Pat pulled the truck into a parking spot at the motel and shut off the engine. He asked Ruth to get Pauline, Sarah and Anna so that they could see what they had picked up from the drug store. She returned shortly with the women and Pat opened the back of the truck cap and let Ruth point out what they had.
After the women had a good idea of what was in the back of the truck Ruth showed them the jewelry that she had liberated. Anna made a comment that about what the people that owned the house would think if they came back and saw the jewelry gone.
Everyone laughed and Anna blushed when she realized how foolish her concerns were. Ruth laughed and told Anna that if the real owners came back she would return the jewelry.
After a while everyone went back into the motel except Pat and Pauline. Pat could tell that there was something on her mind. He decided that he would let her broach the subject.
Pauline had a thoughtful look on her face, "Ruth looks very happy. Did you... ?'
Pat interrupted her, "I wouldn't tell you if I did or didn't. It would be very cruel of me to throw it in your face if I did. I think that you know how I feel about you and I would never want to hurt you."
Pauline put her arms around him, "You know, you're a very special man. I love you and I know how things are going to have to be if we never find anyone else alive. As I said before, I'm not thrilled about it but I know how things will have to be. Just knowing that you love me makes me happy."
"How about you and I take one of the vehicles and get off to ourselves tonight; somewhere where we can make all of the noise we want and not bother anybody?"
She smiled at him, "Where do you have in mind?"
"I think we'll know when we get there."
"I think that we'd better let Anna and Sarah know so that they don't think something happened to us," she said.
"I'll leave that up to you."
Pauline looked into his eyes, "Are you going to be up to it tonight?"
Pat hugged her tighter, "You'd better take a nap before we leave so you'll be up to it."
"Ho ho," Pauline kidded him, "Listen to the man talk. We'll see who yells uncle."
After telling Sara and Anna what they were doing Pat and Pauline took the Escalade and left the motel parking lot. When Pauline told Anna about their plans Anna got a sad look of her face that Pauline didn't understand.
Pat drove and when he started to drive by a huge shopping mall Pauline called out for him to stop. He pulled into the parking lot of the mall, threading the Escalade around all of the parked and crashed cars, and stopped in the fire lane. Pauline had directed him to one of the upscale department stores that was one of the anchor stores for the mall. She wanted to go in by herself but Pat wouldn't let her.
They walked into the department store and Pauline said, "I could never afford to shop here. This store was always too rich for my blood."
Pat smiled at her, "Take whatever you want. Just put it on my account. I think my credit is good in this store."
Pauline made him sit in the men's section while she got what she needed. After she had the clothes that she wanted for their night together she turned to make sure that Pat couldn't see her and she slipped out of the store and into the Victoria's Secret store. She picked the items she wanted and put them in the bags from the department store.
She walked back to where Pat was waiting for her, "Now, I've got what I'm going to wear tonight. I want you to get a nice suit, shoes and everything else you'll need for a night out."
"It took you a long enough to get a dress," he said, "It took you almost an hour."
She helped Pat pick out the clothes and shoes that he needed. As they were leaving the store she stopped at the jewelry department and picked out a Breitling chronograph watch for him to wear. Pat made her get some jewelry for her evening out with him. As they passed the cosmetics section Pauline picked up a bottle of her favorite perfume and picked up a bottle of Lagerfeld after shave for Pat.
They got back in the Escalade and continued until they came to an upscale hotel in town. Pat went in and made sure that it was safe and then came out and got Pauline.
As they walked into the hotel Pauline stopped him, "I want both of us to get separate rooms. I want to get ready on my own and I'll meet you in the cocktail lounge when I'm ready."
Pat reached for her to kiss her but she pulled away and told him that they had time for that later. They got keys for rooms on the second floor and walked up the stairs because Pat was still leery of being trapped in an elevator if the power went off. Pauline went into her room and Pat went to his room after he heard her lock her door.
Pat was ready and waiting in the cocktail lounge in a little over an hour. He was lucky that the hotel had complimentary men's toiletries in the rooms. He had forgotten that he hadn't shaved since earlier that morning. He made himself a drink and sipped on it. He didn't want to get too far ahead of Pauline before she had a drink.
Pauline walked into the cocktail lounge an hour and a half after he had gotten there. When he saw her walking toward him he couldn't do anything but stare at the beautiful woman walking toward him.
Pauline had on a strapless evening gown made of a fabric that had a soft sheen. Pat wondered what held the gown up. The upper part of her ample breasts was exposed and she had very high-heeled shoes on. The skirt of her gown was slit up to her thigh and he got a glimpse of her stocking tops as she walked. The jewelry that she had selected went perfectly with the gown. Her perfume reached him a second before she walked into his arms.
Pat pulled her into his arms, "You are so beautiful that I want to hold you forever. I never want to let you go."
Pauline kissed him softly. She reached over to the counter of the bar and got a napkin and wiped the lipstick from his mouth.
Pat led her to a table. He asked her what she wanted to drink and then went to the bar and fixed them a drink and took them back to the table. He put the drinks on the table, kissed her and then sat next to her.
Pat took her hand and kissed it, "Woman I really love you."
Pauline smiled, "Do you like my gown?"
"You look good enough to eat."
She laughed, "I was hoping the gown would have that effect."
"If that was your intent, your plan is working perfectly."
They sat for a long time talking about themselves, about what their life had been like before they had meet and their experiences since the black hole had passed earth. After they each had three drinks Pauline suggested that they go to their room. Pat took her hand and helped her to stand.
He pulled her into his arms and held her, "I thought that I was in love before but that was nothing like what I feel now. I want to hold you in my arms and never let you go."
"I feel that way too," she replied, "Let's go to our room and make love."