Belly Literary Universe (part 2)

Myre's Enthusiasm Part 21: Hands on

Midday on Sunday, Myre headed downstairs to open the shop and prepare Lucas's order of Myre's Marvelous Mix for pickup. The lights flicked on. The locks clicked open. Myre swung her apron around, and reached behind her to tie it. All the new weight in her belly was apparent. As she intertwined the strings behind her back, it made a crease in between her bust and stomach, and further emphasized the changes to her body.

Myre recalled her Mom's warnings and guilt about her weight. A few nights of ice cream, belly rubs, and self care had dulled the instincts that her Mom had bestowed on her. As she stood there with her apron emphasizing her newly grown roundness she gave the top of her belly a pat. She turned one way and then the other admiring her reflection in the metal counter. Her work clothes of jean shorts, an apron, and a black tank top wasn't meant to be a fashion statement, but her protruding stomach did something for the outfit. She felt confident. Attractive. Sexy. Most importantly, being as round as she was just felt right. It didn't feel shameful or burdensome like she had been led to feel in the past.

***

The shop was in full motion. Machines churned preparing a batch of chocolate, vanilla, and mint ice cream for the warmer months. She placed orders for new dishes - paper instead of plastic like she used for the last summer. As she hustled through her business, the bell of the front door jangled.

Lucas walked in with his sleeve stretching muscles and vibrant green eyes nearly shining in the morning light. His face was pleased and somewhat apprehensive. He stopped the door from closing with his foot and Rachel followed him in.

It had been just over a month and a half since they met, and a couple weeks since they last saw one another. Rachel's hips were wider and her face fuller. Her bust had grown significantly along with her belly. She looked as as if her belly had grown the last 3 months of a long pregnancy in less than a month and a half. Instead of the red tank tops and jean jacket she usually wore, she had a short sleeved shirt on. A band of elastic pressed under her bust and made sure that her shirt clung tight around her belly. As was Rachel's style, the shirt left the bottom third of her belly uncovered. Right upon entering she looked up at the hanging sign with all the flavor options.

Myre didn't expect to see Rachel. Still, she immediately knew what was going to happen. Instead of giving her usual greeting she gave Lucas a gesture toward her freezer, while she went into the back of the shop.

As she rolled the pallet of professionally plastic wrapped marker labels cartons Myre's Marvelous mix, Lucas took his chance.

"Rachel?" He asked her attention.

"Yes?" She turned away from the list of flavors.

"We've gotten to know one another for awhile - worked in this strange organization together for most of that time. Well. We've gotten a bit closer these past few weeks. And I was hoping that maybe I could ask you out? Officially. I want to date you."

"Oh." Rachel blushed and turned toward him. She scratched at the back of her calf with her foot. "I'm interested. Go on. I'm sensing there is more to this than just an hour trip for ice cream."

"Oh it was an hour trip for ice cream..." He gestured to Myre rolling out the palette of ice cream. "I want to help you be the bigger woman you always joke about being. To help you along I had ten gallons of Myre's Marvelous Mix made for you. All for you."

Myre blushed and covered her smile with one hand. She made a sweeping gesture toward the stack of ice cream cartons like a product saleswoman on TV.

Rachel looked to the pile, to Myre, then back to Lucas. A wide grin crossed her face as she arched her back to bring attention to her belly. "You didn't have to bribe me with ice cream but wow - this was a good touch. It sounds like a deal to me!" She grabbed his hands and pressed them into her belly and leaned forward to kiss him.