Free Prayers for the Dying (Pam of Babylon Book Four) by Suzanne Jenkins Page A

gym.”
    She loved it from the first visit, however strange she found the dress code. It was a beautiful building and the people walking through it looked like any business people in the city. Pam’s obsession with fitness began when she started working out at that gym. She’d always been conscientious about her body, but something about regimented, purposeful exercise appealed to her. She became a regular fixture there, even during her pregnancies.
    After the first year of marriage when Pam didn’t get pregnant, they went to a fertility specialist who told Jack privately to lay off masturbating if he wanted to impregnate his wife. What few sperm he had were immature and it was obvious that he was going to town on a fairly continuous basis. Of course, Jack didn’t tell him it was not just self-abuse. He followed orders and Pam got pregnant within the month. Jack told Ashton she positively glowed.
    “For someone who doesn’t have a word to say for herself, she is really basking in the limelight of this pregnancy, like she invented it.” Jack was proud of her, too. She made her own maternity clothes; sleek sheaths with room for her prominent belly and nothing baggy or blousy. It was during her pregnancies that Jack displayed the rare attentiveness that Pam would enjoy for a brief time. They went out to eat together in the neighborhood, took after-dinner walks, spent time playing games on the weekends. After the babies came, Marie spent even more time with the young couple, and Jack spent more time at home. He started to feel slightly suffocated though, and that was when the idea to move the family to the island came about. Ashton was upset.
    “I’ll never see you!” he complained. He and Jack were lying in bed on a Wednesday afternoon. “It’s bad enough the short time I see you now.” He was nestled in Jack’s side, his arm across Jack’s chest.
    “Stop complaining, will you please? I come here to relax.” Jack reached over Ashton to get the sports page. “Besides, I’m staying in the city during the week. We’ll see each other more after the move.” He moved just enough so Ashton would get the hint and take his arm away.
    “You are? What’s Miss Fabulous have to say about that? I mean, is she willing to be away from you all week?” Ashton asked.
    “She didn’t say anything. Trust me, Pam has her own agenda. We barely see each other at all now,” he stated. “The weekends are family time. During the week, well, let’s just say that during the week, I work,” Jack said with sarcasm and a laugh.
    “I don’t want to hear about that, either! You’re sure as hell not here during the week!” Ashton got up, picking his pants up off the floor. He knew he was on dangerous ground but couldn’t help himself. Jack put the paper down on his bare chest and looked at his lover.
    “Now see, Pam would never say that to me. She might try harder to please me, but she wouldn’t whine and complain. You’re beginning to get on my nerves, Ashton. I might have to take a break from this relationship.” But he was smiling. Ashton jumped back into bed, tearing the paper away from Jack.
    “Just say it! Tell me you love me! Tell me you love me more than you love her!” He had straddled Jack and was playfully bouncing up and down against Jack’s hips. Jack started laughing, but he was getting aroused again.
    “I love you! Now knock it off! I have to get back to work.” He lifted Ashton off of him and got up from the bed. “I love you as much as I love Pam. Are you happy?”
    Ashton shrugged his shoulders. It was good enough, for now. “Do you want coffee before you go?” he asked, sure that Miss Fabulous would have had a four-course meal prepared for Jack. But no, Jack was late. He pulled on his clothes without showering, and Ashton wondered who would get his sloppy seconds today. Surely not Pam. Ashton walked him to the door of the apartment and they kissed good-bye, Jack promising to call later. Ash stood at