Note: Did you notice I changed the way the chapter names work? In my original (unpublished) rough draft there were only 5 chapters, and the names worked well. But now I'm basing the names on chapter content. Like, "Holy Fish!" last chapter.

Chapter Seven: Die-Hard Vegetarians

It was Saturday. The day before the big BS day. BS day...or as the others called it, Baby Shower Day. How I hated the sound of those words…

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and looked at my field in satisfaction. The rows of corn were growing beautifully, and they could be harvested tomorrow. Pregnant or not, I took my work seriously…unlike a certain someone who shall remain nameless. cough, cough, RAY, cough, cough

As I thought of my lazy husband, I turned to see he wasn't fishing on Duck Bridge. Now, not seeing Ray on Duck Bridge around noon is like not seeing that fat dog in Perch Inn. It just doesn't happen.

"What on earth is he up to?" I sighed, putting back my watering can. Of course, there could only be one explanation. If Ray wasn't fishing here, he was fishing somewhere else. And that somewhere else would be…

Sunny Lake. I whipped out my fishing pole for the first time in weeks and headed down there, motivated by curiosity more than anything else. Ray's schedule never changed so drastically.

Sure enough, Ray came into sight as I approached Sunny Lake. His back to me, I could see him struggling with a fish on his rod, grunting in exasperation. Finally, a fish flew out of the water, sending ripples across the lake's glassy surface. Beads of sweat lay on the fisherman's brow, but he laughed and smiled so brightly it seemed as if he'd used no effort at all. The sun shone as yellow and golden as the corn I had just watered, its sunlight cascading down through the foliage and onto Ray's slight yet muscular form.

I had never seen a more handsome Ray.

"Harley?" The fisherman turned to me with an expression of concern. "Did Jamie visit again? Did he say something?"

His words knocked me out of my trance.

"Uh, no," I stuttered. "I haven't seen Jamie since the other day." My mind was still spinning. Was there something I had been missing about Ray? Why hadn't I seen him like this until now?

"I'm glad," he replied. "But then, why are you here?"

"Well, I was looking for—" I stopped and blushed.

"You were looking for…?" Ray repeated.

"Why are you fishing over here?" I questioned him abruptly, pointing to the mound of fish beside him.

"Oh, I needed to get enough fish to make fish sticks to serve as appetizers at the—well, you know. The BS day," Ray explained sheepishly.

The baby shower… Immediately my moment of awe with Ray was destroyed. He was once again the dopey, optimistic, lazy, fish-loving hobo I had married.

"Fish sticks?" I repeated.

"Fish sticks," he agreed.

"That won't work, Ray," I sighed.

"Why not?" he practically whined, glancing sadly at the pile of fish he'd worked so hard to catch all day. I winced at his puppy-dog eyes, but I knew what had to be done. I had to hold my sanity over Ray's feelings. Besides, the ends justify the means…right?

"I'm worried about the baby's well-being," I explained, putting hand over my stomach, womb, whatever, for emphasis. "I read somewhere that what I eat affects his health."

"It does?"

"Yes, it does."

"Oh."

"And so that's why," I began, "I've decided to go vegetarian."

"Well…okay, Harley. You do that," Ray said in puzzlement. "It's not like we have any red meat here at Flower Bud anyway."

"I'm not only giving up red meat, Ray. I'm giving up white meat, too." I waited for the news to sink in.

"So, so that means…"

"Yes, yes. No more fish," I explained.

"But why the fish?" Ray begged.

"What can I say, Ray? I'm a die-hard vegetarian now," I shrugged. "From now on, I don't want to see a single fish in our house, or in my presence."

"But I can still fish—"

"And hurt the innocent little fishies? I don't think so," I chided him.

A hurt look crossed his azure eyes, but he nodded. "Okay. I'll do it for you, Harley. Because I love you and our future son."

I nodded. "Good. I'm going to the mines to dig for ores."

"Bye, honey," Ray said softly, looking wistfully at the lake. As I started off, I felt a pang of guilt.

What? You think I liked seeing him so forlorn and helpless? Just because I resort to sneaky-underhanded measures doesn't mean I like it. And hey! I was going to be fish-free! Whoo-hoo!

But still…those puppy-dog eyes…No! I couldn't give in. I had to be strong. This was for my own good.

But was it for Ray's?