A Short Story
Pam watched Jim as he slipped on his shoes before turning to her. The curious look on his face told her what she already knew. He could tell something was off about her.
“What’s going on?” he asked, stepping closer to her. “Is something wrong?”
Pam looked away, swallowing as she searched for the words.
She sighed. “I’ve been keeping something from you, Jim. But I’m scared to tell you, I’m scared you’ll leave.”
Jim stared into her eyes. “Well, what is it?”
She inhaled deeply, knowing these words were strong enough to break their bond and end their marriage. But she couldn’t hold it in any longer. “I did something, something bad. When you left me in Scranton, to come here, I felt vulnerable. I was lonely.”
“Ok?”
“I had an affair,” she blurted as her eyes shifted to the ground.
Jim’s face stiffened. “With who?”
“Stanley,” she said. “He was having a really—”
Jim face softened as he laughed. “Good one Beesly.”
He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and headed for the door.
Pam’s face froze with confusion as she watched him leave. How could he not believe her? She hadn’t lied to him before. She guessed he just took it as a joke, which didn’t make her feel any better.
“Mommy,” Cece called as she stumbled down the stairs. “You okay, mommy?”
Pam snapped back into reality as Cece tugged on her arm.
“What is it, sweetie?” she asked.
“I hungry.”
Pam sauntered to the kitchen and grabbed the pancake mix from the cabinet. She mixed the batter and slung a few spoonfuls into the frying pan on the stove. She shook her head as thoughts of her conversation with Jim invaded her mind.
Maybe I should let him believe it was joke. She bit her lip. No, I can’t. He’s got to know it’s the truth.
“Pam really had me going for a minute this morning.” Jim said as he swallowed a bite of his turkey sandwich.
Darryl took his eyes from his food and gazed at Jim. “What did she do this time?”
Jim chuckled. “She said she slept with Stanley.”
Jim expected Darryl to laugh, too, but Darryl’s expression didn’t change. He shook his head. “That’s funny?”
“I mean, it’s got to be a joke, right?”
Darryl shot him a you-should-know-better look. “Man, she cheated on Roy with you. What makes you think she wouldn’t cheat on you too?”
Jim looked off into the distance as Darryl’s word sunk in. His point was valid. “You really think she’d do that?”
“Yeah. I do. It’s time to text her sister and tell her to bring that booty.”
“You think the best way to handle this is by getting revenge? There’s got to be better way, man.”
“There that’s or you could fight Stanley,” he said, brushing crumbs from his shirt. “My money’s on Stanley though.”
“Thanks for that.” Jim said as grabbed his trash from the table.
Work was rough. Jim could barely get through the day as the unwanted images of Pam and Stanley together swarmed in his brain. If this was true, he knew he had no other option but to leave.
At five, Jim left his office, dreading the unpleasant conversation he would soon be having with his wife. His eyes swelled at the thought of Cece and Phillip not having their parents together.
The drive home wasn’t long enough. He sat in the car, anticipating the moment he’d step foot in the house. But he knew he had to get it over with—he took in a deep breath and exited the car. His movements were slow as he made his way to the door.
Inside, the welcoming smell of spaghetti wrapped itself around him. He took of his shoes, hung his tie on the coat rack, and followed the smell. Pam stood at the stove, stirring sauce, she hadn’t realized he was home yet.
She jumped at the sound of his car keys hitting the counter.
“Oh my god. Jim,” she said, holding her chest. “You’re home early.”
“Am I?” Jim mumbled, glancing at his watch.
The two stood silently, breathing in the tension between them.
As the awkwardness set in, she turned back toward the stove. “Did you have a good day?”
“What do you think the answer is?”
“Absolutely you did?” she muttered, hoping she was right.
He chuckled, but not because what she said was funny. “I think we both know we need to talk about this.”
She said nothing as she stared at the stove.
“So, is it true?”
She nodded.
“Wow.” he turned his head as tears formed in his eyes. “How could you do that?”
Her lip quivered as she set the ladle down and focused on him. “It was never meant to happen. I stayed late to create a new logo for a client. Stanley came back because he forgot something at his desk and...”
Jim looked at Pam. “Stanley never stayed late at work, he hated that place. What could he have forgotten that would make him come back?”
“I’m not sure. It’s all just a blur, I’m not even sure how it happened.”
Jim shrugged. “I don’t really care how it happened. I just needed to know it did.”
“What are we going to do, Jim?”
“I think you know what I have to do.”
Pam shook her head as her face tightened. She tried to hold back the tears, but they were overpowering. “You can’t.”
“I can. And I am.”
“Please, Jim. Don’t give up on me, on us.”
“I don’t know what you want me to do, Pam,” he said, grabbing his keys from the counter. “You did what you did.”
“But it was the past. We have made so many good memories together. Before marriage, before we were even officially started dating, you were my best friend.”
“You were mine, too.” A tear slipped down his cheek as he began to leave the kitchen.
“Jim, wait.”
He looked at her.
“I’m sorry. Please, don’t give up on what we have.”
“Like I said, I don’t know what you want me to do. You admitted to what you did, but I’m beginning to wonder if you didn’t sleep with Brian, the sound guy, too.”
“Why would you say that?”
“I think the better question is why wouldn’t?”
Pam rolled her eyes. “Listen, Jim, I know I made a mistake. But after you told me I was enough for you, it was like our relationship took a turn for the best. I wasn’t insecure anymore, or scared that you’d move on.”
“You’re not enough for me anymore, Pam,” he confessed. “I put so much into this relationship, into Athlead, and into myself, so I could be the best husband, and father. I busted my ass to provide for us, for the kids. And this is how you repay me.”
Pam stepped toward him, and wiped the wetness from her cheeks. “You mean that? I’m really not enough for you?”
“Not anymore.”
His words stung as he left the kitchen. Her body was stiff, almost paralyzed, but she knew she had to run after him. With weak knees, she stumbled out of the kitchen and met him in the doorway.
“Jim, please,” she pleaded.
He ignored her as he pulled his phone from his pocket.
“Who are you calling?” she asked.
As he turned to open the door, he pressed the phone to his ear.
“I said who are you calling?”
He gave her a sly smile, and said, “Karen.”
“Why would you do that?” she asked, with a disgusted look on her face. “That's not okay.”
He smiled and shrugged, then pulled the door shut behind him.
Pam was sure her heart had been ripped from her chest, and her family had most definitely been torn apart. Maybe she wasn’t aware of just how critical her mistake was. Though she knew it was a possible outcome, after telling him the truth, she never imagined him leaving her, just like that. It was going to be a long, hard road to recovery for her, if she could even get through the pain of losing him.
*Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the characters in this story. It is not an authorized work of The Office franchise.
