chapter 9

A Year Later

Hank woke up and inhaled. "Bacon", he said from the old restored bed in the master bedroom of Twin Oaks.

Getting up, he walked down the stairs in pj pants and a tshirt.

"Smells fantastic", he said, kissing Grace's cheek. A 350 pound belly now stood between them, but she was cuddling him close.

"Some of your famous coffee?" she asked.

"Coming up", he said.

"When is your last tux fitting?" she said, raising an eyebrow and looking him over.

"Hey, it's your fault!" he laughed. "Next week."

"Then you can't gain anymore until the wedding", she said.

"And after?" he asked.

"400 sound good?" she asks, kissing his cheek and patting his belly.

"You'll still love me?"

"I'll love you every moment of this life and the next." She pulled him close.

"You're the woman of my dreams, and I'll love you and watch over you forever, even when I'm not around anymore."

"Don't talk like that", she insisted.

"Sorry", he shrugged.

"Otherwise, I'd say you wrote your vows", she said, popping a piece of bacon in his mouth.

"Hmm, I think you're right...in good times, in bad, when she had to roll me down the street..."

"Ha ha!"

"What if you get sick of me, of this? I'm not going to get any smaller,Grace", he whispered.

"Shhh." She pulled him close. "You're my other half. You're stuck with me."

Grace had never thought she'd have a wedding so beautiful, but Hank had made it perfect. Twin Oaks was finished, and gorgeous...and silent. No residents but live ones anymore. The only thing the home was alive with was happiness.

Grace wore a beautiful ball gown with a big skirt she'd been dreaming of, carrying roses from their own garden.

True, he was a big guy in that tux, the one that was measured a week ago and already a little too small in the back, and he got teased by both her family and his. But she was so happy to see him at the end of the aisle, she nearly ran up it.

"As you know, Gracie, we've been here before", he said, taking her hand and she lost the battle with tears, "And I have no doubt we'll be here again. Because we love each other so completely, we're two pieces of the same puzzle. I love you. You're my soul mate."

Her friend in the audience who knew the story was also balling. So was her mother. And the local historical society - from happiness - when Grace told them she intended to bring the Holiday Lights Ball back to Twin Oaks that Christmas.

"A toast", Hank called, "To Annette and Tristan!"

And somewhere in the distance, Grace swore she saw them smile.

Christmas

Grace tried on her silvery ball gown. It wasn't how she had planned to look in her ball gown, but her 6 month pregnant stomach seemed to always be in the way. It was so unexpected, a miracle.

"Ugh", she said. Hank, came up behind her, laughing, and wrapped his arms around her.

"Too big for your dress?" he laughed.

"Hey, I may be eating for two, but it's temporary, you eat for 12..."

"You're gorgeous no matter what", he wisely amended. He held up his ring finger. His wedding ring wouldn't go over knuckle. "Time to size up again."

He had surpassed their goal of 400. Grace had never expected him to gain so much, so quickly, or so easily.

"So drop by the jewelry store on the way to pick up your tux..."

It felt odd to be married, to be so...ordinary. Maybe not ordinary as much reassuring and safe. Something neither of them had much of with anyone else.

"Is the caterer bringing those cream cheese fingers again?" he asked.

She laughed. "Yes, I've made certain we'll have plenty left, but dealing with your mother watching you eat them at the party...that's going to your problem."

"Time to measure", she said, digging out the measuring tape.

He was completely excited as always, he loved to see the numbers go up.

"Well, I have news for you", she said, "The pants of your tux are a quarter inch bigger than your belly."

He grinned, and silently got into bed, and opened his mouth. "Feed me fatter", he said. Thrilled, Grace sat next to him, cradled the husband she adored in her arms, as she fed him cookie after cookie and rubbed his belly as he fattened under her fingers.