Pam watched on as he slowly made his way around the island and stopped and rested against the counter. She laughed at his attempt to keep his eyes open.

“What?”

“Let’s go to bed. It’s like one in the morning and we’re not used to the time change. So, pull off your clothes and let’s hop into bed.”

Jim smiled and raised his brow. “I’m too tired for any funny business tonight, Pam.”

“That’s not what I’m implying,” she said, grabbing Jim by the shirt, hitting the light switch and leading him up the stairs. When they stepped into the master bedroom their mattress was leaning against the wall with boxes covering the floor.

“Looks like we have to move a few things before we can lie down,” Pam said letting go of Jim’s wrinkled shirt and kicking boxes out of the way. Pam turned to see Jim leaning against the doorjamb with his eyes shut.

“HEY!” Pam shouted, getting his attention. Jim jumped and nearly fell forward. “If we move this together we can get into bed quicker. Come on.”

“Correct,” he said, kicking and moving boxes.

“I’m going to go find some sheets. Can you put the mattresses on the floor by yourself?” she asked.

“Can do.”

“Okay, be right back.”

Pam located her sheets in a box in the living room. She pulled the crisp white sheets out of the box and darted up the stairs. She heard the thump of the mattresses hitting the floor and hoped that he wasn’t trapped beneath them. When she entered the room, Jim was lying on the mattress with his hand resting over his eyes.

Pam couldn’t help but smile. He still had his sneakers on and hadn’t bothered with taking any article of clothing off. Pam turned out the light and walked over to Jim’s side. She opened up the folded sheet and covered him. As she walked around the mattress, she pulled off his shoes and noticed his breathing was already slow and steady. Pam pulled off her shoes and jeans and crawled on the mattress next to him. She opened the other sheet and covered herself. After she settled into the cold mattress, she snuggled up close to Jim’s side. When she got close enough, his arm come down and wrapped gently around her.

“Goodnight Jim,” she whispered.

Jim turned slightly and brought his mouth close to her ear. “Night, Pam.”

Pam smiled and got comfortable. Before she drifted into sleep, Jim whispered in her ear. “I love you.”

“Love you too,” she replied, closing her eyelids tight.

-----

Jim sat bolt upright from his dead sleep. Pam was sleeping next to him still. Something had awaken him from his sleep and he didn’t know what it was. All he knew now was that he was wide awake. He glanced down at Pam. She hadn’t budged at whatever had woken him or his jolt from the mattress. He rubbed his eyes and decided to just lay back and try to fall asleep. When he looked down at his watch it read: 4:23 a.m.

Closing his eyes again and putting his arm back around Pam, Jim heard a sound. His first instinct was to wake Pam and tell her about it. Talking himself out of it, he waited for another confirmation that someone or something was downstairs or outside.

Jim’s eyes flew open when the sound got louder. Jim slowly pulled his arm from underneath Pam and went out into the hallway. He stopped to listen to the sound that was continuing it’s racket. Jim stepped closer to the top of the staircase and looked over the banister for any movement.

The sound was constant and then stopped suddenly, as if they knew Jim was approaching the stairs. Jim’s heart raced as he stepped down the steps and into the living room. He looked around boxes before walking through the living room. The sound echoed through the kitchen and Jim decided that it was time he just face the problem head on.

He inched his way into the kitchen against the wall. Trying not to laugh at the thought that he kept thinking he was in a bad horror film, he focused on Pam sleeping upstairs. If someone was in their house, he didn’t want them to get to Pam. Jim mustered up his confidence and stepped into the kitchen with boldness. When he flicked the light on, everything was exactly like it was when they arrived.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Jim tried to follow the sound again. It sounded something like a thumping. He walked towards the back door that lead into the garage. Opening the door, Jim held his hand out in front of him for protection (just in case there was someone trying to break in). He wanted to laugh again, thinking how pathetic he felt for bracing himself for something that probably wasn’t there.

Finding the light switch by the door, Jim shielded his eyes from the light. When the light flashed it’s ugly little head, Jim got a shock. No matter how much time it would have taken him to retreat from the garage, it was too late. He was trapped and he knew there was no escaping. He grabbed the door handle and pulled it closed as fast as he could. Taking in several deep breaths and leaning against the back door, Jim slid down to the floor.

With his head resting against the door, the sound of the skunk trying to break into the deep freeze, Jim could smell the skunk’s scent emitting from his clothes and the garage.

----

Pam woke up at nine on the mattress by herself. She rolled off the bed and slipped her pants on. She made her way down the stairs.

“Jim?” she called out.

