He turned and said, “I’m going to get some food babe. I’ve been working construction all day and I need food. Real food. Meat and potatoes, not this fish and gerbil crap.”
“You said you were going to be supportive.”
“Absolutely, eat whatever you like. Eat hay for all I care. In fact, there’s some grass outside, would you like me to pull it for you?” He gave her a wicked grin, one that made her stomach churn. “While we’re discussing what you can eat, I think it’s interesting how you decided we needed to change our diet without ever consulting me about it.”
Lisbeth’s eyes scanned the kitchen looking in every corner except at Jake. He grunted and retreated from the room. She felt more than heard the force of the front door slam shut. The vibration forced her to sit down. She wrapped her arms around herself. She suddenly felt very lonely.
The last thing she wanted to do was eat. She went to the black and stainless steel stove and turned off the front eye. The bubbles ceased to boil her pot of eggs and she grabbed the handle and threw them down the garbage disposal.
Upon Jake’s return. Dora stumbled into the room behind him. He cut an icy glare at Lisbeth and placed a white paper bag on the table. Gease stains marked the bottom. He inched around her chair to grab plates, handing one to Dora before sitting down in front of his own. Dora opened the bag and took out a sandwich wrapped in thin white paper. She was surprised to see the girl sink her teeth into a double patty cheeseburger.
“I thought you didn’t eat fast food?” Lisbeth said.
“After all the work I’ve done, it’s nice to have a treat now and again. Ooh. Is that a seaweed salad?”
She pointed to the green bowl filled with shredded seaweed and romaine lettuce. Lisbeth grabbed a pair of tongues and heaped a pile of the salad onto Dora’s plate.
“Mmh, this is delicious. Dora said between bites of the salad.
Jake bit into his own bacon cheeseburger and loudly smacked his lips, glaring at Lisbeth all the while. Illness seeped into her with each bite. Her mouth watered for the thick slice of bacon that dangled from the burger. She went to bed with her stomach rumbling. When Jake laid down beside her, she trailed her fingers along his spine, but he brushed away her hand complaining of tiredness. Lisbeth felt her stomach twist even more. Another fitful dream about Jake and Dora pressed together, their bodies melting as Jake called out Dora’s name on the sofa haunted her.