Chapter 7

After only about a month, it was clear Heidi’s weight was on the rise again. The velour suit she had again started wearing was no longer able to conceal her fat tummy. It was no wonder. She has really taken a liking to the new supply of beef. It was not uncommon to see her munching on a burger or even a rib-eye steak in the middle of the afternoon as she watched TV. Margarita just waited till her plate was empty and then was quick to plop a nice, new, juicy piece of meat on her plate.

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Two more months passed……

“How are you, Heidi?” I asked when she came to visit me as I worked in my home office one evening. I keep a home office out of the way; it’s just off the entrance to the outdoor pool.

“Have a seat,” I said.

She stood in the doorway, seemingly hesitant. Soon I realized that the small armchair in front of my desk would be a little tight for her widening body.

“Oh, here's a stool, Heidi,” I said, offering her a stool I kept behind the desk. I noticed the tremendous jiggle around her waist as she sat down. I suddenly realized she had probably gained all the weight she had lost. In fact, she now looked fatter than ever.

Regardless of getting so fat, she was looking particularly gorgeous today, better than ever. The dark circles under her eyes and her paleness that were present during her diet were totally gone. The color was back in her cheeks and she now was back to doing her make up as well. She was quite stunning.

“I have been meaning to talk to you about something, Raul. You have always been nice to me,” she began.

“Of course, Heidi. I have you to thank for the health of my family,” I answered.

“Well, as you have noticed, I love to eat and have put on a bit of weight,” she said, putting both of her dainty hands on her huge belly. “I was wondering if I could make this my bedroom. I could use the bathroom down here, and even a small shower. You see, I don’t like going up and down the stairs, it makes me out of breath and I don’t think it’s healthy.

“Besides,” she continued, smiling, “It would be cool because it’s right next to the kitchen. I need my afternoon naps and it’s too far to go all the way upstairs,” she finished.

I have to admit I wasn’t happy about having to give up my office. It was set up as I liked it and I didn’t want to move it. But Heidi is very persuasive when she looks at you with those beautiful eyes.

“She looks beautiful!” I thought to myself.

“Also, Raul,” she continued, "I know we haven’t talked about the length of my stay in a while, but I would like to stay another year if that’s ok. I am having the time of my life!"

I laughed and was flattered that she was having such a good time and replied she should not worry about staying longer. I added that I would start moving my office the next day. I would have her stuff moved in and I would get my things moved to her old bedroom upstairs. She thanked me repeatedly and turned to leave.

“Oh, Raul?” Heidi added, coming back in the room. “I am going to tell Julio we need to butcher another cow, okay?” she said, cutely pulling her bottom lip with her finger. “Margarita said we are running low of beef, and I don’t want us running out!”

I smiled and nodded my head in agreement with her request.

The next day the servants were busy shuffling the furniture from the office to Heidi’s old bedroom and vice versa. Heidi came out of the kitchen with her usual box of doughnuts in her hand and surveyed the progress. I watched as she ate and as she moved I caught a glimpse of her big belly jiggling underneath her loose, white sundress. She had cast off the old velour warm-up suits long ago and was now back to the white sundresses. Naturally, she didn’t exert a muscle and soon settled into an easy chair as soon as they had moved in to her new room.

The next morning Heidi came out to breakfast later than usual. She had obviously just rolled out of bed and had only to walk the few steps from her new bedroom to the table, where we were already starting our meal. Heidi seemed groggy, but she quickly perked up after a cup of coffee and a couple of fried eggs. She then requested some pancakes and proceeded to cover them in butter.

After about half an hour the rest of the family had moved on with their day, but Heidi stayed and ate. At about 12:00 pm, Margarita announced that it was lunchtime and that Heidi should just stay put and start in on lunch.

“Mmm.” Smack. Smack. Heidi kept eating, this time finishing some French toast. “Lunch, already? Okay, I have the appetite!”

The kids, Marisol, Paula and the day workers we had hired to help with the farm chores started to arrive awaiting their midday meal.

“Steak and Eggs!” said Margarita, "It’s Wednesday."

Heidi beamed, for it was her old favorite.

“Bring me three steaks, okay?” said Heidi hungrily.

“My, Heidi, quite an appetite today!” said Paula, smiling, amazed at her consumption.

“Oh, Mmmmm….yum yum yum!” said Heidi, "I can smell the steak cooking! Yes! I totally slept so well in my new room and I am in the best mood today!”

“Heidi, we are running low, you won’t have any more steak for tomorrow if you keep eating so much,” Margarita said, trying to warn her of her over-indulgence.

“Oh, don’t worry, Marg, Julio is getting another one of my cows ready. It should be back from the packing house tomorrow afternoon.”

Margarita smiled, shrugged, and soon brought out a huge platter of food. It held plenty of food to feed the whole group, but to their great surprise, it was set in front of Heidi.

“Here you go, sweetie!” said Margarita. “Bet you can’t eat all that!”

“I’m in heaven!” said Heidi, shaking her hands with joy.

The rest of the hungry workers, who had been working all morning, looked on hungrily as Heidi began to gorge herself obliviously, not bothering to wait a second for the others’ food to arrive.

The platter contained about three or four steaks with Margarita’s rich cream sauce, ten fried eggs, and a big mound of hash brown potatoes.

“Hmmm, I love my little cows…..but better in my tummy!” she said taking a greedy bite. “They’re cute, but…..Mmmmmmmm, so tasty.”

She rolled her eyes and cut another piece of steak, twice as big as the first.

“Butter please!” Heidi managed to cry out even as her mouth was stuffed full with food. She then immediately cut herself another huge piece of steak.