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When I hit puberty and my unhealthy eating habits meant my weight had ballooned, Matilda insisted on rationing my food. She’d serve treats to my half-sisters but tell me I couldn’t have any because I was too heavy, and she was looking out for my health. She’d also serve me too-small portions, explaining she was trying to help me control my weight. All of this meant I often went to bed hungry.
Once, I’d been unable to sleep because I was starving. I sneaked down to the kitchen after everyone was asleep and stole food. She caught me in the act, and Kate teased me mercilessly about it. The result? I stopped eating with them. For years, I preferred to have my food delivered to my room and eat on my own.
Then there was the time Matilda took the three of us shopping for clothes. I was suspicious when she invited me to come along. After all, she never treated me as part of the family. But she was so sweet, and when I hesitated, Eleanor and Kate insisted I join them. I was so happy they were including me in their activities that I agreed.
We’d reached the boutique, and Matilda insisted I try on clothes that were a size too small for me. Then she looked at me with disappointment and commented that if I lost a little weight, they’d fit me better.
Eleanor and Kate tried on the prettiest dresses in the shop. They modelled them, and Matilda oohed and aahed over them. She bought them all the clothes they’d tried on, then turned to me and proclaimed, once I slimmed down, she’d buy a new wardrobe for me too. Meanwhile, she was "more than happy" to buy me my plus-size clothing, but really, wouldn’t it be best if I waited? It would be an incentive for me to lose weight. With sweaty palms and a piercing pain in my heart, I agreed.
She proceeded to take us to a fast-food joint as a ‘treat,’ then looked at me disapprovingly when I ordered a burger. I settled for not eating, while the three of them tucked into burgers and shakes. I reached for one of the fries from Kate’s plate, and she burst into tears and complained to Matilda that I was stealing her food.
Of course, she and Eleanor had looked at me with judgement. I was a fat girl; I couldn’t restrain myself when it came to food. It was one of the worst days of my life—one to which I directly attribute many of my insecurities with food and my weight. Suffice it to say, I never went out with them anywhere after that.
The waitstaff moves on to serve someone else, and I heave a sigh of relief, only to stiffen when Matilda gestures to my dress. “What a lovely color, my dear.” She turns to Eleanor. “Doesn’t it give the illusion of taking inches off her hips?”
“It does.” Eleanor beams. “In fact, it almost flattens her stomach.”
“It definitely makes her look a size smaller.” Kate taps her chin with a talon-like fingernail.Too bad she hasn’t stabbed herself in the eye with it.
How many times have I heard the three of them hold a conversation about me like I wasn’t there? Only Iwasthere. And I was hurt. And I still carry the emotional scars from their torment. That confidence I thought I'd shored up oozes out of me.
I take a step back, only to connect with something solid. Something warm. And hard and ungiving. Something that supports my weakening knees that threaten to give out from under me. I draw in a sharp breath, and his woodsmoke scent surrounds me. That tingle of electricity, which I’ve always felt in his presence, loops about my shoulders. My muscles relax, and when he places his big hands on my hips, the comfort from his touch knocks away the moment of self-doubt which had crawled into my chest.
"Belle’s lush figure is what I love about her. No, that’s wrong." He tucks me closer. "Her big heart is what I adore about her. And her giving nature. And how she wants to take care of those around her. She is the most authentic, most unselfish, most beautiful soul I have ever met. As for her curves? They're what make her even more special. My wife is worth a hundred, no, a million of you.” He turns to my stepmother. “You insulted my wife and made her unhappy today. For that and for all the times you’ve upset her during her growing years, I’m going to cut the salary paid to your husband by eighty percent.”
Matilda laughs. "Who are you to have any say over my husband’s income?"
"He’s the man who owns my company," my father’s voice cuts in.
Matilda looks from my husband to my father, who’s walked over to join us. "What do you mean?" She scowls.
"My business needed an infusion of cash to stop it from going under. Mira’s husband stepped in. As of today, he owns a majority interest in the shares. In effect, he has control over my paycheck, and hence, over our future.”
Matilda’s gaze widens. "You never told me."
"You didn’t need to know.” My father raises a shoulder.
"This doesn’t change anything." She waves her hand in the air.
“Actually, it does.” My father widens his stance. “Since my salary is going to be cut to a fraction of what I used to earn, we’ll have to trim our monthly outgoings. No more vacations—”
“What?” Eleanor slaps her hands on her hips. “I promised my friends I’d take a trip to Barbados with them. I can’t let them down,”
Our father ignores her. “No more buying new dresses,” he proclaims.
“I can’t do without one for my debutante ball!” Kate bursts into tears.
Matilda pulls her close then glowers at my father. “Now, look what you’ve done.”
“As for you”—he looks my stepmother up and down— “I’m going to cut your allowance by eighty percent.”
Matilda stiffens. “You’re joking.”
My father shakes his head. “I should have done this much earlier for how you mis-treated Mirabelle all these years. I’m seriously thinking of divorcing you.”
Matilda gapes, then a sly look comes into her eyes. “We’ve been married long enough, that if you did, I’d be entitled to a good portion of your money.”
My father smirks, and it’s a look I’ve never seen on his features before. “Remember the pre-nup you signed?”
