Jim leaned out the window and handed the toll collector fifty cents for the toll ticket. He pulled himself back into the car and rolled up his window.

“So, Pam, are you ready for a carefree weekend?”

“Oh yeah. Let’s just hope it turns out that way.”

“I think we can manage that,” he said as she smiled at her.

Pam looked over at him and intently studied his face. Then she spoke. “Since we have all this driving time, I thought we could talk about a few things.”

Jim lifted his eyebrows. “Oh yeah? Like what?”

“Well, I was kind of curious…about what happened eight years ago.”

“Me too.”

“I just want to kind of, you know, clear the air of what was past,” she said flailing her hands in the air.

“That sounds like a great idea,” Jim said glancing over at Pam then back to the road.

“Do you want me to start with my point of view?”

“You have my undivided attention,” he said, turning the radio off.

Pam cleared her throat, took in a deep breath, and then turned in her seat to face him.

“Well, let’s go back to when you came back from Stamford.” Jim nodded as Pam continued talking. “I have to say that I was not myself after your return with Karen.”

“I wasn’t myself either.”

“I noticed. So, first off, let me apologize for all the awkward conversations and weird things that happened then. I was being so stupid. I was extremely jealous of Karen.”

Jim gazed over with a look of disbelief. “You were?”

“Obviously. I mean, I couldn’t even bear to watch you two talk to each other.”

“Wait. When I came back from Stamford, you had a thing for me?”

“Duh! You didn’t pick up on that?”

“Well, I knew you were mad at me. But, I thought things were awkward because of the kiss.”

“That too but, I had a crush on you way before you returned.”

Jim let out a little laugh. “So, you’re telling me now that almost eight years ago I could’ve asked you out and you would’ve said yes?”

“Probably. Depending on if you were with Karen or not.”

“Wow.”

“I didn’t tell you my feelings because you were with Karen when you came back and I didn’t want to confuse you or possibly make myself look like a fool for drooling over you.”

“Then, why did you quit Dunder Mifflin?”

“I was tired of being stuck in the same rut for all those years. Honestly, it was mainly because of your relationship with Karen and my breaking off the wedding with Roy. I couldn’t take it anymore. I was living off of false hope and getting out of the office was supposed to help me move on and accept that fact that you weren’t into me anymore.”

“I was into you though. For a long time, Karen was just there for me. I fought off feelings for you because I thought you still felt the same way you did when I kissed you.”

“Wow, we should’ve really talked more. We could’ve saved a few long years.”

“Maybe it was supposed to happen this way,” Jim said as she shrugged. “So, what was so special about Neil that you ran off and married him?”

“Breaking out the big guns are we? Good question…” Pam said as she tapped her finger over her lips.

“When I left Dunder Mifflin, I got a job at the art gallery and he used to come in all the time. First of all, he had a great smile that could kill. I loved it when he smiled. Then, one day when he came in, he asked me out to dinner. So, I went and I guess that was the start of our relationship.”

“When did things start turning sour?”

“I noticed a few signs of his alcoholism before our wedding, but nothing that alarmed me. I think our marriage really pushed him into drinking more than he usually would. He had a great family that didn’t know how abusive he was with alcohol and I didn’t want to be the one to tell them. I think after a year after our wedding when, he got really bad and that’s when I knew that I shouldn’t have married him.”

“Then you got pregnant.”

“Yes. It was the most exciting and horrifying thing to ever happen. Pregnancies are supposed to be happy and joyful, but for me I was stunned and shocked because I had wanted to leave him. After Scarlet came along, I couldn’t just walk out with a newborn and have no where to go. I had planned leaving a few times, but couldn’t bring myself to do it. I wanted her to have her father in her life. I was stupid for sticking around, but in the end, he was the one that wanted to leave.”

Jim noticed Pam’s hands shaking. He reached over, grabbed one of them and held on tight. Pam looked down when she felt his grasp on her hand. She responded by squeezing back and lacing her fingers with his.

“So, that’s my story. What happened with you after I left?” Pam asked.

“Let me see,” Jim said as he sighed. “After you left, I actually took a vacation of my own. I told Karen that I needed some time away from Scranton and she said she understood. So, I went to visit family and friends that I hadn’t seen in a long time. I was gone for a few weeks, and when I came back, Karen was….so supportive and knew that I was having a hard time with some stuff.”

