So still just wrapped in a towel, Henry rang his ex wife.
She answered on the third ring “Hello? .. Henry?”
“Yes it’s me”
“I didn’t expect to hear from you. I thought we were only communicating through the lawyers. You are meant to be on your honeymoon. Have you finally realised the mistake you made?”
“Maureen. Tell me truthfully. Did you somehow put a gift in Alicia’s handbag?”
“I can truthfully say I haven’t been near Alicia’s handbag”
‘Well the card with the gift has your writing on it”
“Maybe….. I did buy a gimmicky toy and wrapped it up. But I never gave it to Alicia”
“Something called a sugar doll?”
“Yep it was a lumpy little doll”
“Well it got into Alicia’s handbag somehow”
“It must have been one of the kids. I showed it to them. Yes I’ve just checked where I had left it. It’s not there”
“Where did you get it from Maureen? This is important” Henry did not want to admit what had happened to himself and Alicia. He thought quickly “I think it might contain illicit substances”
“A funny little shop somewhere down in Chesterville. This old woman listened to my story about my cheating husband who was marrying a gold digger and suggested the doll. Are you telling me it actually worked?”
“Why do you ask? What was it supposed to do?”
“She said it would disrupt your honeymoon. Cause a bit of chaos and teach you a lesson. I bought it just for the thought. She was a good sales woman, I paid way too much for it. I took it home and wrapped it up, but I never intended to deliver it”
“How was it meant to work. What was it supposed to do?”
“She just said it would ‘Change things about’ and teach the two of you a lesson. Has it?”
“No. Fortunately I was suspicious as soon as I saw your handwriting” Henry certainly didn’t want anyone, most of all Maureen to know what had happened.
“Do you remember the name of the shop? Or where exactly it was?”
“Margaret’s or something like that. It was like a general store. Filled with odd junk. Look Henry I have an appointment. I must go. We shouldn’t be talking anyway. You were the one who put the restraining order on me” with that Maureen hung up.
Henry reported the conversation to Alicia who had dressed while he was on the phone. She was happy to see her dresses still fit her, even her shoes. It seemed she had only grown in height (hence her jeans were too short) but had not got fatter proportionately. She now noticed Henry looked a lot chubbier. He had lost height but not girth.
“It was Maureen. She bought it at some shop in Chesterville on the recommendation of some woman. She says she didn’t put it in your purse though. Maybe one of the kids did”
“Why? What was it meant to do?”
“Disrupt our honeymoon. ‘Change things about’ were her exact words. I think that is what has happened. The doll somehow swapped our heights. I’ll bet you are 6 foot 2 and I’m guessing I’m your old height. What were you?
”
“I was 5’8. Yeah, I think you are right. I feel like a giant”
“And I feel like a midget”
“My dress still fits, the hem is a bit shorter but that’s all. I’ve gained height but not weight it seems. As for Maureen, she’s a nasty old bitch. Didn’t you put a restraining order on her? Can you get her arrested?”
“I actually don’t think she thought it would work. That was my impression anyway. Also, I do believe her when she said she had not intended to actually give it to us. I reckon one of the kid’s delivered it for her without her knowledge”
“I think you credit her with too much innocence. That bitch threatened to kill me. I wouldn’t put anything past her. What do we do anyway? Go to the hospital?"
“No. I don't think so. This is our honeymoon. I don't want to spend it being guinea pigs in some medical centre. The message said the changes would last 24 hours. It's only one day. I tell you what. We are not going to let her win. We are still going to enjoy our honeymoon. I’m glad your dress fits. You look absolutely stunning as usual. The extra height only makes you stand out even more. No doubt all my trousers are going to be too big for me and I feel like a dwarf but nobody knows us here. The chances of running into someone who will recognise us is extremely small. We can still enjoy our helicopter tour. Let’s give Maureen the finger. Let’s carry on with everything we intended to do”
“Oh. I love you Henry” said Alicia. She came across and hugged Henry, squeezing his face into her breasts. Henry found his first advantage of being short.