Eight Weeks Later...
Bridgewood had now been entirely blanketed by snow, assaulted with winds and temperatures that dropped to at least minus twenty degrees, the coldest the town had been in years. With supplies failing to reach the town, its citizens were suffering greatly, to the point where it almost felt like a hypothetical nuclear winter, everything closed off. The people looked to their Mayor, Eddis Nevin, for aid but his words as usual were coated with false hope. The fact it look as though he was the warmest individual during his press announcement certainly didn't help relations either.
The townsfolk were desperate. And it showed in who they willingly turned to next.
Ruth sat in the hallway adjacent to the Mayor's office wearing a thick fur coat, one impossibly meaty leg crossed over the other. She had been waiting for her appointment with Eddis for a little over half an hour now, later than she'd expected to, but was perfectly willing to wait as long as needed. The citizens of Bridgewood looked to her as their savior, despite their knowledge of her family's lifestyle. They were willing to look past it so they could see through the winter.
Ruth cupped her belly as her unborn child kicked gently, smiling. The woman had her own reasons to ensure the town got past the winter, and it grew inside her. She was determined to make sure the child she was due to have would come into an idealistic world. Or at least one of Ruth's interpretation. She had her own agenda outside of helping the town get back on its feet.
The door to Ruth's left clicked open, revealing a disgruntled Eddis looking out to her. He was not looking forward to his encounter with the immoral woman, but knew he would have to, to ensure his poll numbers remained in his favor, which presently weren't. Eddis didn't even bother to look Ruth in the face, instead staring at the obvious baby bump showing through her blouse. He dreaded to wonder which of the indubitably virile males in her family had planted their seed in her gut. - the son or the grandson.
Without so much as a word of welcome, Eddis gestured for Ruth to enter his office, listening to her soft grunts as she struggled to lift herself from the chair, then the obvious crack of the wood under its leg. She shuffled along quietly, shadowing the younger gentleman's steps before sitting in the leather chair in front of his desk that was only just large enough to support her collectively massive frame.
"Let's get right down to it, Ruth. I've more pressing matters to attend to." Eddis uncorked the decanter and poured a glass of whiskey for himself, initially considering to offer it to his constituent before glancing again at her pregnancy. The sight of it alone was enough for him to chug the glass' contents and pour out a second helping. "I know why you're here."
"Ah good, I'd hate to dance around the subject myself. I've 'pressing matters' too." Ruth smirked, deliberately reiterating the Mayor's words with condescension. She instinctively rubbed her navel. "Baby needs a check-up, you see."
Eddis planted himself firmly in his chair and leaned forward, trying his utmost to establish a sense of dominance in the situation before they discussed the matter at hand. But the truth was, Ruth had established dominance the moment she set foot in the building.
"The townsfolk want me out of office because they feel I'm incompetent, think I have control of the laws of nature itself." The Mayor pressed his fingers together and stared at Ruth for a moment, finding rage building within. He knew the townspeople even sought Ruth as his replacement in office. Something he wouldn't let go lightly. "Want you to take my place, no doubt. Fat chance. My chances in the coming election may be skewed, but at least I'm no immoral whore!"
All Ruth did in response to Eddis' remark was smirk. The truth was, she didn't seek the position of Mayor quite like he did two years ago. Rather the situation was thrust upon her by the town and even her family. Especially considering its upcoming additions. "I didn't want to be Mayor, but...sometimes things just have to happen. I have my own reasons." Ruth instinctively rubbed her belly again, biting her lip as her child kicked a second time.