“Like what?” Pam interrupted. “If you don’t mind me asking?”

“Well, it was mainly because you quit. I guess that triggered my mid-life crisis, so to speak. I felt lost and angry about my life and decisions, and when you left, I felt like it was because of me, and now I know, that it really was.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. We just should’ve spoken about this then and we could’ve avoided screwing each other’s lives up.”

“Hear! Hear!” Pam said jokingly.

“So, when I got back from my trip, I guess I returned knowing that Karen was my second choice and that’s what I was going to have to live with. We got engaged a few months later and we waited forever before actually setting any dates. It’s kind of ironic actually.”

“Sounds like it.”

“When we started planning, I knew that I couldn’t go through with it. I felt guilty because I was just leading her on and so, one day I had a little talk with her. She wanted to work it out, but….I didn’t,” Jim said as he stumbled over his words.

“Did you love her?”

“To an extent I did. She is actually a really great person and we had a good time together. I don’t think that I ever saw us being together forever though.”

“I felt that way with Roy…and Neil too,” Pam said as she lightly giggled.

“So…”

They both sat quietly for a few moments. Jim looked down at their hands clasped and intertwined next to the gear shift.

“I think we have said enough about our pasts. Unless you have more to say,” Pam stated.

“Nope. I think I’m done rehashing the past.”

“Good. I hate talking about this junk.”

“It was good for us though,” Jim said pulling on her hand.

“I think so too.”

-----

When they pulled into the resort, they gasped at the beautiful backdrop. The mountains and forest that sat behind the hotel was breathtaking and luminous. The air was fresh and the countryside was in full bloom. Pam exited the car and Jim popped the trunk. They started collecting their luggage and hauling it to the front desk. The lobby was adorned with crystal, flowers, greenery, wandering couples, and the occasional bell hop.

“Wow. This place is amazing,” Pam said as she dropped her jaw.

“I know. You picked a pretty good place.”

After check in and the bell hop taking their luggage up to their room, Pam and Jim finally got on the elevator to see their suite. Pam nervously played with her hair on the elevator ride up to the sixth floor. Jim noticed and looked over and laughed at her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Whatever.”

“Nothing, Jim!”

“Don’t raise your voice at me. I was just wondering why you were fidgeting.”

“I’m not!”

“Apparently something is wrong because you’re acting like a teenage girl right now,” he said as he nudged her with his shoulder.

“Leave me alone.”

“Oh great, once we finally get to the hotel, you ask me to leave you alone. Well, sorry hun, I think we are sharing a room this weekend. Wait, I could always go get another room…” Jim jested as he pushed the down button on the elevator. Pam grabbed his arm and pulled it back.

“No! Don’t do that!”

“Why? You just asked me to leave you alone,” he said as he reached for the button again.

“I made a mistake. I’m sorry. I want to spend every minute with you!”

“Are you sure? I mean, that’s a pretty bad offense that I don’t think I’m liable to forgive so easily. I need some time to think about this,” he said as he leaned back against the wall.

The elevator doors opened and Pam started to make her way out but Jim didn’t follow. She turned to see him still leaning on the elevator wall.

“Please Jim,” she pleaded.

“You owe me. I’m hurt right now.”

“There isn’t anyone else in the world I would rather be here with.”

“Not good enough Pam.”

Pam walked back into the elevator, grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the elevator. After the elevator doors shut behind him, Pam turned around to face him. “You’re the best boyfriend ever.”

Jim smiled and said, “That’s much better.”

“Now, let’s go see what our room looks like,” she said raising her eyebrows and pulling Jim behind her.

----

Once they stepped into the room they walked around the suit in disbelief. The room was immaculate. The suite had a large living area, a balcony, a great view of the mountain side, a large bathroom, and a dining area with another great view over the pool.

“This is the best hotel I’ve ever stayed in,” Pam said in awe.

“Can you believe this?” Jim said, sitting down on the large bed. Pam sat down on the fluffy bed spread next to him and bounced up and down.

“This is amazing.” Pam leaned over and bumped shoulders with Jim. “Thank you.”

“It’s going to be a great weekend.”

Pam nodded and replied, “Yes it is.” She then smiled and looked at the huge bed before her.

