MILK MONEY CH FOUR
I headed to Ty's farm. He met me at the door. "You and Mary had better talk to Pam. She asked me to double her sessions. I thought you paid off her bills?"
"I did. I'll get Mary to talk to her. She still isn't happy with me."
"You can understand her point of view. She continues to come in second. She hasn't had a long-term relationship in years. Most of her boyfriends end up just using and leaving her."
"How'd you know that?"
"I talk to people. These women are more than liquid money to me. I try to understand why they are doing what they know is risking their lives. In Pam's case, she is in a dead-end job with no prospects around her. She hopes to make enough money to be able to do something to change her luck. That's it. Have Mary talk to her."
I promised and went home. By the time Mary came home that night, I had an idea, but I knew Mary would have to sell it. Pam isn't buying anything from me now.
Mary sat down at the table. She has almost completely recovered from her reduction surgery, and we have been talking about taking a little trip together. That would require someone to watch Kelly. "So, what's your plan?"
"Pam hates her job and feels like she is in a dead-end situation. She wants to double down on her shots and make real money, as she put it. I was thinking you could ask her to move in here. She could quit her job, and we would pay her to take care of Kelly. She could still do the sessions if she is determined to, but she won't have to double them. Maybe she would be safer that way and we'd have someone to take care of Kelly if we went on a trip."
"What makes you think she'd want to be around you full time?"
"She must eventually get over you and me connecting. I know, but I didn't lie to her or lead her on. I don't want to hurt her, but I'm happy with you."
Mary smiled. "Thanks, I feel the same way. I'll try to talk to Pam, but I may have to ambush her at Ty's."
"Whatever it takes."
Mary called me from Ty's. She had gone there to see Pam on her next scheduled session. It had been tense, but eventually she agreed to come to the house and talk to us.
Pam arrived after the session. She was dressed in a pair of short shorts, and a halter top that didn't leave much to the imagination. In fact, she kept her wind breaker on at first.
I started this off. "Pam, I'm sorry I've hurt you. I never wanted or tried to hurt you. I just had to be honest with you. I have been sad without you in my life with the knowledge that I hurt you so much."
Pam looked at me, then Mary, then down at her hands. She finally spoke. "I'm not mad at you. Look at Mary. I knew I didn't stand a chance. I'm mad at whatever God decided to fuck me over my entire adult life. I need a break, and I'm going to make it myself, whatever the cost."
Mary got up and hugged her. "What do you mean, look at me? You're prettier and younger than me. You're sweet and everyone likes you. There is someone out there that is just dying to meet you."
"Thanks for the kind words, but I'm not buying it any longer. It's time I took my life into my own hands. I'm angry at life, not you, and it's time I stopped making you feel like you're the bad guy because you found a love that was not me." She got up and hugged me. Within a minute, the three of us were all crying. It felt great to me. Now, maybe we can move on.
"Pam, thank you. I love you and I want what's best for you. In those lines, Mary and I have something to ask you. What would you think about living here, quitting your job and working for us?"
Pam looked at Mary and she nodded. "Live here?"
Mary took the lead. "Yeah, here with us. You don't need to pay rent at a place you don't like, and we will need help taking care of Kelly as long as we both still work. And we are thinking about expanding our milk business."
That was a complete surprise to me. We hadn't talked about that, and Mary knew it. She held one of her hands behind her, and waved at me, privately. Okay, she's riffing here. I can go with it for now.
I picked up the thread. "I'm asking Ty to build us another machine and I'm going to remodel the barn to add a couple more rooms like Kelly's. It would be for women that want to just come here for their sessions and return to their regular lives when finished." It sounded good. I'll call Ty in the morning to actually do it. "Mary and I are thinking about going away for a week or so, now that she has healed from her surgery, and we will need someone to take care of Kelly. There is no one on earth that we would trust like you with Kelly. The other thing with you coming to work with us, is you wouldn't have to share your milk money with us. You will keep everything you make here, plus a salary."
Pam sat and cried. I went to the kitchen to let the two women talk. I stayed away until Mary came to get me. "Let's talk."
Pam smiled at me as I came in. That was the first smile I had gotten from her in a very long time. "I accept your offer. I will also want to move my session here as your first customer once you are set up. I'll give work my two weeks' notice tomorrow."
We sat around and talked about the possibilities until late at night. Pam headed home with a smile on her face for the first time in a long time. Mary took my hand and pulled me toward our bedroom. "Thanks for backing me up there. It just occurred to me as a way to get her here. I guess we can do it."
"Of course we can, but, at the moment, I want to do you."
She giggled as we headed upstairs. It was a good night.
I called Ty and asked for a new machine. He laughed and accused me of stealing one of his customers. He said he was sure it would be safer for Pam to be with us. I thanked him for everything he has done for us.
Pam called to say her company didn't need notice, and she was free. I told her to start packing, and when she was ready, I had the movers there.
Within a week, Pam was living in one of the bedrooms near ours in our house. She spent a week following us around while we took care of Kelly. Kelly appeared to be happy to have her there all the time. It could only help her to have Pam there.
Mary and I booked a cruise to Alaska and left the next weekend. Pam drove us to the dock and kissed each of us as we boarded.
Ten days later, we were home and Pam looked like she had been taking care of Kelly forever. Kelly would follow Pam around wherever Pam went. She would do whatever Pam told her to do. Guardian seemed to know Pam was okay, because he just sat and watched. He did whatever Pam told him to do. They all looked happy.