Maureen showered dressed (In Liz’s skirt and top) then sheepishly went to the other unit to say goodbye to her friends. They begged her to stay and come back to the beach with them but she declined. She really did have to leave. Charlotte returned the keys to the Mazda then Maureen hugged all of her new friends goodbye. Sean asked for her phone number but she refused “As much as I would like to Sean there is no future between us. I hope you enjoyed the experience I know I did”
This time Mason, who had overheard the comment refrained from saying ‘We all know you did’
It was only when she was back in the car that Maureen noticed the medallion lying on the passenger side floor. It must have fallen out of Liz’s handbag. It dawned on her that she was extremely lucky that it had fallen out in the car. Maureen had taken that handbag to the beach, to the unit and to the nightclub. If it had fallen out anywhere else it would have been lost. She would have been stuck in this body forever. Liz would have been stuck as Maureen Manning. Careful not to touch the medallion with her skin she used her beach towel to place it back in the handbag which she then zipped up. She vowed that from now on she would be more careful with the artefact.
It was just after 12 when Maureen pulled up at her house. She had stopped only to refuel the Mazda but had been careful to obey all traffic regulations so as not to attract police attention.
……..
Liz was relieved when her car finally pulled up outside. Maureen carrying a beach towel and a lilac bikini as she got out, gave away that she had been to the beach. That explained why Maureen was so late.
“About time” Liz chastised her friend as she entered the door that Liz was holding open.
“Sorry I slept in”
“You have the medallion?”
“In the handbag”
“Well let’s start changing. I’ll use the shoes I wore over here yesterday” Liz had hidden them in the wardrobe in the spare room so that Roger wouldn’t come across them. “You should use this jacket. I just took it off as you pulled up. I’m all washed and shiny. I even trimmed your pubes to match the cut I gave you on Sunday”
Maureen wasn’t sure what to make of that but she knew she was in the bad books with her friend so tried to appease her. “Do you wish to go first?”
“Yep. It will be nice to be skinny again” Maureen ignored the barb.
Liz took her handbag, went to the spare room, retrieved her shoes and touched the shoes and medallion at the same time. She felt the zap she had hoped for, then put the medallion on the bed.
Maureen picked up the medallion and touched it to the jacket Liz had given her at the door. She also felt the zap that indicated the medallion would do its thing. They changed over lunch.
30 minutes later the two women were back in their own bodies. Maureen put her rings on to indicated she was once more the wife of Roger. Liz was once more a slim red-headed divorcee. They were both a few years younger than the had been a week ago.
Over lunch both of the ladies were rather brief as they told each other what had happened. Liz told of the trip to see Hamilton and dinner with Ginny and Paul but didn’t mention anything about what had happened once they were back home. Maureen did not ask.
Likewise, Maureen admitted to going down to the beach, swimming and having dinner at the hotel but she did not mention making friends there or staying the night. She certainly did not mention Sean.
Liz then told Maureen of her discovery in Roger’s shed. When the changes were complete the two women went down to look at what was there. Maureen confirmed that they were clothes that had been forgotten about since they had moved into the house.
Liz stayed around a bit longer and discussed the Spanish holiday including her idea that they do it as 30 somethings. “That means we have to tell Roger about the medallion”
Maureen took in what Liz was saying and the idea appealed. She asked to be able to inform Roger at the appropriate moment. She could not say when that moment would be. She begged Liz not to tell Roger anything herself. Liz promised she would not.
Liz was gone before 3. She said she would contact Maureen in the morning.