Fast Fiction

After giving up sugar, Colin and Jenna faced temptations to cheat

Diabetes at my age,’ Colin sighed. ‘It’ll be fine,’ Jenna said with a reassuring smile. ‘And like the doctor said, you can control it with your diet.’

‘No more sugar in my tea. No more chocolate biscuits,’ Colin said grimly. ‘I don’t know how I’ll do it.’

‘We’ll do it together,’ Jenna said. ‘I could do with losing a few kilos anyway.’

‘You don’t have to!’ Colin’s martyrdom continued. ‘It’s not like your blood sugar is through the roof.’

‘I want to,’ she said.

And that was that. No more sticky doughnuts and that ice-cream in the freezer would soon be in the bin.

Yes, she might miss the occasional bar of chocolate she tucked into watching TV but there were more important things in life.

The first few weeks weren’t as tough as Jenna imagined. She was far too concerned with finding something delicious that she and Colin could indulge in without sending him into a diabetic coma. But after a month of carrot sticks and corn biscuits that tasted like cardboard, Jenna found herself craving something sweet again.

That’s when the guilt set in. Colin had been doing so well, denying himself all those treats he loved. He hadn’t complained once about withdrawal symptoms and had soldiered on with artificial sweetener in his tea and rice cakes whenever he fancied a snack.

She couldn’t let the side down, but the temptation soon became overwhelming.

‘Come on!’ she pleaded, staring through the glass oven door like there was a Hollywood blockbuster showing inside.

She’d spent the afternoon baking and couldn’t wait a minute longer. Colin would be home from work soon and she didn’t want to be caught in the act.

‘Hurry up!’ she goaded the oven again, before deciding time might speed up if she tidied away the ingredients.

The kitchen was spotless when the timer pinged to say the cake was ready. ‘Beautiful!’

Her mouth watered at the sight of the chocolatey masterpiece.

About to tuck in, Jenna had a light-bulb moment.

‘Cream!’ Her heart fluttered at the thought of it. This would definitely taste even better with a dollop of silky rich cream.

Grabbing her keys Jenna left the house in record time.

But when she returned the cake was massacred, crumbs littering the kitchen surface.

‘I’m sorry,’ Colin said, too embarrassed to make eye contact. ‘I thought I had more willpower,’ he sighed.

Jenna’s eyes widened as she surveyed the damage.

‘It just looked so delicious,’ her husband said, his eyes turned to the floor with shame. ‘One month of good behaviour down the drain.’

‘Exactly,’ Jenna tried not to laugh. ‘One whole month.’ ‘It’s not funny,’ he said. ‘I know,’ Jenna smiled. ‘You’ve been doing so well… In fact, I baked the cake to celebrate.’

Colin’s brows furrowed as he wiped away the crumbs.

‘It’s sugar-free,’ Jenna explained, grinning.

‘It is?’ Colin asked, suddenly not so ashamed. ‘But it’s so delicious?’

‘And you haven’t tried it with cream – sugar-free too!’

She filled two bowls with what was left of the cake, adding dollops of cream.

‘I’m the luckiest man alive,’ he smiled and kissed his wife on the cheek.

‘Just wait until you see me in that new dress. I’ve already lost 3 kilos.’

She kissed him back before diving in for a mouthful of guilt-free cake.

She didn’t want to be caught

in the act