Chapter 2 - changed appearances

This had been a stupid idea. Lily looked at the tiny aircraft and the huge man standing in front of it, holding the door for her.
»Lady, we have to go now. Otherwise, we don’t make it before sunset and Pinetree is not equipped for night air traffic.«
She sighed and boarded the prop airliner. Seconds later, they were in the air, Lily being the only passenger.
»What brings you to Pinetree?«
The man who had introduced himself as Bill smiled at her broadly.
»I am visiting someone.«
»I see. Whom?«
»It would seem to me that this is none of your business.«
»Just asking. You know, I am also the only cab driver in all of Pinetree. Wanted to figure where to get you.«
Lily bit her lower lip. She had been so busy planning the trip, getting herself a mixture of holiday and home office days as well as trying to convince herself that she was not a madwoman, that she had avoided to actually think about what to do once she was in Pinetree.
»Is there an Inn or a hotel?«
Bill smiled at her again, this time he didn’t hide the fact, that he shared her assessment of her being madwoman. »No. We have a few apartments, but they are all rented out at this time of the year. Lots of families coming together.«
»Christmas is still four weeks away.«
»We are a festive crowd. Also need a lot of hands around this time a year.«
She cursed, earning her another smile from her pilot. »I want to visit Brandon Bell. Do you know him or the Bell-Family?«
Now, Bill started to laugh, a loud and humming sound. »If I know the Bell-Family. You are funny, Lady.«

Lily looked astonished at the adorable little town Bill drove her through. Though it was only end of November, everything was decorated brightly. All in all, Pinetree looked a little like out of a fairy-tale.
However, right now, Lily felt her heart beating fast against her ribcage. What if Brandon really had ghosted her? What if he had a fiancée here, or even worse a wife? If he belonged to some ultra-religious cult and she had nowhere to go for hundreds of miles? Needless to mention that there were no rental cars in Pinetree to be had either.
Bill pulled over and soon enough, she stood at the beginning of a little path cleared of snow leading to a beautiful, spacious country house. Decorated street lamps lighted her way, still, Bill waited until she reached the double door until he turned and drove off.
Lily stared at the door unmoving. To her left stood her trolley and she started to shiver, but somehow, she couldn’t bring herself to ring the bell next to which ironically stood Bell in italic handwriting.
When someone pulled the door inwards, Lily startled, thereby slipping on an icy patch and landed on her back. »Ouch!«
»My dear. Are you hurt?« A man in his early sixties with the same green eyes as Brandon’s bent over her, extending his hand to help her up.
Lily brushed off the snow and stared at the man unhappily.
»You look cold and hurt. Please, come in.«
»You can’t just invite a stranger into your home. I could be here to rob you.«
The man looked at her with a warmth that reminded her of Brandon and to her own horror, tears started to stream down her cheeks.
»I don’t think you are going to rob us.« He ushered her inside. »Annabelle! We have a guest.«
Lily was led to a comfortable open living room with an adjacent kitchen that was the biggest one, she had ever seen. The woman in it was as unmistakably Brandon’s mother, as the huge, heavyweight man next to her was his father.
»Sit next to the fire. You look so cold. I will get you a cup of tea. Everything looks better with a cup of hot tea, right? My name is Annabelle. This is John. Welcome to our home.«
Annabelle handed her a handkerchief while John heaved himself in the armchair opposite hers.
»You wanted to pay us a visit?«
Annabelle gave her husband a stern look. »John. Let the poor girl warm herself up before you bother her with questions.«
A little while later, Lily held the promised hot cup of tea in her hands. She still felt emotional, but warm and somehow, John and Annabelle had a soothing effect on her. She sighed. At some point, she would have to reveal herself as the madwoman she was anyway. However, before she could speak a word, Annabelle put her hand on Lily's arm and smiled at her sympathetically.
»You are Lily, right?«
»How did you know?«
»Brandon is devastated because he left you back in New York. I told him that if your feelings for him were only a fraction of his, he should tell you, but he wouldn’t hear of it. He is as stubborn as his father«
»But why?«
Annabelle’s expression grew serious. »Daniel, Brandon’s brother had an accident. He will recover, but not soon enough, therefore, Brandon had to take over the family business. At least for now. I am afraid, I can’t tell you more about it. You should hear about it from Brandon.«
»I am so sorry to hear that something like that had to happen to your son.« Lily squeezed the other woman’s hand.
»Can I speak to Brandon?«
Annabelle nodded. »Of course. He should be here any minute. Why don’t you help me in the kitchen until he arrives. He will be hungry.«

