Page 18 of Thin Lives

Emma

The hope that Emma would be able to keep out of her husband’s company for the rest of the day had quickly faded after he ended his phone call. With a sharp bark at her to “not go far” he was back on the phone again, this time with someone new.

Emma had little to no idea what was going on. The time passed by slowly as she watched Affonso pace the halls, take calls, shout orders into the phone, and little else. The more hours that ticked by, eventually trickling into the evening, the more irritated and impatient Affonso became.

By suppertime, Emma was eating alone at the table, but she could still hear her husband’s growls coming from the other side of the large home. Occasionally, he made his way out of the office, saying little as he grabbed a fresh coffee from the cook, and disappeared again.

Sherry worked at the island while Emma ate one of her favorite casserole dishes. The cook was wonderful in that way, and she enjoyed indulging Emma’s favorites where food was concerned ever since the pregnancy had been announced.

“Your puppy is getting fat,” Sherry said, more to herself than to Emma.

“He’s not fat—he’s just furry.”

And a little bit chubby.

Midnight hadn’t grown beyond five and a half pounds. The vet said that was probably as big as the dog was going to get. When he walked on his stubby little legs, his belly rubbed the floor. He was terribly short, and waddled when he walked. But he was still as playful as ever, never messed in the house anymore, and he adored Emma like nothing else.

He also despised Affonso, and had since the first time he met the man.

Emma figured her dog just had good taste in people.

Grinning, Emma dropped her hand down from the side of the table to feed Midnight a scrap of spiral noodles. The black ball of fur quickly inhaled the food, not even bothering to chew. Just as fast as the food was gone, Midnight sat sweetly, his little curled tail wagging hard.

“No more,” Emma told him.

Midnight didn’t move an inch, watching every bite Emma put into her mouth. Eventually, his silent begging got to her, and she dropped him another piece. He lapped it up before looking for more.

“And that is why he is fat,” the cook said, laughing.

Emma shrugged. “But he’s cute.”

“If ugly is cute, then yes.”

She knew the cook was only teasing her, because Midnight was terribly cute, what with his size, demeanor, and appearance. He still had that puppy look about him, and Emma didn’t think it would ever change.

Sometimes, it made her sad just to hold Midnight, as he had been one of the few gifts Calisto had given her. He was one of the only things left behind from their time together.

He was his own little reminder.

But she loved him all the same.

“Do you want some more of that casserole?” the cook asked.

Emma smiled. “I’m not sure that I should.”

Sherry waved her statement off. “Eating for two, Emma.”

The puppy wasn’t the only one who was getting fat around the Donati home. It wasn’t that Emma had gained a lot of weight during her twenty-four weeks of pregnancy, but she was getting there. It was one thing to indulge in food, but it was another thing to overindulge. And since working out was a huge no-no during her pregnancy—what with the risks and all—Emma had to be careful about her weight gain through other methods, like eating well and making healthier portion choices.

The last thing she wanted was gestational diabetes added to her list of issues.

“I’m good,” Emma assured. “And it was delicious, so thank you.”

Sherry nodded. “If you’re su—”

The cook’s words were cut off by the sound of the front door slamming shut. Raising a brow at Sherry only earned Emma a shrug.

She didn’t know who it was, either.