chapter 5

The young couple gathered up the picnic remains and walked back to the house. They dropped off the basket in the kitchen, and Betty said, "I need to find a scale."

"I haven't seen one since we got here. There isn't one in our room."

"I know that my mom doesn't own one. She doesn't care what she weighs. But maybe someone on the staff has one. C'mon, let's ask them." Betty was on a mission. They walked to the back of the house and found one of the maids. "Maria," said Betty, "I was wondering if you have a scale. I was just curious if I've put on a little weight."

Maria looked a little nervous. "Oh, no ma'am. I don't have one." Maria was plump and pretty, and Betty had a hard time believing that she didn't try to watch her weight.

"Are you sure, Maria? I won't tell my mother."

"Please, ma'am. I need this job. Your mother said we weren't to have any scales in the house while you were here."

"So you had one and got rid of it Maria? Or just hid it?" Maria kept her head down. "Maria, I understand. You don't want to lose your job. Of course, if I were to tell my mom about the wine that you've been sneaking..." Maria looked up, her eyes wide.

"How could you know, ma'am? I've been so careful."

"I didn't. Until now. Now where's the scale."

Maria looked defeated. She led them to her room, went in and pulled a scale out from under her bed. "Please ma'am, you won't tell?"

"As long as we can come weigh ourselves, your secret is safe." Betty hopped up on the scale. "Hmmm. It looks like I'm up two pounds." She turned to Ted. "Your turn."

Ted stepped up. "Looks like I've gained about three. If we believe this scale."

"It's all we've got. Okay, Maria. Thanks. Your secret is safe. We'll be back."

The two of them left Maria's quarters and wandered back to the main house, where they ran into Dinah. "Oh, there you two are. How was your picnic? You must have enjoyed it, I haven't seen you all afternoon. Come in the library. It's the cocktail hour."

Over drinks, Dinah told them that she was having a party the next day. "After all, it's Saturday. And none of my friends have had a chance to see to new married couple."

Once drinks were over, it was time for dinner. It was lobster tails tonight, with clarified butter. And of course plenty of fattening side dishes, followed by chocolate torts. As usual, Ted and Betty were stuffed to the gills. After dinner, Dinah proposed a game of cribbage. It was a very old fashioned game, as far as Betty and Ted were concerned, but it was a quiet way to pass the rest of the evening and let their tight bellies recover. They set up the game in the Library. Once the game started, Maria brought in a sweet dessert wine, and a platter of freshly made butter cookies. Ted and Betty looked at each other, both thinking the same thing. Dinah just never let up. Ever.