Advice only a mother could give...
Characters: Debi, her mother, an almost-empty bottle of Nutella
"Now, Debi. How much weight have you gained?"
Debi rolled her eyes at her mother's voice over the headset. The great advantage of Skype was that she didn't have to pay for overseas calls.
That was also the problem now that her mother had finally figured out how it worked.
"Only a couple of pounds, Mum. My doctor says everything is fine."
"Well, you looked a bit heavy in that last picture you sent us. You don't want to gain too much weight or you'll never lose it after you deliver." Debi could almost see her mother thinning her lips. "Being fat runs in your father's family, you know."
Her hand went to stroke her tummy. She'd given up on almost all her clothes, but the bulge was scarcely noticeable under a pair of sweats and one of Zach's old quidditch team t-shirts. "I know, Mum."
"Do watch your weight, dear. I never gained more than twenty pounds with any of you, and that's why I could fit into my clothes two weeks later."
"It's all under control, Mum."
"Make sure it stays that way, Deborah. I don't want to see you lose your figure." A door banged in the background, and DJ's voice was just audible as he shouted a greeting. "Your brother-in-law is here, so I have to go. Get some sleep, and make sure to exercise."
"Yes, Mum. Say hello to everyone for me."
"I will." Her mother paused. "Mind you visit before you're too far along to fly. Dawn wants to give you a baby shower."
"I'll call when I have a ticket." Debi had no intention of pointing out that Dawn's idea of a baby shower was likely to include alcohol and NASCAR-themed cakes. "Bye, Mum!"
"Good-bye, dear."
Debi rolled her eyes and removed the headset, stretched, and stood. She was hungry again, and a snack would taste good right about now.
A jar of Nutella, almost scraped clean, stood on the drainboard. Debi lifted it, decided there was just enough to merit one last lick, and scooped out a bit out with one finger. It tasted so good, and so far Healer Abramowitz didn't seem to think there was anything bad about sweets as long as she ate plenty of healthy food and the baby was growing, so -
Being fat runs in your father's family.
Debi lifted her t-shirt and stared down at her stomach. Was she getting too big? Or gaining too much weight? Would she get fat?
Would Zach still think she was pretty in a few months?
Debi swallowed, then tossed the Nutella jar into the trash before she could finish the last little streaks. "I don't want to get fat. I don't, I don't, I don't!"
She washed her hands and reached for the baby carrots and hummus. It was time to purge the house of anything that wasn't healthy.