"Ennis?"
She froze.
"What are you doing?"
Slowly, Ennis turned to stare wide-eyed at Czes, who in turn did the same.
"I swear this isn't what you think it is," Ennis blurted without thinking.
"Hey Czes!" Firo hollered, "Where did ya go?"
Ennis's eyes widened farther – if that were possible.
Nooooo…Ennis though with rising panic, Don't let him come…don't let him see! Nooooo…
As his footsteps gradually moved closer, Firo's voice grew louder. "What are you doing Czes?" He grumbled, "Why didn't you answer me? And what are you loo –."
He stopped dead in his tracks and gaped at Ennis with a bewildered expression.
"Ennis?!"
"Ok, it's what you think it is."
The three of them sat at the table quietly, except for the whirring sound of the microwave.
"Honestly Ennis, that surprised me back there," Firo chuckled anxiously as his wife meticulously spread marmalade over her chocolate frosted donut.
"Mmm," She answered distractedly.
Firo and Czes glanced at each other.
"Ennis?" Czes attempted.
No answer. The microwave beeped.
"Could someone please get my cup of my milk?" Ennis asked, still focused intently on spreading marmalade over her donut.
"S-sure, I'll get it," said Firo as he stood up and fetched the glass of milk.
"HOT!" He exclaimed as he hastily let go of the glass, "How long did ya warm it up for?!"
"Hmm? Oh, three minutes."
"Three minutes?!"
Firo and Czes glanced at each other. They stared at Ennis, then at the plate full of donuts and the jar of marmalade in front of her. They looked at the scalding hot cup of milk. They glanced back at each other, as if coming to a mutual agreement.
"Uh, Ennis," Firo started, scooting away from the kitchen, Czes doing the same, "If you don't mind…Czes and I are gonna have a little conference."
They darted away into the adjoining hall and put their heads together.
"I didn't know pregnancy cravings could be that bad!" Firo muttered fiercely.
"Or that weird," Czes added, sneaking a sideway glance at Ennis, who just dipped her marmalade covered donut into the glass of milk and bit into it with a look of utmost bliss.
"How long do ya think this will go on?" Firo mumbled, turning his head away from Ennis.
"I don't know, shouldn't you know?"
Firo rubbed his temple. "Oh god, don't tell me it'll last up to the end of the third trimester…"
"This is delicious! Do you guys want to try some?" Ennis called out, waving her partially-eaten donut at them.
"Uh, I'll pass," Firo said nervously as the two males returned to their seats.
Ennis licked her sticky fingers before she spoke.
"I've been meaning to tell you guys but…it was, you know, a little embarrassing to be eating all of this." She gestured at the plate full of donuts and the jar of marmalade to emphasize her point.
"I've always wondered about pregnancy cravings but well, here I am. I've actually been stuffing myself at night for a while now," Ennis admitted sheepishly, "But now that you all now, I hope you don't mind if we bought some more donuts."
I thought it was a little weird that donuts were appearing, Firo thought.
"Mmm, this does actually taste pretty good," said Czes. Firo whipped his head around. He's eating a marmalade covered donut!
"Try it Firo! Even Czes-kun likes it! And they taste even better along with hot milk!" Ennis asserted enthusiastically, eyes bright and sparkling. Czes glanced at Firo with a smirk and handed him a donut.
"I thought you were on my side Czes, you traitor!" He protested.
"Just eat it," Was Czes's curt reply.
Firo stared at the proffered donut for a long while. Then, breathing in deeply… Well, here goes nothing…He bit into it.
"…Well?"
"We're buying more of this stuff."