One year later

Pam quickly checked herself in the bathroom mirror before heading to the bedroom and giving it a once over. Leaning over the bed, she flattered the freshly washed sheets smooth and then stood back with her hands on her hips. Feeling slightly uneasy, she felt her heart race.

Glancing at the clock radio on the nightstand, Pam went down the hall and poked her head into Ginger's room. The baby was taking her afternoon nap and slept underneath her mobile of dancing lambs and cows. Shutting the door, Pam made her way into the living room and sat herself down on the sofa.

Opening her sketch book, she grabbed one of her charcoals and began working again. Scattered on the coffee table were also some of Ryan's old business books that Pam had began flipping through.

Just then the door opened and Ryan walked in, his leather briefcase under one arm. Ryan's 5'o clock shadow seemed ten times deeper now and his eyes looked completely exhausted. Pam looked up and forced a smile.

"Hi honey."

Ryan walked in, putting his briefcase down.

"Hey babe, what's going on?"

"Oh nothing, Gladys just left and Ginger is taking her nap."

Gladys was the housekeeper they had hired a few months ago after Ryan got a pay increase and they moved to an even bigger apartment up town. The statement of Gladys just leaving of course of a complete lie. Gladys had finished up nearly two hours ago.

Ryan walked over, cracking his back before sitting beside her on the sofa. Sighing, Ryan tilted his head back and sighed.

Pam set down her sketchpad.

"Long morning?"

Ryan rubbed the sides of his face.

"Awful…this stupid website is going to be the death of me."

Pam tried to smile as she curled up and moved closer to him.

"Hey, it's all right…"

Slowly she began rubbing his chest through his open shirt. Looking over at Pam, Ryan smiled before glancing down at the sketchpad.

"Wow…this new?"

Ryan held it up, as Pam rested her head on his shoulder.

"Just something I'm messing around with. I still need to call up that school and see if there's doing spring semesters part time."

Ryan studied the sketch before smiling.

"It think it's wonderful."

"Well you're sweet."

Smiling, Ryan kissed Pam.

"I'm still not sure though…"

"About what?"

"About art school…I mean it's a lot of money…"

"We can afford it."

"I know but he time away from Ginger and everything…anyways I've been looking at some of you're old business books…"

Ryan leaned over looking the books over.

"Get those out of the closet?"

"Yeah…I really find a lot of this stuff interesting…maybe…well I don't know…maybe it could be something to look into."

"You wanna go to business school?"

"Well…maybe, I don't know yet."

Ryan touched the side of Pam's face and smiled.

"If that's what you want…I'll be more then happy to help you. I mean…you have the brains…more then me."

"Don't say that…"

"It's the truth…hey maybe you could get into something cool that deals with both. Like some field dealing with art sales or something?"

"Yeah that would be awesome."

Just then the sounds of Ginger waking up filled the air. Ryan smiled.

"I'll get her, been thinking about her all morning."

Getting up, Pam watched Ryan go down the hall. Sighing, Pam breathed a sigh of relief.

In Ginger's room, Ryan picked Ginger up who right away giggled as he blew a strawberry on her belly.

"How's my princess?"

The baby laughed tugging on his hair as he carried her into his bedroom, just two doors down. Walking in, Ryan went to check his email messages quickly before his lunch was over. Switching Ginger in his arms, he walked over and froze for a moment.

Pam's wedding ring sat on the nightstand.

Raising an eyebrow, Ryan stopped for a moment and said nothing. The ring was something he had really splurged on. A diamond in which Pam often joked weighed the same amount as a golf ball. Still, Ryan felt proud whenever he saw her wearing it. Somehow that made him feel better…showed his success and how he was able to give his wife the best.

Still…why did she have it there?

Ryan looked down at his left hand and saw his white gold wedding band. Something in which he never took off. Shrugging, Ryan went to the desk near the window and sat down as Ginger started playing with his loosened tie. Clicking the laptop, right away the screen lit up.

Ryan stopped.

This was Pam's email account, she hadn't logged out.

There were emails.

.

Tons of them from that address.

Ryan knew that address.

It was Jim's.

