Once in a Lifetime

The Zoo (and what happened afterwards)

We headed to the zoo, Jimmy pushing little Winnie in her stroller. She loved all the animals, especially the panda bears. So when we went through the gift shop, I bought her a stuffed panda bear. She giggled and held the bear close to her as we walked though the zoo the rest of the day.

We stayed until five, until my stomach started growling. Jimmy took us to Antonio's restaurant for pizza and wings. I was excited, because I had enjoyed it so much the last time we had gone there. Antonio was excited to see us, so much so we were given another tiramisu for desert.

Jimmy had been so accommodating all day. My arm had been hurting since our morning exploits, so much so I had to take pain meds to keep me sane. The man made sure I didn't lift, pull or push anything. More than once, he would lean over and whisper in my ear, "I love you" before giving me a kiss on the cheek. How was I so lucky that I was loved by this man? I really didn't know.

After dinner we walked around the city again, enjoying just being together. He was stopped by fans a few times, most asking for pictures or autographs and others were excited to see Winnie with us. Most left me alone, which is exactly what I wanted. I knew after tomorrow I would be in the public eye. But I was enjoying the time I had to be anonymous.

Finally we were able to get away from the public and made our way through Central Park. I was blown away by the beauty of the park. "Wow! This is beautiful!" I said, taking Jimmy's arm.

He glanced over at me, smiling. "Yeah I love coming here at night. Winnie and I come here a lot. It's so pretty."

I kept looking around, enthralled with the beauty of the softly lit park. I had never seen anything like it. "I love it."

Jimmy leaned over and kissed me. "I'm glad you like it. I've been wanting to bring you here for a while. To me this is the most romantic place in New York. But if you could go anywhere in the world, where would you like to go? Where do you think is the most romantic place?"

I had to think about his question for a moment. The losers I had dated before had never taken me anywhere romantic. Here Jimmy was sharing one of his favorites with me and we had only been dating for a few weeks.

We stopped at a park bench, turning Winnie's stroller around so she could face us. I watched her playing with her bear as I answered Jimmy's question. "Well, I actually have two places."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I've never been anywhere romantic, other than here with you. But I have given it some thought."

Jimmy crossed his leg as he pulled me close and put his arm around my shoulders. "Tell me. I'd love to know."

"Well, one place is Paris. I know it's so cliche, but I have always wanted to go to Paris and stand under the Eiffel Tower with my significant other and kiss. I'd love to wake up and see the tower from our room as we make passionate love together. I want to walk down the streets, hand in hand and just take in the sights."

By now I had leaned my head against Jimmy's chest, feeling his chest rise and fall with each breath. I could hear his heartbeat and it sent butterflies flying in my stomach.

"That does sound romantic. Where is the other romantic spot you want to go to?"

"I would love to go to Maui, Hawaii. I know this is cliche too, but I've always wanted to go to the beach with my husband, taking moonlit strolls on the beach, listening to the waves crashing to the shore, just the two of us, hand in hand. I'd love to have a candlelit dinner on the beach, just the two of us. I'd love to wake up to the sound of the ocean, and sit on our lanai and drink coffee, just the two of us."

I could see in my mind's eye Jimmy and I walking around Paris, just the two of us, kissing under the Eiffel Tower and making love with the tower in the background. I could see the two of us walking hand in hand on the beach of Maui and having an intimate romantic candlelit dinner. I could see me waking up next to him each and every day for the rest of my life. I think that was the moment I realized that I really did love Jimmy with all my heart and wanted to be with him forever.

"What about you?" I asked, looking up into his eyes.

"I don't really have a specific spot. I just want to be wherever my true love is. That's all that matters to me."

I smiled, realizing that he was giving me an unfamiliar look, one that I determined was pure love. I lowered my head, taking his hand. "I love you Jimmy." He kissed the top of my head. "I love you too Karen."

We sat in the park for another twenty minutes, just enjoying each other's company and watching as Winnie, who was still clutching her panda bear, slowly gave in and fell asleep in her stroller. Once she was asleep, Jimmy moved and stood up. "I think it's time we get her highness home and into her bed."

I also stood, taking the arm Jimmy extended to me. We started walking home, arm in arm. "Yeah, I think she's exhausted," I said, smiling at the little bundle of joy that had captured my heart.

We made it back to the apartment ten minutes later. As we entered the house, Jimmy looked to me. "I'm going to put Winnie to bed. We can leave the stroller until tomorrow."

"Sounds good," I said, heading to our room. He went into the other room to put Winnie to bed, so I went and changed into the sexy teddy I had bought when I was out with Tina. I fluffed my hair a little and put on a little lip gloss before going back out the room and sitting up in the bed.

I could hear Jimmy shut the door to Winnie's room and his footsteps turn and head to his room. The door opened and he looked over to me. I swear the poor boy stopped dead in his tracks.

"Oh wow!" He whistled, making his way over to me and sitting down next to me.

I leaned up, kissing him passionately and with intensity. I started unbuttoning his shirt, going painstakingly slow to torture him. His hands made their way to my stomach, moving slowly up and dorm my body.

I finished with his shirt and he let it fall to the floor. He stood up and shimmied out of his pants and boxers. I moaned out loud with desire for the man standing in front of me.

He began untying my teddy, driving me wild. It didn't take him long to get the thin nighty off, leaving me exposed for him to do whatever he wanted to me. He began kissing me down to my naval, moving down to my most private area. He began alternately kissing and licking me. He drove me over the edge within a minute.

I leaned over, pulling him away from me for a moment. I wanted to return the favor to him. I made him lay on his back, then began to pleasure him in return. He appreciated it so much we made love at least three times in two hours.

Finally we laid back, intertwined in each other's embrace. "I love you, my Karen. You are the best thing to ever happen to me. You're going to do great tomorrow on the show," he whispered in my ear.

"I love you too, Jimmy. I have never loved a man like I love you." I kissed him, my emotions pouring though the embrace.

I must have exhausted the poor guy because he fell asleep as soon as I broke the kiss. I watched him sleep for a few minutes, watching his chest rise and fall rhythmically with each breath he took. I remembered watching him that first night at the hospital. He really did look like a little boy when he slept.

I sighed in contentment, as I snuggled a little closer to him. I fell asleep next to Jimmy, feeling safe and warm in his warm embrace.