Pam stood up directly in front of Jim. She held up her hand and said, “We have to do something before we do anything else.”

Jim looked up and asked, “What’s that?”

“Jump on the bed.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Heck no! I’ve always jumped on every hotel bed I’ve ever slept on.”

“Go ahead, I’ll be right here when you get done.”

“That’s just it, if you are going to be sharing this bed with me this weekend, you have to jump on it with me. Get up.”

“Excuse me? I paid for this bed and I don’t have to jump on it if I don’t want to,” Jim said as Pam crawled onto the bed and stood in the center bouncing lightly.

“Then, I guess I might sleep on the couch.”

“Whatever,” Jim said as he shrugged his shoulders and turned away from Pam.

“Jim! You better get up here and jump on this bed with me.”

“Pam, I’m not ten years old anymore.”

“Who said you had to be ten to jump on beds? Come on, just this once. For me.”

“Pam…”

“Jim…”

“I’ll look like a fool.”

“Well, maybe you already look like a fool. Just get up here!”

Jim sighed, stood, pulled off his coat, kicked off his shoes, and crawled up on the bed and stood next to where Pam was still bouncing lightly in her spot. She smiled when he finally gave in.

“Okay, I’m here, but I will not jump.”

“You’re such a baby.”

“Look who’s talking,” Jim said.

“Ugh!” Pam choked out.

Pam grabbed Jim’s hands and began jumping on the bed, grinning ear to ear. Jim laughed at the sight of her. Her hair was flying around over her face and shoulders and she was having a hard time budging him from his position. On one of her attempted jumps she landed on Jim’s foot and pushed into him. He grabbed a hold of her and pulled her in closer to his chest. Pam was flushed and breathing hard from her exercise.

“Jim…”

“Huh?” he said as he looked down at her in his arms.

She leaned in closer, and put her hands on his chest. She opened her mouth to say something but no words formed.

“What?” Jim asked.

“Oh, nothing.”

“Not this again!” he said pulling away from her and jumping off the bed. She went back to jumping up and down and then finally landed on the bed in a sitting position.

“I can’t believe you!” she yelled.

Across the room, Jim was putting his clothes in the closet and drawers. He looked up to see her flushed and hot from her jumping. He laughed when she pushed all her hair out of her face.

“You look just like Scarlet.”

“Really?”

“That seems like something she would do.”

“I miss her,” Pam said slapping her legs.

“You know what? Me too,” Jim said, pushing the drawers closed. He walked back over to the bed and sat next to Pam who had flopped down on the bed. He lay next to her with his hands on his stomach.

“So, what do you want for dinner?” he asked.

“I don’t care. Do you want to order room service or go to one of the restaurants down stairs?”

“I don’t care either. You pick.”

“We are so indecisive,” Pam said with a giggle.

“We are,” Jim said as he rolled on his side to look at her.

“So what will it be?”

Jim ignored her question and pulled her close to his side. Pam smiled and then scooted her body next to his. He fingered one of her curls as she lovingly gazed in his direction. After a few moments of quiet Jim spoke.

“What are we doing for dinner?”

Pam smiled and inched up even more closer to Jim. “Do we have to go to dinner?”

“Not if you aren’t hungry. I can wait.”

“Let’s just stay like this for a while.”

“You’re being a girl again.”

“Well, I’m glad it’s a girl that’s lying on this bed with you right now. Otherwise, I might have some serious questions for you.”

Jim laughed and then rolled his eyes. “What’s the hold up?”

“What are you talking about?” Pam asked smiling.

“Why aren’t we all over each other right about now?”

Pam laughed and playfully put her feet on Jim’s feet. “I don’t know. But, this feels right.”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

“You know what’s funny? My mother asked me if we would be…”

“Yeah, I kind of overheard that conversation, sadly.”

Pam’s eyes opened wide. “What? Why didn’t you rescue me from that torture?”

“I wasn’t just going to barge in there during the middle of it. Besides, I wanted to hear your reply.” Pam jokingly slapped Jim’s arm and he reached up and rubbed it. “Don’t make me yell ‘child abuse’ again.”

“No one can hear you in here.”

“That’s why we got the suite. So, you could abuse me and no one would hear my cries for help,“ he said, tracing circles on her bare arm.

“You’re a goofball. Now, how about that dinner?”