I hate my breasts. I texted Jackie.
Where are you? She texted back.
Clothes shopping with Eric. Do they look like volleyballs? Be honest.
No. You look fabulous. Don’t worry!
I stood naked in the dressing room getting ready to try on clothes and started to cry. My breasts looked like two torpedo tips spot-welded to my chest. I never thought I’d think this, but I missed my pancake breasts. They might not have been much, but at least they were all mine.
I managed to pull myself together and modeled the clothes Eric had picked out. He gave me a thumbs-up or thumbs-down when I walked out of the dressing room to show him. First up was a V-neck black sweater dress.
Thumbs-down. ‘Too tight.’
Black pencil skirt and white blouse. Thumbs-up. ‘You look beautiful.’
Tan pants, blazer and floral shirt. Thumbs-up. ‘Change the shirt to a solid color. The flowers look like something an old woman would wear.’
On and on it went until I had five dresses, three pants, three tops and a blazer that passed the Eric Test. I obviously didn’t model the lingerie, but Eric had chosen that.
‘I can’t wait to see you in the new lingerie,’ he said on the way home. ‘Will you model it for me when we get home?’
I really wasn’t in the mood to wear the sexy lingerie, but Eric had taken me shopping and bought all my clothes, so it was the least I could do.
He sat on the bed and waited for me to emerge from the bathroom. I carefully put on the lingerie he wanted me to model. It was a black lacey piece with breast and nether area cutouts.
I stared into the mirror. My breasts looked a little on the high side, but my surgeon had told me that might last a few months until my body had a chance to accommodate the change in size. I felt like a porn star preparing to shoot a new film. Shelly, what have you done?
I walked out of the bedroom and over to Eric. He stood and stared, his eyes settling on my breasts. ‘You look absolutely beautiful,’ he said. ‘Turn around.’
I slowly turned around so that my butt was facing him. He touched my bare butt through the opening in the back. ‘The only thing that would make you even more beautiful is a butt implant.’
I whizzed around to face him, surprised he’d had such a thought. ‘You’re not serious, are you?’
He looked in my eyes. ‘I love you. You’re beautiful just the way you are. Forget I mentioned it.’
But I couldn’t forget, and I knew he wouldn’t either. If he mentioned it, he’d been thinking about it. A freakin’ butt implant!
I stood as he kissed each of my breasts, working his way down to the other cutout. I was happy the sensitivity in my nipples had returned. My body trembled at his touch and my desire for him grew. Minutes later, I was undressed and in bed. He couldn’t bind my wrists to the rungs on the headboard because the doctor had instructed me not to lift my arms above my shoulders. But it didn’t seem to bother him. He was enjoying his new toys.
The next morning, Eric made breakfast, but it wasn’t the usual eggs and bacon. It was oatmeal.
‘I thought it might be good if we lost a few pounds.’ He patted his stomach, which was as flat as a Texas road.
I poured myself a cup of coffee, figuring this latest move was aimed at me. ‘I don’t think you have to worry about losing weight, Eric. There’s not an ounce of fat on you.’
‘Still,’ he said. ‘I think we should eat healthier. Starting today.’
I sat down at the kitchen table and he served me a bowl of oatmeal. I tasted it.
‘What do you think?’ asked Eric, sitting down next to me.
‘It’s too bland. It would be better with some fruit in it.’
Eric jumped up and got a banana from the counter and sliced it, putting half in my bowl and half in his.
I took a bite. ‘Yes, definitely better with the fruit.’
He held up a tablet. ‘I planned our dinner menu for the week. I’ll take care of the shopping.’
I looked at the menu. It was filled with chicken and salads. He was serious about us or, rather, me losing weight.
‘Are you nervous about returning to work today?’ he asked.
‘A little, I guess. I wondered if you’d mind if I had dinner with Jackie after work.
He sipped his coffee. ‘That will be fine. Just be home by nine.’
I wore the pants and blazer to work. When I walked in, there was a bouquet of sunflowers on my desk. I opened the card.
Thinking of you. Good luck on your first day back. Love always, Eric.
Patty came over. ‘That man of yours must spend a fortune at the florist.’
I smiled. Yes, and a fortune on these implants!
‘Welcome back,’ said Patty, handing me a folder. ‘You look different.’
She scanned my body from head to feet. ‘It’s not your hair. Something else.’
I prayed that she wouldn’t notice my bigger breasts, but I also knew it was only a matter of time. You can’t hide going from clementine-sized breasts to super large grapefruits. I only had a few blazers and sweater coats that would hide my new physique.
Patty left and I texted Eric. Thank you for the flowers!
I spent the day getting caught up and had an appointment with the sellers of a pre-Civil War property late afternoon to discuss lowering the price by ten thousand. I planned to meet Jackie afterwards at Tony’s. It wasn’t taco night, but I’d settle for some good bar food. After looking at Eric’s dinner menu for the week, it appeared my days of eating French fries and burgers were over.
Jackie waited for me outside Tony’s and when I pulled into the parking lot she walked over and hugged me gently.
‘I’ve missed you.’
‘You, too.’
‘Let me see.’
I pulled back the sides of my blazer.
‘Wow! They’re even bigger in person.’
‘Let’s go into the bathroom. I’ll show you.’
Jackie followed me into the bathroom and I took off my blazer and unbuttoned my blouse.
‘They look terrific,’ Jackie said. ‘I see what you mean about them being a little high, but they’ll settle.’
My chin started to tremble and I could feel the tears pulling in the corners of my eyes. ‘Are you sure I don’t look like a whore?’
‘Oh, no, Shel, no! You look terrific. Honestly. I wish I hadn’t been on vacation when you had it done. I feel bad I wasn’t there for you.’
I buttoned my blouse. ‘Don’t give it a second thought. You had your vacation planned for a year.’
We made our way to the bar where we ordered chicken strips and French fries and I devoured them. Eric had packed my lunch and the salad and hardboiled egg hadn’t filled me up.
Jackie and I spent the next three hours catching up. After about two drinks, I got up the nerve to ask Jackie something I’d been thinking about ever since Eric had mentioned it.
‘Do you think my butt’s flat?’
Jackie choked on the water she’d just sipped and I handed her a napkin. She looked at me and said very sternly, ‘No. Your butt’s fine. Why?’
I shrugged. ‘I thought maybe I should get a butt implant to go with my breast augmentation.’
Jackie shook her head. ‘No. Don’t. You’re great just the way you are.’
‘Thanks.’
‘I mean it,’ Jackie said. ‘You don’t want to become addicted to cosmetic surgery. One fix will just lead to another and another.’
‘You’re right. Forget I brought it up.’
I pulled out my cell phone. ‘Omigosh! It’s nine already. Where did the time go?’
I had a text message from Eric.
You’re late!!!!!!
I texted back. Sorry. Time flew. Leaving now.
Jackie and I walked out together. ‘Thanks for dinner,’ Jackie said. ‘Next time it’s on me.’