As Ginger attempted to put Ryan's tie in her mouth, Ryan glanced at the doorway and heard Pam down the hall in the kitchen. Feeling his stomach turn, he clicked on one of the messages and froze.

Pam,

Last night was wonderful. I think I'm getting more then enough gas mileage driving up here three times a week. When is Ryan's next big meeting? Can't stop thinking about you.

Jim.

Ryan felt as though his whole world was spinning. Within seconds every fear he ever had came true. Sitting there in almost a trance he opened five more. Reading each one he learned that Jim had broken it off with Karen long ago and was sleeping with Pam.

Ryan made a fist with his free hand so tight that his fingernails dug right into his palm. Taking a second, he thought of a million things.

This entire thing had been a lie.

She still loved him. After everything…

Ryan felt sick, holding onto Ginger he slowly got up and wanted to hurt Pam more then anything now. He hated her…and hated knowing she had done this to him.

Going to the kitchen, Ryan stopped in the doorway watching her. His eyes blank as he held their baby in his arms.

Finally Pam turned, smiling.

"I'm making some lunch you want some?"

Ryan said nothing. Pam looked at him and nervously smiled again.

"What is it?"

Ryan looked at Ginger who rested her head against his chest and then looked back at Pam.

"Pam…I think business school is a great idea. But I think it should wait."

"What?"

Pam looked confused.

Ryan took a step closer, he knew he had her right where he wanted her.

"I think we should try for another baby."

"What!?"

"Another baby…I think it would be smart…then Ginger wouldn't be that much older."

"Ryan what are you talking about?!"

"Another baby…I know we haven't talked about it…but since we're go good with Ginger…"

"Ginger isn't even two Ryan! I'm still trying to get my life together! Jesus where is this coming from?!"

Ryan glared at Pam before his cell went off. Grabbing it with his free hand he answered and it was the office. He left minutes later. Still shaken by his comment, Pam went back to the bedroom to find the computer off and didn't think anything of it. Spotting her wedding ring she nearly died. Quickly putting it on, he prayed Ryan didn't see it laying there. Going back out the fix Ginger's lunch, she thought about the amazing morning Jim and her had spent together and then felt suddenly awful.

For the last couple of months…somehow…she had been lying and sneaking behind her husband's back. Thinking of how Jim kissed her underneath the sheets, Pam felt goosebumps and took a second leaning against the counter.

What had she done?

That night Ryan came home late and seemed extra tried. Once Ginger was in bed Pam came into the bedroom dressed in a short silk nightgown and was brushing her hair. Ryan meanwhile sat shirtless up in bed reading.

"Ryan?"

Ryan looked up.

"Yeah?"

"You okay?"

"I'm fine…"

Pam bit the bottom of her lip.

He knows.

She thought suddenly and quickly pushed that thought away. Jim and her had been careful…extra careful. Standing there, she had no idea what she was doing. Ryan was Ginger's father. Ryan had been the one who had supported her and was so kind and understanding.

Ryan had always been there for her.

Ryan was her husband.

Still, as much as she loved him for all those reasons…she still found herself sleeping with Jim.

Crawling into bed, Pam knew soon she would have to face this and finally do something about it. As unhappy as she was with this wonderful lifestyle…and as trapped as she seemed…she still had strong feelings for Ryan and had to find a stop to this no matter how hard the choice was.

Nuzzling against his neck, he hoped he wasn't mad at her snapping earlier. Ryan closed the book and looked at her as she began kissing up his shoulder.

Just then Ginger began to cry. Pam laughed looking up at Ryan.

"Hold on a second…"

Slipping out of bed, Pam went down the hall. Ryan then got up and went to the master bathroom and locked the door behind him.

Going into one of the draws, Ryan took out Pam's diaphragm and stared down at it. Reaching into another draw he took Pam's tweezers and poked at least fifteen tiny little holes in it. His face crumpling as he did so, he felt his heart break.

That bitch…how could that bitch do this to him?

He decided that he would trap her and finally win over Jim. He would wait and make her life a living hell and then finally leave her.

Closing the case, Ryan then went into the back of his own draw and took out something.

Something he had been trying on the side for the last month or so. Taking out a tiny mirror, he began making lines. Fighting back tears, he remembered that Halloween night and wished it never happened.