***Willow Pond***
***A week later***
Jennifer has been very good about following her strict diet. She was eating yogurt for breakfast, along with vitamins. A protein shake for lunch, and dinner was more vitamins with 3 tsp of bee pollen.
She was still working out the same amount she had been- 2 hours on the treadmill each day, 100 laps in the pool each day, and 100 squats, crunches, sit ups, and reverse sit ups each day.
Jonathan kept reassuring her that she was beautiful. He didn't know what else to do. If he demanded that she stop, that would cause an argument-he had never been controlling or demanding with her. He always supported her 1000%. But he didn't want to just stand by and watch her do this unnecessarily.
He considered calling Susan Kendall, since she had medical expertise. However, she and Jennifer never truly repaired their relationship, so he felt like Jennifer wouldn't see it as helping, but rather an intrusion. He didn't want to call the other wives either, because it might cause issues with the fashion show.
He decided he was just going to have to wait it out.
It was just before bed time, and she was in the bathroom, in her bra and underwear, looking at herself in the mirror.
She grabbed the measuring tape.
"Darling, will you come help me please?"
He got up and went straight to her.
"What is it?"
"I need to take my measurements. Can you do the honors?"
"Sure".
She had him measure each arm above the elbow, each thigh, her hips, waist, and bust, her calves and her neck.
She wrote down each measurement as he said it to her.
When they were finished, she kissed him and then put her nightgown on, and took her bra off.
She came and got into bed beside him and took her last handful of vitamins for the day.
"Darling, do you know what those vitamins are?"
"Just your basic ones. Iron, Potassium, Vitamin E, Vitamin B12, stuff like that. Plus, hair, skin, nails, bone health, heart health, and joint health".
"Darling, let's go down to the kitchen, and I promise, I will fix you whatever you want, just to get you to eat".
"Here we go again".
"Darling, it's been days since we shared a meal together".
"I have sat at the table with you every morning and every night this week, Jonathan".
"Yes, but you didn't eat, darling. This can't be healthy, darling. I love you so much, and I want to spend another 50 years with you, but you gotta eat during that time".
"Jonathan, I don't want to argue about this. When I need to eat, I do. And what I am doing right now is working. Can you not tell when you put your arms around me?"
"All I feel is skin and bones, babe. And I barely get my arms around you".
She looked at him like she was hurt and went to roll over.
"I mean before you pull away from me".
"Well I keep pulling away from you because you keep arguing with me about this. I told you I am doing this so that when I look in the mirror, I will know that I make you happy and that I will look my best in the fashion show".
"Babe, you do look your best. No woman has ever looked better than you do right now, and no woman ever will".
"I promise you, as soon as the fashion show is over, you can take me out to dinner anywhere you want and I will clean my plate".
He kissed her, and wrapped his arms around her waist.
***The next morning***
Jonathan woke up to Jennifer running on the treadmill. She had about 40 minutes left.
She was running at what seemed like warp speed.
She made him breakfast, and sat with him while he ate. She had her vitamins and a few tablespoons of yogurt, and some sparkling water.
"Darling, are you coming to the office today, for the presentation to the board about the wing?"
"Yes. What time do you need me?"
"11. Are you eating lunch today?"
"Drinking it. I will bring it with me and drink it with you".
He kissed her goodbye, and then headed to the office.
She went to swim her laps and then came back and showered.
As soon as she got out of the shower, she realized she had a dull headache. She figured it would go away, and got dressed.
She was disappointed that her hair wouldn't do what she wanted it to, but she decided that everyone has bad hair days sometimes.
She headed out and was at Jonathan's office by 10:30.
***Hart Industries***
She came in and went straight to his office.
"Hi darling".
"Hi sailor". She kissed him and went and sat on his couch. He sat next to her.
"Darling, what if tonight, you give me a preview of what you are wearing in the fashion show?"
"I can't. I don't know what I am wearing yet. We find out Monday".
"Well, when you do, I want a private showing".
"You got it".
She kissed him, and then he got up and grabbed a file off his desk.
"Darling, this is the file sheet that Kelly prepared about the fundraiser we had for the hospital wing".
"Great."
He stood up and held out his hand to her.
She took it and stumbled slightly when she got up off the couch.
"Are you ok?"
"Yes, I just feel a little off, is all".
"A little off? Darling you've been eating nothing but bee pollen. You should feel more than a little off".
He buzzed his secretary.
"Kelly, run down to the employee dining room and get my wife a banana, and some toast, please".
"Right away, sir".
"Jonathan.. I cannot eat that. No carbs till the fashion show".
"Jennifer, just humor me please? Come on, you gotta eat real food. No more bee pollen."
She argued everything she could think of, then she finally agreed just so he would leave her alone.
She ate the toast and the banana, and drank a bottle of water.
They went to the board meeting after that, and she gave a wonderful presentation on the wing at the hospital. The board was completely behind them 100%.
After it was over, they spent a few minutes in his office.
"You feeling better?"
"A little".
"Babe, you gotta start eating again".
"I can't think about now, I have to go meet the other Board Wives, and have a fitting for the designers. Now, do you want a tux, or do you want a regular suit?"
"I want a tux. And I want you to eat a regular meal. Darling, you are wasting away…I am really worried about you".
"I'm fine, darling. This morning was just a moment in time, that's all".
She kissed him a few times and then left.
He wanted to believe that she was ok, but he was very worried.
***Willow Pond***
Jennifer came in later that afternoon and went to change into some exercise tights and a tank top and sports bra.
