Despite the fact that it was nearly mid-day by the time they got home, Laura and Erin were amused to find Ryan and Josh still in their pyjamas, sat on the sofa playing a two-person video game which Ryan seemed to be a lot better at that Josh.

“Well at least they’re awake!” Erin giggled, setting the shopping bags down on the dining table as Laura went to kiss her husband and son. With a degree of visible reluctance but no actual complaint, the boys paused their game and turned to hear about the outing.

“We decided to get new outfits for tonight!” Laura grinned, holding up a bag from a chain known for nice quality but reasonably affordable clothes for men and women. “We won’t spoil the surprise until you get to see us in them later,” she teased, “but we decided it would be fun if we all matched so we found you two matching shirts. Here!” She passed one of the bags to them and, setting it down between them, the boys pulled out two shirts, still in their packets, in a deep, aqua-blue with a slightly metallic shimmer to the fabric. Although smart, these were definitely shirts for a party rather than work or formal occasion.

“Wow I love the colour!” Josh observed, carefully opening the packet and sliding his out so that he could see how it caught the light at different angles.

“I’ve always thought blue was the colour for New Year somehow.” Laura smiled. “Like red and green for Christmas and yellow for Easter. It’s one of those things that just...is! Did we get your size right, dear?” she asked Ryan. “Erin said she thought that was what you wore but she wasn’t entirely sure.”

“Well I’ve not had much new in a while.” Ryan observed. “But yeah, I think so! Want me to go try it on?”

“Good idea.” Laura smiled. “That way we’ve got time to swap it if we need to.” Of course she and Erin had enjoyed themselves trying on various different dresses at the shop before settling on the one they had chosen so they knew that theirs matched perfectly but Laura knew that buying clothes for someone who wasn’t there was always something of a gamble, especially when that someone was a growing boy like Ryan. “Oh but Ryan, honey…” She smiled apologetically, as if not wanting to be “that parent” but seeing no other choice. “Even if you don’t want to shower, just have a quick freshen up in the sink before putting the shirt on?”

“Don’t worry, mum! I promise!” Ryan smiled before running off up the stairs.

“Aaron rang while you were out, by the way.” Josh smiled to his wife as Erin collected up the other shopping bags and took them up to her parents’ bedroom so that she and Laura could help each other get ready later. “He said Rachel would love to come to the party and is really looking forward to it!”

“Oh good!” Laura beamed. “I know Willow will be pleased. She took quite a shine to her at Christmas! I was just worried that she might think she was too old to hang out with the younger girls!”

“She’s at that in-between age, I guess?” Josh shrugged, walking over to her. “Didn’t you go through that stage when you were in your teens? Where you want the world to see you as mature and grown-up but you still want to play with dolls or go splash about in the fountain with the other kids?” Laura nodded thoughtfully.

“I guess looking as mature as she does,” she observed carefully, referring to the teen’s very well-developed, very adult chest and generally womanly figure, “people treat her like she’s older a lot of the time so it will be fun for her to hang out with the younger ones.”

“Apparently the Sidney outfit is in the post!” Josh chuckled. “Wonder if she’s thought any more about her birthday party idea?”

“I’ve no doubt it will come up at the party!” Laura chuckled. “I’ll be sure to let you know!” She tapped him on the nose then kissed him. “Now, even if you don’t need to try your shirt on, you do need to go freshen up and get dressed! I’d like us to go for a walk in the woods as a family this afternoon, before it’s time to get ready for the party. I’ll make us a light picnic as Erin and I had breakfast out and it sounds like we’re going to be eating well tonight! Check in on Ryan while you’re up there and tell him to put on some sensible outdoor clothes.

Half an hour later, they were out in the fresh air, the temperature very mild for late December, a good thing for all the outdoor parties that would be happening that night. These were the woods that Josh and Laura had gone walking in when they were first together, and where they had brought Samantha in her push-chair and, as she got older, as a good place to run around and burn off energy. It was a nice feeling to be introducing their new children to this place that had always been so special to them. At the edge of the woods, on top of the small hill, was a bench that looked out over the town and a tree that was great for climbing! They sat together on the bench and shared their picnic then the children went to check out the natural climbing frame which was more better and more fun than any they had ever found in a park.

Once home, the children went for a quick shower together while Laura and Josh caught up with some of the housework then they quickly took it in turns, Laura first since her hair would take longer to dry, and it was time to get ready for the party. Erin was waiting in her bath robe in her parents’ bedroom when Laura came in and Laura started to help her dry and curl her hair while her own was still wrapped in a towel. A few minutes later, when Josh tried to come in, Laura thrust a bundle consisting of his shirt, smart black trousers, shoes, clean socks and underwear and his favourite aftershave at him and told him to go get ready in the kids’ room and that this room was “Girls Only!”

