chapter 7

Sunday they slept in. After the gorging of the night before, it was after ten before the couple ventured downstairs. Dinah was at the dining table with a carafe of coffee and a smile.

"Wasn't last night great fun! I think everyone had a marvelous time. I hope you two enjoyed yourselves." Ted and Betty gave weak smiles.

"I think I'd like some coffee, please," said Betty in a subdued voice.

"Of course, dear," smiled Dinah, as she rang her little bell. In came Maria, with another carafe of coffee. Followed by another maid with a trolley of eggs, sausage, home fried potatoes, and biscuits.

"Of course..." said Betty in resignation.

The month continued on. Large, heavy meals, cocktail hours, desserts, and snacks. The first week had been difficult, in fact very difficult. After that it seemed easier. Ted and Betty thought that maybe they were eating less than that first week of gorging. In fact, their stomachs had stretched. They were now used to eating big at every meal, and didn't feel bloated anymore. So they were actually eating as much as ever. They would slip to the staff quarters and weigh themselves on Maria's scale. The first week showed them up 3 or 4 pounds, the second week was a few pounds more, and after three weeks they found that Betty was up a total of 9 pounds, and Ted was up 11.

The third week was a turning point of sorts. It had been a typical day of heavy meals, and a movie in the evening. Ted and Betty went upstairs to go to bed. Ted used the bathroom first, then Betty went in to remove her make-up and brush her hair out. She finished a little sooner than usual, came out and Ted wasn't there. A few minutes later he quietly entered the room, showing surprise at seeing Betty already in the bedroom.

"Ted, where did you go?" Ted paused, obviously trying to think of something to tell her. Betty got up and went over to him. "Is that chocolate on your lip, Ted? What have you been eating?"

"Aw, I'm sorry honey. But I found some cookies in the kitchen and brought a few up here." Ted pulled the bag from behind his back.

"Open your robe, Ted." Ted untied his robe and let it fall open. His belly, once flat, had a round, gentle curve to it. Betty opened her own robe.

"I guess I shouldn't judge, Ted. My belly is starting to stick out too. Three weeks and we've already got pot bellies."

"I guess I'm not helping by sneaking cookies, honey."

"What kind are they?"

"Chocolate chip and macadamia nuts."

"Oh hell, give me a couple. We've already been bad," she declared, patting her softening belly.

"It's not that bad, honey. We've gained ten or eleven pounds, and we've only got a week to go. Then we've got our Boston brownstone."

"I know," answered Betty. She patted his little belly and gave him a demure look. "Is your wife too fat to make love to?"

Ted grinned, stepped up to her and grabbed her new little love handles. "Of course not, darling. You're sexier than ever."

Betty thought he was just being sweet. Ted surprised himself by realizing that Betty actually was sexier than ever.