Today's Special is the Jerk-Chicken Salad - Chapter 11: Chocolate
"Oh dear, I have to get changed," said Betty sadly as she lay in Gio's lap. Both her white tank top and sarong skirt had chocolate vomit on them.
"I have lots of clothes," said Gio. "I can find you something else."
"Sorry," said Betty, inspecting the fabric of the skirt. "This was so pretty and now it's ruined by the chocolate."
"Don't worry," said Gio. "I know how to get food stains out, even chocolate."
"Are my clothes dry?" said Betty, pushing herself to a sitting position. "I don't want to take yours."
"Yes, they're going to be dry," said Gio. "But I can give you something more suitable. It's no problem. There are lots of spare things."
"I'm going to go straight to the airport," said Betty. "I want to wear my clothes."
"Okay, I'll bring them in." Gio stood up and then pulled Betty up. "You go shower."
When Gio brought Betty's clothes to the bathroom, the door was wide open. He could hear the sound of Betty in the shower, hidden behind the curtain.
"Your clothes are here," said Gio, standing in the doorway, raising his voice over the noise of the shower's spray.
"Put them on the counter," called Betty.
Gio stepped into the bathroom and noticed the counter was wet. He pulled a towel out of the cupboard and spread it on the counter, preparing to fold Betty's clothes onto it. He grasped the slippery fabric of the silk blouse and tried to fold it but it kept sliding through his trembling fingers instead.
The sound of the shower's spray stopped. Startled, Gio looked up at the mirror.
"I'm still here," said Gio, overly loud, his attention focused on the reflection of the shower curtain. Only the flimsy curtain separated him from her.
"I know," said Betty.
Dropping the blouse in a heap, Gio heard the sound of the shower curtain being pulled back. He closed his eyes so he wouldn't see Betty's reflection. He forgot to breathe.
"Turn around," said Betty, stepping out of the shower.
Engrossed in a raging internal battle between what he wanted to do and what he should do, Gio didn't move.
"Turn around."
Keeping his eyes closed, Gio slowly turned around and took a step backwards towards the doorway.
"Look at me," demanded Betty.
Gio opened his eyes.
Arms hanging at her side, Betty stood naked in front of him, her wet hair straggling over her shoulders, water dripping down her body everywhere. Her wide brown eyes were locked on his face. Her face was calm, expressionless.
"I want to finish our date," said Betty solemnly. "We still have time."
Gio's eyes traveled downwards from her face, first taking in her full, womanly breasts, then her skinny girlish body. Her flat stomach showed no sign of the pregnancy. Yet.
Her thinness shocked him. He wanted to love her, to care for her, to feed her, to protect her, to make love to her, but at that precise moment, his primary urge was to feed her.
"No," said Gio. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"I want to remember exactly how it felt. I want that memory."
"But you're going back."
"Does that matter?"
Gio nodded.
"It doesn't have to!" Betty stepped towards Gio and cooed coquettishly, "Now you're the one who's overdressed."
Gio stepped back.
"What's wrong? Don't you like the way I look?"
"Betty, I love you. It doesn't matter to me what you look like."
"But you think I'm ugly, don't you? I can tell."
"No," said Gio, taking another step back. "I think you're beautiful, but ..."
"But?"
"Too thin."
"I'm trying to be perfect."
"It's wrong for you to be so thin. You're the eater! Why do you do it?"
"I want Daniel to love me, no one else."
"He shouldn't care what you weigh."
"Everyone cares. You're the only one who never did. Gio, I want you to love me. Now!"
"I can't. You're going back to Daniel."
"But you said you loved me!"
"I do," said Gio.
"Prove that you love me," said Betty smiling, holding out her hand.
"Having sex with someone does not prove love," said Gio. "Not for me. Not for anyone."
Thinking for a moment, Gio said, "Not for Daniel, either. Sex doesn't mean love. Daniel loves you."
Betty let her hand drop.
Gio reached into the cupboard, pulled out a towel, and held it out to Betty.
Betty didn't move so Gio unfolded the towel and draped it around her, tucking the end in.
"You won't …?"
"No. It would be wrong."
After Gio covered her, Betty embraced him, bursting into tears and sobbing into his shoulder. Anger, frustration, shame, bewilderment, and anguish from her nightmarish situation and the dreadful looming aftermath, set off a torrent of tears.
Holding her, Gio rubbed her back and comforted her, his cheek pressed against her wet hair, murmuring to her, until she eventually ran out of tears.
Released from the crushing burden of tumultuous emotions, Betty looked up at Gio. Raising her hands to his head and running her fingers through his hair, she kissed him, letting the towel fall.
Gio kissed her back for a few moments. Or an eternity. Neither could recall afterward how long the kiss actually lasted. Then he stepped away.
Eyes brimming with tears, Betty stood and watched Gio as he walked out of the bathroom, closing the door behind him.