Belly Literary Universe (part 2)

Camilla's Clothes Part 12: Open

After a few days of delirious recovery in the hospital, Camilla was discharged. She still felt like an old woman, taking tiny hunched over steps to avoid pulling herself apart at the seams. But she was going out of her mind. After the grueling trip up the stairs to her suspended converted sawmill office dwelling, she settled into her chair, to do anything but move. Her cat Muzi sulked for a minute, but couldn't resist the allure of head scratches.

Immediately she grabbed a drawing pad to sketch outfit ideas that Veera inspired. They spent hours alone in the ward, and had plenty of time to talk about clothes.

She filled a few pages with unrealistic but stylish ideas before getting a text. Camilla growled. She didn't want to be interrupted. Or bothered. All she needed was to be left alone to heal.

"Hey. Sorry to bother you. My name is Zach Carpenter," The text read.

"And what do you want, Zach?" She texted back with angry taps, hoping her sarcasm would come through the screen, making it clear she wanted to be left alone.

"A friend of yours - mine - ours gave me your information. Said he'd thought we'd make a great couple. I'll be honest. I didn't have any idea how to start this conversation, but Secret Advisor hasn't steered me wrong, so I thought just saying hi would be a nice way to start. I'm hoping we can get to know each other a bit."

Camilla sighed. It was what she agreed to with him. Asked for, even. Her mood lightened a bit. But only a little. "Sorry. Not a great day. But I did ask for it, I guess. I'm Camilla. And I guess the most important thing to get out of the way is that my biggest want is kids. I'm not looking for someone who wants to have kids 5 years from now when their career is ready or whatever. I'm not a teen. I'm not rushing into a first love. I'm 33. I know what I want. A family."

"I think I can relate. It's nice to meet you Camilla. I hope your day gets better. Secret Advisor mentioned you might be ornery. It's weird talking about kids with someone I've only just introduced myself to. I can't commit to having kids just right this second over text, but I'm not opposed at all. Like I said, I want to get to know you a bit first."

Camilla scorned at being called ornery. But he wasn't wrong. "One other thing before anything else. Have to get it out of the way. Since you know this Secret Advisor. I expect you got other things to share. Something about bellies, right?"

"Right. We're just putting it all out there huh? Guess now's a good time. Uh yeah. I have a particular attraction for a round stomach on a woman."

"And you wanna make me fat to get that?"

"Hey now - well no. It's not like that. I'm not about to tell you how you should look. I've been looking for someone right for a long time. I'm more worried about general compatibility first. A belly would be nice. But that's it. I always see friends and guys in sitcoms crap all over their wife for not looking like their wedding night. And it never quite sat right with me. If you change as we get older, then I'm all for it. I wont ever make you feel bad for how you look. I'll promise that."

It caught Camilla off guard. For a moment she attributed the tingling in her hands as a complication from surgery. She tried to be a bit softer. "But you want me to get fat, right?"

"I'm not about to deny enjoying things along that line. That would be just downright dishonest. But here is how I see it. People tend to gain weight in long relationships. And people tend to gain weight when they have kids. If that happens I'd be happy. I'd praise you and make you feel beautiful. And if you want help working it off, I'll be right by your side with my running shoes. I can't say I'd be thrilled with the running, but I'll do it to help you out."

"Eugh," She said to herself. But after a moment of typing out a reply she stopped. That's not that bad. Could be a guy who wanted me to look like Miranda and wouldn't take no for an answer. He's right. It's likely to happen, especially with these new genes. And what are the odds of losing any baby weight? Come on Camilla. You know you're not as motivated as you pretend to be. You're skinny because you work so much... She sighed and replied. "Well. I guess you're right. Alright. So I guess you wanna go on a date?"

"Honestly I expected this to be harder. Yeah, I'd love to take you out. Any time. Anywhere. Mostly. Hah."

"I do have to warn you, I just had a major surgery. So I might not be as spry as I usually am. It also kicks out some other activities. At least for awhile."

"I totally get it. You don't have to worry. I'll be gentle." He texted. Another one followed soon after. "Oh god, by that I mean I'm not going to force a thing. Not the dirtier meaning." A Third text followed. "I guess that was kind of dirty too. Sorry haha"