She had been measured at the Board Wives meeting, and then everyone had to change into boy shorts and a sports bra so they could determine body size and what dresses and outfits to put them in. All the other wives were very envious of Jennifer and her body.
"Girl, do you ever eat? You look amazing!"
"I just started a strict diet. It's lots of vitamins, teaspoons of bee pollen, and no red meat, no sugar, no salt, and very little dairy."
"If I had a husband as hot as yours, I would eat all the bee pollen I could".
"How do you have energy for anything?"
"From the vitamins and the protein shake I have for lunch, I suppose".
Jennifer felt very uncomfortable and immediately went and put her clothes on. She didn't like that everyone was focused on her and interrogating her. She had left soon after.
After she changed her clothes at Willow Pond, she poured herself a glass of sparkling water and sat on the couch.
She was freezing and couldn't get warm no matter what she did.
"Max?"
Max came in the den.
"Yes, Mrs. H.?"
"Is the heat on?"
"No. The AC is, and it's on 74".
"I'm freezing. Can you start a fire?"
"Sure".
He started the fire, and then got her another blanket.
"How about some soup? That'll warm you up"
"Sorry, I am on a diet. But thank you".
"You, on a diet? Mrs. H., diets aren't meant for people like you. They are meant for other people who want to look like you. Just my opinion".
She smiled at him.
Freeway jumped up on the couch and snuggled with her.
Jonathan got home around 5, and he had a worried look on his face. He had received a message that the negotiations for the East Coast deal were permanently stalled. He received an envelope with a message in it that he needed to stay by a phone and clear his calendar so that a face to face meeting would always be possible.
He was worried, but not to the point of hiding out somewhere. He just had to let this play out.
He came and sat down by Jennifer, and she leaned back against him.
"Babe, it's warm outside, and you have a fire going?"
"I was cold".
He could have told her why she was cold, but he didn't want to argue.
"How did the Board Wives meeting go?"
"Ok, I guess. We had to put on a sports bra and boy shorts and line up so the designers could figure out what they wanted us to wear, and everyone started telling me that I was gorgeous and asking me what my diet is, and it just made me uncomfortable".
He kissed her head.
"You have always been and will always be gorgeous to me, no matter what you look like."
"You're sweet". She kissed him.
"Babe, do you remember when we did the 400 calories or less diet? You looked amazing after that diet, and before it. And you were eating real food, and not bee pollen. It seems to me as much as you are working out, you are burning off 400 calories, easy".
"I will give it a shot, darling. I just want to be happy in my own skin".
"Me too. Your skin is one of my favorite things about you".
She half-smiled and kissed him.
They went and made dinner together and had a nice evening.
Just before they were going to bed, Jennifer got a phone call from Jacy Malone.
"Jennifer, we are going to have a billboard about the fashion show. It will go up tomorrow. We will use a photo of you and Jonathan, as the main picture on the billboard. A few of the other wives and husbands will be there also".
"Great! Where will it be?"
She gave her the address and they chatted a few more minutes and then she hung up.
She told Jonathan all about it. He seemed supportive, but not overly excited.
They were changing for bed, and for the first time she really took a long look in the mirror at herself.
He noticed she had become quiet, and he turned to find out why. She was just staring at herself. She had bags under her eyes, and she was almost skeletal.
He went to her and put his arms around her.
"You are gorgeous, no matter what".
"Darling…what has come over me?"
"I have been wondering the same thing".
"I'm serious".
"Me too. Babe, I am biased, I totally admit it. But, you were beautiful before you started killing yourself and you are beautiful now. You will always be beautiful to me. But I want you to ask yourself- do you like the results you are getting, or do you like what you looked like before better?"
"I thought I would love what I looked like, but I don't".
"So, why don't we meet in the middle? You can keep exercising but start eating."
"I think you are right".
She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"How do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Always know the right thing to say to me. You are so good at controlling my crazy".
"You aren't crazy. And I just tell you what is in my heart, babe".
"Darling, can I ask you a crazy question?"
"Anything".
"Wanna order a pizza?"
"Hell yes!" He chuckled and went and placed the order for her.
Their pizza arrived about 40 minutes later. They had already gotten hot and heavy in bed. Jonathan redressed quickly and then went to the door to pay for the pizza. He grabbed them the roll of paper towels, and 2 water bottles from the fridge and then brought it all upstairs to Jennifer.
They ate in bed and Jennifer enjoyed her food for the first time in months.
"Babe, I am going to see if the other wives want to have dancing after we are done walking the runaway. I mean, we will already be dressed up, so might as well".
"Great idea".
He was quiet for a minute.
"Darling, you know how you and I always throw the Mission Street Orphanage Ball? What if we do a fashion show and use the kids in the orphanage in it, plus sponsors and volunteers to walk the runway? You and I can be the showstopper, and we can combine it with a ball".
"I love that idea, darling. You are so clever".
"Without you, I'm nothing".
He leaned over and kissed her.
They finished their pizza and he took the box downstairs and put the leftovers in the fridge.
He came back upstairs and climbed in bed with her and wrapped his arms around her.
"I don't know how you put up with me being so out of control these past few weeks".
"Honestly, I was worried about you. You were so determined to see something that wasn't there, and I was thinking you had an eating disorder or something. I didn't know what to do, and I just became determined to keep telling you that you are beautiful no matter what. Because it's the truth. You are beautiful and stunning and gorgeous and mesmerizing and flawless….all of the above and many, many more."
He kissed her and just held her.