It was the morning of the first day of Jim’s internship, having arrived in Phoenix yesterday afternoon. He was nervous beyond belief, but also thrilled to be starting his new career. He landed his dream job just weeks before, but had to spend 4 gruesome weeks in Phoenix doing an internship to prepare him for the fast-paced office he’d be going back to in Philadelphia. Being in Phoenix in the middle of the summer and spending weeks in an intense and highly stressful internship was going to take it’s toll on him, he knew, but nothing was going to be harder for him than being away from his family for an entire month.

Jim walked out of his hotel room and into the morning heat. He flipped open his cell phone and dialed that oh-so-familiar number.

“Hello?“ Even after 5 years, her voice still sent shivers down his spine.

“Good morning.” He couldn’t help but smile to himself, just at the thought of being able to talk to her.

“Hi, honey! Are you on your way to work?” Pam asked.

“Yeah, just getting in the car. How are you feeling?”

“Pretty good, I’m just glad the morning sickness is over. I’m like a whole new woman!”

“Is your mom going with you to your appointment today?”

“No, she decided not to fly out here until next week. I’m just going to drop Jackson off at Debbie’s for the afternoon so I can get some cleaning done before the appointment.”

“Not that it’ll really matter, Jack will just have our house looking like a pigsty within 5 minutes.” Jim smiled at the all-too familiar image of their little monster messing up Pam’s perfect organization.

“Yeah, you’re right. It’s too bad he’s so cute, or else I would have shipped him off with you for the month.”

“Are you implying that I’m ugly, Pam? So rude…” He loved to tease her like this, it’s what kept their relationship healthy.

“Yeah, you’re pretty repulsive. So repulsive, in fact, that I may not even let you come back home.”

“You’re all talk, Beesly. I’ll have you begging for me to come home within the week."

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” The thought of having him gone for an entire month made her sick (or maybe that was the pregnancy…), and joking with him like this made her feel slightly better. “Hey, I gotta run, I just heard a crash coming from Jackson’s room. Have a good day at work. Make us proud!”

“Thanks, Pam. I will. Hey, be sure to send me the ultrasound pics when you have a chance. Give Jackson a kiss for me?”

“I will. I love you."

“I love you, too. Bye Pam.”

“Bye Jim.”

Jim put his phone in his pocket, started the car, and pulled out of the hotel parking garage and onto the busy city streets. His thoughts eventually drifted away from the perfect little family he missed, and onto the reality of his current situation. The nervousness that had drifted away was back in full-force, and as he pulled into the parking lot of his new employer, he couldn’t help but say a silent prayer for himself, and for the family he wished he was with instead.