chapter 6

There was no denying that Rob was more than okay with her new shape. The episode of lovemaking demonstrated that he was not just okay, but excited by her new shape. Rob didn't know what to do or say, and there was only one thing left to try. Honesty.

"I won't lie, Mary. You excite me more than ever before. And that's way, way, way beyond what any woman has ever excited me. And I feel...I don't know...conflicted somehow. All my life I've believed that fat was supposed to be ugly. A sign of weakness. And now you gain some weight and I totally lose control. Mary, I don't understand myself."

Mary was silent for a moment. Trying to decide how to say what she wanted to say, probably. After a moment, she spoke. "Rob, I've lived my life doing what I want. Going where I want, working on what I like to work on, being with who I want to be with and eating what I want. I think that's what attracted you to me in the first place."

"Well, yeah, that and that you've got big boobs," Rob said playfully as he pushed them to and fro.

"Can't blame you for that, but you're trying to change the subject. Anyway, some of this weight I gained went right to the girls, didn't they?"

"Bonus, I guess."

"Anyway, smartass, living the way I want to is catching up to me. And you know what? I'm all right with that. Having some extra padding doesn't bother me a bit. And this tummy," she grabbed at the small roll of flesh at her middle, "is kind of fun. Isn't it?" Mary was looking intently into his eyes when she said that.

"Yeah," Rob admitted. "Yeah it is fun. I just have to get over a lifetime of programming about fat. I'm supposed to hate it. Now I have to get used to the idea that it can be fun. Sexy."

"Not just on me, you know," Mary countered. "You could stand to eat a cheeseburger once in a while. Hell Rob, live a little."

That took Rob by surprise, and he was already reeling from today's surprises. "You're not telling me to get fat, are you?" he said with a bit of shock in his voice.

"Oh, relax babe. I wouldn't make you do anything you wouldn't want to do. I'm just saying that since you're attracted to the way I do what I want, maybe that's a sign that you want to let loose a little yourself. Maybe it's time to let go of that iron control."

"I'll try, but like I said, it's a lifetime of programming."

"Tell you what, Rob. There's a fall festival downtown. They'll have all kinds of fattening food. We'll go there and consider it a free day."

"Free day?"

"Yeah, free day. A day we're free to eat and drink whatever we feel like. A day free from guilt. What do you say?"

"For you, Mary, I'll try anything."