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quivered as she fought off violent urges. Catherine personified the new-dietitian nerd mindset.
    Only a job, that’s all, life began once you left work. Did any of this matter? Not to Jean at least. Jean finished shaking hands with various members of administration, accepting their compliments on the fine presentation. The presentation the three of them worked on all week.
    Half way through the four-hour ordeal, Jean charged over to their nutrition table. Her grin contorted into a wrinkled puddle of flesh, snarling. Her bloated feet clobbered the floor beneath them.
    “Shit.” Heather hid her gum behind her back teeth.
    “Why the hell are the fruit salad platters half empty? You never let them get to less than two thirds full.” Jean’s chest heaved, loud breaths expelled. Seeing the food service director have a heart attack right in the middle of their National Nutrition Month presentation would be classic.
    “We’ve been operating the booth like you told us,” Catherine whimpered. She twisted the balloon string around her finger until the tip turned red.
    “I never want to see a plate half empty. Fix it.”
    Of course she didn’t want to see a plate half empty. When you weigh four-hundred pounds, that must be a scary site.
    Jean grasped her front bra strap with both hands and tugged. “I can’t wait to take this damn bra off and let my tits hang out.”
    With that, she stomped off. Catherine followed her like a baby duckling, then grabbed a bowl and piled layers of cantaloupe and strawberries onto the platter.
    “I’m taking the girls to the children’s museum this weekend,” Heather said.
    “Laurel and Gia are alright with that?” Victoria asked.
    “Rori’s never been there and they’re actually excited to see her reaction.”
    “That’s wonderful. The four of you are like the Brady Bunch, well without the boys.”
    “Without Lance.” Heather folded her arms across her chest and ticked her tongue.
    “He’s not going again?”
    “Does he ever? He’s too important to prance around a children’s museum, what would everyone think?”
    “That he’s a father enjoying a day in a museum with his daughters.”
    “Victoria, you’re being unreasonable, surely you can’t expect a lawyer trying to make partner to spend his free time with his children? What would they say? They could never take him seriously.” Heather huffed, wafting a red balloon aside.
    “He’ll regret it one day.”
    “No he won’t. First born son, only child in an Italian family, the world revolves around him, his mother assured it. No one else exists.” Heather followed the circling pattern in the cafeteria carpet with her eyes. “I’m glad I had girls, you know. If I had boys, they’d grow up ignored by their father, bitter and resentful. They need someone loving and attentive, someone that will be there for them, support them.”
    Victoria put her hand on Heather’s shoulder. “You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?”
    “All the time, I can’t sleep.”
    “I wish I knew what to say. I’m glad I finally saw him though, put a face to all the stories you’ve told me over the years.”
    “He looked good, right?” Heather’s cheeks ignited.
    “If you like them young.”
    “He’s my age.” Heather laughed.
    “I like older, distinguished gentleman. Salt and pepper hair, wrinkled brow from all the pensive thoughts.”
    “I want it like the movies,” Heather began. “Sitting in front of the fireplace, eating lo mein out of the carton with chopsticks.”
    “Him feeding you a few noodles, one slipping off the chopstick and landing in your lap.”
    “Then he nudges me in the shoulder.”
    “And you both break out into childish laughter.”
    “Exactly!”
    The two of them stared off into a place they would never visit. A location often visualized but never traveled. One filled with romance and seduction. Something nonexistent. They didn’t notice Jean hollering at poor Catherine.
    ****
    After taking