Time went by easy with Annabelle, who did most of the kitchen work while Lily helped her with minor tasks, drinking a second cup of tea. Soon enough, a delicious smell filled the house. John had helped himself to some cookies and read the paper.
A little later, sounds from the door made Lily's heart jump again. Two male voices where audible, making their progress through the hallway at a very slow pace.
»I truly am sorry, B.«
»It was an accident. Not your fault. And I really am grateful that nothing worse had happened.«
The door was pushed open. Lily recognized the first man entering the room as Brandon’s brother Daniel from the picture though he looked quite beaten. His calf was in a splint while his knee and thigh were punctuated with a complicated looking metal construction. His left arm was in a sling and his face showed healing bruises.
Brandon stopped in his movement, when his eyes fell on her. Relief washed over Lily. Brandon was OK. Nothing bad had happened to him. He was alright. Seeing nothing else, than the green eyes that meant the world to her, she covered the few steps towards him and threw herself in his arms. With trembling lips, she whispered to him, »I am not a madwoman, am I?«
She felt Brandon’s strong arms holding her gently.
»Of course not, my love. I missed you so much.«
Only now. Lily noticed how his body pressed against hers with an unknown massiveness. A firm ring of flab swelled over Brandon’s belt and his arms were plumper than she remembered. When Brandon bend down to kiss her, Lily took in in his chubbier cheeks and fuller jaw. Then, she was welcoming his warm, considerate kiss.
Someone cleared their throat. Daniel.
»Don’t you want to introduce us, B.?«
There was a lot of chatter and laughter. Lily was amazed by the warm welcome Brandon’s family gave her. Through dinner, Annabelle and Daniel told her about his accident during work and how Brandon needed to tend to the family business now. But even as the reason for Brandon’s return was not a cheerful one, Lily got the feeling as if everyone was relieved and happy, that he was back with them.
Also, she noticed how Brandon took a second and even a third of the meatballs and mash potatoes with gravy Annabelle had prepared. The same was true for dessert which was carrot cake. Covertly, she looked at Brandon for a little longer, still in disbelief of how the last few weeks had physically changed him.
After dinner and desert, Lily realized how tired she was.
»I am so sorry. It didn’t come to my mind that Pinetree couldn’t have a guest house or an Inn. Therefore, I have nowhere to stay.«
Annabelle waived her hands and smiled at her warmly. »You are family. Of course, you stay with us. The guest room is already prepared.« She turned to Brandon. »Be a good boy and show Lily the guest room, will you?«
Brandon nodded and rose, not without difficulty because of his abundant meal.

»There is a small bathroom for your own on the other side of this door. Towels are in the cupboard beneath the sink. Is there anything else you need?«
Now, that the two of them were finally alone, it felt a little awkward. »No. I think I am good. Sorry if I cause you and your family troubles.«
»Not at all, Lily. I ... I am so sorry.« Brandon looked at her with a sad shimmer in his shiny green eyes. »I guess you really are tired. Let’s talk tomorrow.«
He was about to leave, when Lily protested, »please don’t leave me here alone just like this. I don’t want to be alone.«
Slowly, Brandon turned towards her. Lily indicated the place on the bed next to her and he hesitantly sat down. »What happened?«
»Daniel had the accident. Our family business is quite demanding at this time of the year and my dad has retired for good. I felt obliged and also, I didn’t have much of a choice.« He sighed unhappily. »I never wanted you to see me like this. I never thought it would come to it. Daniel is to take over our father’s place. I thought if I would do it just this one year and return afterwards, you would probably want me back.«
»You should have trusted in me. There is nothing we can’t go through together. I want to support you.«
Brandon rose again. This time, he held the wide flannel fabric of his shirt closer to his frame. Lily realized that he was even bulkier, than she had thought from her secretive looks.
»I am fat. And this is not the end of it by far. I can’t prevent it. At Christmas, I will very likely look like my father or Daniel.«
His voice sounded sad. Desperate. And Lily read shame and humiliation in Brandon’s eyes.
»But how?« She watched his heavier body in disbelief. At the same time, she wasn’t as repelled as she would have expected. If she was entirely true to herself, she wasn’t repelled at all. Instead, she felt the desire to touch Brandon. To feel his protruding belly and flabby love handles.
»I will tell you, but will you let me do it at my own speed?«
It was hard to hold back her curiosity, but somehow, she knew that she had to wait for him to tell her when he was ready. »Sure.«
He turned again.
»Wait. Please, stay. I have crossed the country, flew in a tiny can over vast, snowy nothingness and ambushed your parents and family into having me at their house. Please don’t leave me right now.«
He looked at her unhappily. »I want nothing more, but at the same time, I would rather change these last few hours, so you would never see me like this.«
Lily rose. Very slowly, she approached Brandon. He held himself absolutely still, when her hand cupped his fuller chin. »Just tell me one thing. Is it because you are ill? Is something terrible to happen?«
Brandon shook his head. »No, my love. But I can’t help it. It ...«
»Shhh. I don’t need to know right now. We will see this through together. Now come.« Lily led him to the comfy, broad bed. She curled herself against Brandon and together they watched the myriad of stars in front of the French windows.
He felt heavier and at the same time soft and caring. Lily wanted to explore his changed body, but held herself back. Brandon was not yet ready. Instead, she kissed him, feeling his full cheeks and chubby chin again.