Thanks for the reviews…
Anxiety towards the end…
Disclaimer: I own nothing don't sue me…
*flashbacks italicized
Chapter two
"Jimbo!" said a too familiar voice.
"Hey Michael," he said with a lop-sided smile.
"We miss you man. How's Pam?"
"She is …" Another memorable voice interrupted before he could finish.
"Hi Jim!"
"Hey Karen," he said rather surprised to see her, even though he knew he would run into her at today's meeting. "How's is uhm… Dan?"
"Oh, he is good…he is actually at the park with Evan now. We all came up for the weekend."
"Oh fun, Evan is almost three now, right?" he said trying to dissolve the awkwardness.
"Yeah… So how's Pam?" Karen said as she pointed to a paint smudge on his neck.
...................
"Ok, so how are we gonna do this?" He asked looking around the white walls of the soon to be nursery.
"We are going to put tape around the bottom corners and then paint!" She said reaching to kiss his cheek.
"Are you sure it's that simple Beesley?"
"Yep," she said toying with the hairs that made their way off the sides of his baseball cap. His hair had grown longer than she had ever seen. She loved it.
They began placing the tape around the edges and putting newspapers over the wooden floors. She took over one wall while he tackled another. Her wall was looking perfect while his had paint running in all directions. She reached over to show him how it was done.
"Up and down strokes… and you don't need that much paint" she said dipping her finger in the paint and doting his nose.
"Are you sure it's not side to side?" He said placing a green hand print on her belly.
"Jim!"
"It's ok, 'non-toxic,'" he read, "'safe to a baby's touch,' they wouldn't lie Pam."
"It's so on Halpert!" She grabbed the roller and smudged his white shirt. Jim gently grabbed both of her hands in one of his and used the other to blotch paint on her face and arms. They come across as two kids who had just been introduced to finger painting, their canvas being each other.
"You look cute in green," he said sarcastically.
"It's honeydew."
He pulled her into a deep passionate kiss and she put her arms around his neck. His hands found their way to the rim of her shirt and she began unbuttoning his. They were soon intertwined with one another doing what they do best, love each other. Night came quickly and now he stared deeply at her with adoring eyes. They lay wrapped around a blanket on the floor of their half painted nursery. He carefully picked her up and carried to the bedroom and tucked her in. He then lay next to her, kissing her forehead before falling asleep.
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"Let's get started," Wallace said entering the small conference room, "Now that Jim has finally arrived…"
"Sorry," Jim interrupted, "Still trying to find my way around," he says taking a seat by Wallace.
"We are here as to introduce James Halpert as the chief director of sales." He said giving Jim a small tap on his back.
The meeting continued for the next hour explaining Jim's role in the company to the regional managers. After a small luncheon he was led to his office and around the building's quarters. Jim felt like the new kid on the playground as Wallace introduced him to the rest of the corporate staff. It had been a god day, except when Michael told everyone about their failed mission to Utica a few years back.
"We had warehouse uniform, mustaches, silly-string…" Michael said hugging Jim and pressing his head on his chest.
"Yep, so who can go for a cup of coffee right now?" Jim said quickly averting the scene. With a nod everyone stood up and began making their way towards the elevators.
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Later on the following week Jim accompanied Pam to her doctor's visit, taking an extended lunch break.
"Doctor King will see you now Mrs. Halpert," said the nurse as she opened the door to the examination room.
"We might get a picture of the baby today," she said squeezing his hand lightly.
"Yes, I can put it on my desk in my office," he said proudly, "It's pretty empty right now."
"Ok, let's see what we have here," said the doctor placing the cold gel-like substance on her stomach. "
The image was dark and fuzzy. Pam and Jim could barely make out what was that they were seeing. They simply nodded and smiled at one another knowing full well that none of them could make out a baby on the monitor. The doctor pointed out the head, but it was all too blurry for them to see. She measured the baby and informed that she was indeed 3 ½ months pregnant.