When she made it to the bottom step, she found Jim sleeping on the couch in his boxers. His hair was slightly damp and messy. She smiled to herself and then knelt down next to Jim on the couch. She leaned to wake him up with a kiss then she smelled it. Pam pulled back in disgust and then slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter.

Making a heavy noise in the back of his throat, Jim flickered his eyes open. “Beware,” Jim said, putting his hands in front of him.

“What happened?” she asked with a grin on her face.

Jim rubbed his face. “Um, last night I woke up to a noise from the garage. Guess what it was?”

“Is that a hint of skunk I smell?”

“You are correct, my friend,” Jim said with a smile creeping up on his face.

Pam laughed. She sat down on the floor next to the couch. “When did this happen?”

“At four this morning. I thought someone was breaking in. I guess the skunk really wanted in that old deep freeze out there. Somehow it pushed it’s way through the old doggy door and was making a lot of racket. I was the lucky one to find him.”

Pam laughed again. “I cannot believe it. You get sprayed by a skunk in our own garage. It’s too good to be true.”

“Excuse me? I got sprayed by a skunk. That’s not very fun, you know,” he said, laughing.

“At least it didn’t happen to me,” Pam said, slapping Jim in the chest.

“You have to deal with me all day though. HA!”

“Well, first things first. Go get in the shower.”

“Um, I’ve already taken two showers,” Jim said, running a hand through his hair.

“Nuh uh.”

“Yes, I did. I had to go out to the car, get our bags, find my soap, find a towel that was packet away, get in the shower at four thirty, and wash the stink off of me. When I noticed the stench was still present, well…I jumped back in to try again. Nothing helps.”

Pam laughed so hard she snorted. “What’s so funny, Pam?”

“You smell.”

“Well, I’m so glad that you told me. I had no idea,” he said, pulling her closer to him.

“No. I don’t want to smell you right now. You are far from charming at the moment,” Pam said, standing and walking towards the kitchen.

Jim sat up off the couch. “I didn’t get a good morning kiss, Pam.”

“Sorry. Not when I have to hold my breath to even sit next to you.”

“I would kiss you if you had skunk all over you! Come on. Don’t deprive me of the one thing that can make me happy right now.”

Pam smiled and made her way back to the couch where Jim sat propped up on his elbows. “Fine,” she said, leaning over to give him a quick kiss on the lips. As she pressed her lips against his, he grabbed her arms and pulled her on top of him.

She struggled to get away. He had his arms encircling her and tightened his grip as she tried to wiggle out of his grasp.

“Stop Jim!” She tried to yell as her lips still rested on Jim’s. Pam kicked her feet up in the air and flailed her arms against Jim’s chest.

“Stop!” she yelled again. Jim released as she slapped his chest. He pulled back with shock on his face.

“You hurt me, woman!” he said, rubbing the pink mark on his chest. Pam jumped off of the couch and held her nose.

“You were suffocating me.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“Yes it is!”

Jim smiled. “Well, you have to deal with me.”

“I know. Why don’t I go get you some stronger soap. Maybe some tomato juice too. Something to take that fowl odor off of you.”

“Wow. I never thought that someone would tell me I smell bad like ten times in one day. I feel loved right now.”

“Well, I’m sorry Jim. You stink.”

“I can’t help it.”

“What did you do? Hold the skunk by the tail?” she said, flashing a sarcastic smile.

“Yes. I picked it up, petted it, and then it turned on me. You think I enjoy this?”

“Oh yeah.”

“You’re cruel, you know that?” he said, standing.

“Don’t come near me,” she said, holding her hand out.

“I wasn’t…geeze. I’m just going to go find some clothes.”

“Good. You should do that. Walking around in your boxers is a little distracting when I can’t get near you. You have to smell nice to walk around the house in your skivvies.”

An evil smile crept across Jim’s face. “Really? I think this look suits me. I might just wear these all day,” he said, looking down at his light blue boxers.

“Go put on your clothes. Now,” Pam said, pointing to the top of the stairs.

“Fine,” Jim said, walking up the stairs slowly and shaking his hips seductively. Pam laughed as he made his way up the staircase. Jim stopped at the top. “That’s what you’re missing today. None of this because of your stupid rule, Pam,” Jim said, shaking his hips again.

“I think I can hold out for a few days.”

“A few days? How long do you think I’m going to smell like this?”

“Oh, a couple of days.”

“Great. I’m never leaving the house,” he said, marching into the bedroom.

Pam stood in the living room holding her nose. Once Jim was out of sight, she dropped her hand from her nose and then instantly brought it back as she caught another whiff of skunk musk.