A little taken aback but deciding it was best to do as he was told, Josh trudged down the corridor and knocked on Ryan and Erin’s bedroom door which was stood slightly ajar. Ryan called him in and Josh was proud to see his new son looking very smart in his new shirt and trousers that matched his own. Sitting on the bed while Ryan combed his hair in the mirror on the wardrobe door, Josh quickly got dressed then asked to use the mirror so he could shave. Although Ryan was not yet old enough to need to shave himself, Josh gave him a splash of his aftershave anyway, remembering how proud and grown-up it had made him feel when his own dad did the same.

In the other bedroom, Erin had taken off her robe and hung it on the back of the door before helping her mum do her own hair in the same style. Laura rarely had an opportunity to dress up so it was a nice feeling.

“Planning on going to the party like that?” she teased her naked daughter as she stood up and took off her own robe, hanging it next to Erin’s on the back of the door.

“Think I should?” Erin gave a little twirl and posed. “It would get me noticed, for sure!”

“Hmm, maybe a bit chilly for that?” Laura teased. “Besides, we don’t want the caterers getting confused and sticking you on the barbecue by mistake! That would be an awkward one to have to explain to Social Services!” Erin giggled.

“Aww, guess you’re right!” she teased. “After all, don’t want to spoil our plans for Ryan’s eighteenth, do we?” She winked and her mum blushed a little, feeling a tingle between her legs the way she used to when boys at school would smile at her. Neither of them had mentioned that conversation to the other since that morning but it felt good to see that Erin still seemed to be up for it and was more or less talking about it as a done-deal. Of course there were years to go yet before it could be made a reality but having this secret plan between them felt like another bond that drew them closer together.

Quickly, the pair slipped on the new thong underwear they had bought so as not to spoil the lines of their dresses and the translucent black tights then they put on their matching, figure-hugging cocktail dresses, the same aqua-blue as the boys’ shirts, and helped to zip each other up at the back. Finally they put on their new, shiny black shoes with the slight heel and put on subtle but elegant makeup then, as a final touch, Laura sprayed a cloud of perfume that they both walked through.

Waiting for them at the foot of the stairs in their new shirts, Josh and Ryan both gasped as Erin and Laura came into view and walked down towards them.

“You look absolutely stunning!” Josh exclaimed. “Both of you!”

“Thank you!” Laura grinned. “I know I’m going to lose the competition tonight but I wanted to make sure you remembered who you’d be coming home to eventually!” Josh blushed a little but pulled her into a hug and kissed her then hugged Erin too, kissing her on the top of her head rather than her lips. “Besides,” Laura smiled, “from what you said, Amelia’s Grandma is pretty rich! We don’t want to show up looking like the poor relations, do we? Some charity-cases she invited out of pity?”

“I guess not!” Josh chuckled. “I guess we should be on our way!”

The house was a little way out of town, part of a street but one where the houses were very well spaced out and all huge, set in a very pretty, wooded area where Laura was sure she had heard a lot of wealthy celebrities like footballers, actors and famous authors lived. It certainly looked like part and they speculated together how Amerlia’s grandmother had got to be so wealthy, concluding that she was probably “old money”, or had at least married into it.

“Guess we don’t need to worry about parking!” Josh observed as they pulled onto the large gravel driveway where fifteen other cars were already parked with room for easily as many again. Not wanting to park next to some of them which looked like they might have cost as much as their house, Josh spotted the catering van and pulled in next to it. “Hope we’re not expected to use the tradesmen’s entrance!” he chuckled as they got out of the car and approached the front door which had a beautiful archway of pine and holly around it and an elegant Christmas wreath hanging on the door. Slightly nervously, they rang the bell then waited, hearing the first notes of “Auld Lang Syne” echoing though the hallway beyond – clearly, Josh thought to himself, this was a family who liked their seasonal doorbell chimes!

A few moments later, Amelia’s grandmother, Betty, answered the door looking elegantly beautiful in a long dress, the kind someone might wear to a fancy restaurant in, Laura was gratified to see, dark blue, and a white faux-fur stole around her shoulders that matched her hair which she wore up. Both parents could not help noticing the similarity she bore to the actress Meryl Streep as she welcome them effusively, kissing every member of the family on both cheeks and complimenting their outfits before ushering them inside.

“Do come in and get yourselves a drink!” She urged, then turned to Josh with a knowing smile. “There’s someone here who will be very happy indeed to see you!” They made their way into the large, high-ceilinged living room which was, of course, elegantly decorated with a Christmas tree easily equal to the kind normally found in a shopping centre in the corner. Several nicely-dressed people were stood around with drinks in their hands while members of the catering team mingled, offering canapes and other nibbles. The large French windows at the end opened out onto the patio and the garden beyond where even more guests seemed to be milling around.

“Do you think that’s a gift from the people of Norway?” Josh asked with a chuckle, accepting a glass of wine from the tray of a passing caterer and using it to gesture towards the Christmas tree but before anyone could answer there was a high-pitched squeal of excitement and Amelia came weaving her way through the other guests towards them, wearing her white Sidney boots and hat that she held on with one hand and she ran with a very pretty, figure-hugging red dress and black tights with silver flecks. Deftly, smiling with indulgent amusement, Laura removed the glass of wine from her husband’s hand and stood back as his young lover launched herself at him. Josh caught her as she wrapped her legs around his waist and arms around his neck, supporting her with one hand on her rump and the other on her back as she kissed him deeply and with unashamed passion.