"The baby is healthy and mom seems to be doing fine," said the doctor, "Please schedule your next appointment with Sam at the front desk."
"Ok," said Pam attempting once more to see the baby on the print-out sonogram.
"It right there Beesley," Jim said pointing to the middle of the picture.
"You have no idea where it is!" She said pulling him to a kiss
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It had already been a month and three weeks since their move to New York. Three sonogram pictures hang loosely on the fridge door. With each passing day Pam's belly was growing bigger. Her cravings included exotic fruits like persimmons and mangos. Luckily, in New York you could find anything, even at two in the morning.
"You know, I read that if you talk the baby listens," she said lying on the couch with a small pamphlet she had pick up at the doctor's office.
"Is that right Beesley?" he said with a lop-sided smile, "Do you want me to start talking to the baby?"
"Yeah…." She replied in a child-like manner.
"Oookaay."
He left the kitchen bringing a plate of kiwi and sat of the couch. He pulled her up to his lap so that her belly was directly underneath his chin. He gently kissed her forehead, placed his hands on her stomach, and cleared his throat.
"Ahen…. Hi there baby in the belly, so today I went to work and sold..."
"Nooo" She said giggling, "You are going to put the baby to sleep!"
"Ok, ok… I will save that one for when it's born."
"Good!"
"Ok…… so let me tell you how…" he said winking at Pam, "you happen to find your tiny self in there. Your mother had too much wine…"
Pam let out an enormous laugh, covering Jim's mouth with her hand.
"Let's keep this PG13 ok?"
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It was their two year wedding anniversary and Jim had decided to take Pam to his parent's beach house. It was a small three bedroom house with a large deck that led down to the beach. They had arrived Friday morning, spending the day walking around the small town and shopping. They spent Saturday mostly on the beach and at night Jim prepared a romantic dinner outside.
"This is really amazing!"She said with a huge smile.
The candles flickered with the gentle breeze radiating her beautiful features. His cheeks were rosy from the sun and his hair was clumsily parted to the side. The sky was dark and a few stars could be seen through the passing clouds. They ate and drank more wine than they would have on a regular basis. They sat on the deck talking and laughing for hours into the night. Then Pam had an idea.
"Oh, you know what we should do?" She asked with the biggest grin pointing towards the water.
"What? Are you serious?" He said in disbelief.
"Quit stalling Halpert," she said stumbling though the deck tugging at his arm. He got up and followed without hesitating. He took off his shirt and pants and unzipped her dress. He scooped her up making his way towards the water breaking through a few gentle waves. The water felt cool and they hugged closer to keep warm. He began kissing her gently but passionately and she responded by pulling closer to him. The world had been forgotten, their fears left behind with their clothes. All that mattered was the new life being created by their act of love.
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As the chief director of sales, Jim was required to visit with the northeastern branches at least once every month. This week he was going to Scranton. He was leaving with Pam Thursday night and spending Friday at the office and the rest of the weekend visiting with friends and family. Pam skipped around the house talking on the phone with her mother as she packed lunch for their trip. She was excited to visit Scranton because it had been 4 months since she had last seen her family. She wanted to show her mother how big her belly had gotten.
"It is enormous mom….Yep, 7 months AND a half… uhm… we are keeping it a delivery surprise…. It's more fun that way…ok… love you….bye!"
"I think we are ready," Jim said entering the kitchen, rubbing her belly tenderly.
"Ok, let's go!"
It was pouring rain outside. The earlier forecast had only shown scattered rain showers through most of the evening. However, the showers had quickly developed into a full blown spring storm. It seemed to be getting worse the further they drove out of the city. Lightening illuminated the sky providing them with an amazing spectacle. Jim was driving slowly being very cautious. However, the rain persisted and the roads were barely visible.
"Do you think we should stop and wait for it to pass?" Pam said nudging Jim with her elbow.
"Nah… we will be fine."
That was his worse decision yet.
Cliffhanger…
Angst coming next…
Please review… makes me very happy…