This is the fourth part in a loosely connected story arc following Pam Halpert of The Office. It would be best to have read the previous stories before this one, though the second is not important to the background. Unless there is a lot of interest this may be the last Office story, as I am thinking of trying out a different show or maybe type of story all together. I have really enjoyed writing these stories, but this particular chapter just seemed like a logical place to end, any more stories might lead to repetition or staleness? Anyways, enjoy!
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Pam sat anxiously on the couch frowning to herself. It was Friday night and she was in the living room of the house that Jim and she shared. Nervously she toyed with the hem of her white linen dress, glancing up at the clock for what felt like the hundredth time. She sighed deeply and buried her face in a throw pillow, running the evening's events through her head as she squeezed her eyes tightly shut.
She had finally done it. She had told Jim about her and the receptionist Erin. She had not quite worked in Angela or Kelly yet, first she had to explain what had been happening with Erin. She was not sure what finally motivated her to reveal everything to Jim, who at this moment was sitting in the other room, alone as he had requested.
She thought it must have been the realization, one she should have made much earlier, that what she had with Erin was no longer a way to cope with her pregnancy which was long past, and had become so much more that sex. She saw now that she had been in a deep state of denial, always convincing herself that each encounter with Erin would be the last, and that she was just getting something out of system. However she could now fully admit to herself that the connection she felt with the younger woman was real and something she could not bring herself to walk away from.
Whatever the trigger had been, at dinner that night the truth had finally come tumbling out of her like a river; one long string of explanations, confessions and tears. This seemingly unprovoked outburst left Jim sitting in his chair looking like he might if Pam had simply exploded into a puff of smoke and sparks right there at the table. She told him about her hurt and longing during the pregnancy, the emotional pain it had caused her. Then laid out the rough sequence of events and what she and Erin had been doing on all during those "meetings" and late nights. Finally she told him what was the most difficult part. That while she truthfully loved him more than anything in the world and wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of her life with him, she also had developed true feelings for Erin.
He had just stared at her for what seemed like to Pam to be a full hour. Then he clumsily got to his feet and walked out of the room, quietly asking to be alone so he could think and adding that he would come out to talk to her when he had processed what he had just been told. And so that was where she was now, wondering how much longer it would take for him to come out and give her the screaming and yelling that she knew she deserved. She just prayed that he would not be so angry and betrayed that he would want to leave her, that would truly be the end of her world.
She was just contemplating exactly how horrible this encounter was going to be when she heard the door to the bedroom open followed by Jim walking into the room and sitting down next to her.
"Hey sweetie..." Pam said softly and tentatively.
Pam watched as Jim sat in silence for a minute, clearly trying to gather his thoughts. She was just about to apologize again when Jim turned to her and started talking.
"Ok. So Pam, I just want to say I am so, so sorry. I can't not believe that my actions caused you so much unhappiness during your pregnancy. I mean I knew you were upset at times, but I did not know how hurt and offended you were! I am SO sorry, if I could do it differently I would, but I can't and that just makes me feel like the worst..."
Pam's mouth hung open as she tried to comprehend what Jim had just said. "Wait... Jim aren't you furious with me?! Why are you not yelling at me?"
"Well sure I'm pretty hurt too; I mean you cheated on me Pam. But what I did was inexcusable. While I am mad and do feel betrayed, I had a part in this. I was what caused you to do this. Though... I'm not sure where it leaves us now... How do we go forward from this?"
Pam saw clearly how lucky she was to have a man like this in her life. She wiped away tears forming in the corners of her eyes as she flung herself into Jim's arms. "Well I don't know... but I know I love you so much." She whispered into his ear.
"I love you too" Jim replied as he broke their embrace. "I just... I'm not sure what to feel. I mean it just seems different to me somehow since it was a girl and all, instead of some dude...But Pam, I really do feel betrayed and I don't think I am comfortable with you ever being with Erin again."
Pam swallowed hard and tried to remain calm. She had assumed this would be a condition of her forgiveness, but it was one she was not sure she could keep, at least not without a great deal of sadness. She decided it was time to play her ace in the hole; the secret weapon she hoped would bring Jim over to her side.
"Jim, I know you must be hurting right now, and confused as well" Pam said softly as she scooted closer to him. "I want you to know from the bottom of my heart I love you, want you, and will always feel that way. But Erin has come to mean a lot to me... Maybe you could just think of us as really close gal pals. And honestly we hardly ever... uh... meet up anymore. We would always be truthful with you in the future. No more sneaking around, I promise."
She could see Jim was thinking it over but far from convinced. She pressed on, now lightly tracing her fingers up his thigh, moving in slow circles. "I have an idea... Tomorrow is Saturday and we have the evening free... Maybe she could join us for the evening. So you could... understand a little better?"
Jim's face registered complete shock for the second time that night; Pam had to keep herself from giggling at how high his eyebrows shot up. "Wait... what?! Do... I mean...or watch? While you two... what!?" Jim sputtered words in a failing attempt to discover just what his wife was insinuating.
Pam smiled and first got to her knees and then gently straddled him, sitting down on his lap and gave him a deep kiss. "I mean I will ask Erin to come over tomorrow night and we will sleep with her."