“Told you she’d be pleased to see you!” Betty chuckled once the pair came up for air and Amelia slid down to stand on the floor once again. “Why don’t you take your young man outside and introduce him to our piggy?” she suggested. Grinning, Amelia tugged on Josh’s hand, urging him to follow. Casting an apologetic look back at his family, he went with her as bidden. “She’s been babbling about seeing him all day!” Betty chuckled to Laura, smiling indulgently.

“He’s been very polite about it,” Laura giggled, “but I know he’s been excited too! It’s been, ooh, let me see…?” She pondered for a moment, looking up and moving her head from left to right, nodding slightly the way people do when they are counting but don’t have their fingers free for reference, “over three days since they’ve seen each other!” Both woman laughed and the children giggled. “Well, I guess that’s the last we’ll see of Daddy for the evening!” Laura informed the youngsters in clearly pretend tone of apology. “Guess both of these are mine now?” She held up both glasses of admittedly very good chilled white wine and clinked them together.

“Every cloud, eh?” Betty chuckled. “And tell me, who is this devilishly handsome young man and ravishing young lady?” She looked down with a warm, friendly smile that made the children take an instant liking to her. She was clearly not one of those rich people who like to show off and are super paranoid about their home and possessions. Not that they had any intention of doing so but they both formed the impression that, if they were to accidentally knock over and break a vase or ornament, even one worth hundreds of pounds, she was the kind of woman who would wave it off as “Just a thing!” and fetch the dustpan and brush so that nobody would hurt themselves on the pieces before offering them another drink or snack.

“This is Erin,” Laura introduced her daughter who smiled and gave a little wave, “and Ryan, our new family.” She smiled. “They’ve officially been in our care since Christmas Eve and we’ll be officially adopting them as soon as the statutory year is up.”

“Oh that’s wonderful!” she kissed them again as she had at the door before they had been properly introduced. “Well, I think we need to find you two some drinks! Come, let me introduce you to my husband. He’s minding the bar as he always does at our parties. He gets embarrassed trying to make small-talk you see,” she leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, “so he’s much happier if I give him a job! And,” she continued at normal volume, “he makes the most wonderful cocktails with no alcohol in them, or maybe just a splash if your mum doesn’t mind?” She looked questioningly at Laura who raised one of her glasses in a “go ahead!” gesture. Betty then took the two children by the hands and led them out through the French windows, leaving Laura alone with her wine. Emptying one in three big sips, she set it down on the tray of another passing caterer and wandered over to take a look at the very beautiful tree with its Victorian-style decorations, then at the family photographs that adorned the wall including one that was clearly Betty and her husband’s wedding day, some time in the early to mid 80s judging by the hairstyles. She had definitely been a very pretty young woman and had aged well as gracefully, as evidenced by the photographs of her and her husband with their children at various stages of their lives, as well as a few of just the two of them, and then with her first granddaughters, Amelia and her big sister who was presumably also at the party somewhere.

“Laura, right?” She turned to see a young woman with long, dark hair like Amelia’s but tied back in a ponytail, wearing glasses and a nice but practical-looking dress with an easy-access panel on the front for breast-feeding, holding a very small baby in a red onesie and a Christmas pudding hat cradled in her arms. Even if there wasn’t a photograph of her next to Amelia on the wall in front of her, it would have been easy to guess who she was. She smiled at her. “I’m Emma.” The young woman who Laura guessed to be around twenty-one or twenty-two. “I hear my little sister is fucking your husband?”

“That was quick!” Laura laughed. “We only just got here! Oh!” She chuckled. “You mean in a general sense. Yeah, she’s got him on extended lone, so to speak, until the Christening. But I wouldn’t put it past her to be having her wicked way with him right now.” She laughed again but without any hint of bitterness or irritation. Far from being jealous of the young meat-girl, she found the whole thing quite cute and more than a little exciting, but being able to tease her husband about it was definitely a bonus!

“I don’t think so.” Emma smiled. “Not yet, anyway!” She added with a giggle. “Last I saw they were out there chatting to tonight’s dinner!”

“Oh yes!” Laura nodded. “I’d better go and say hello myself. I assume it won’t be much longer before they put her over to coals?”

“I hope not!” Emma grinned. “She really does look delicious! Not as delicious as Amelia, of course,” she added dutifully, “but, well…”

“I hear your grandmother and hers know each other?” Laura asked, happy to be making conversation with this sweet young woman who seemed to either lack or to have grown out of her younger sister’s wildness.

“Yes, from Church.” Emma nodded. “Or one of the Church clubs, I’m not entirely sure. But she didn’t know that when she bought her. She just picked her from the selection the catering company offered and the next time she saw her friend, she mentioned that her granddaughter was being roasted on New Year’s Eve and Nana mentioned that she had ordered a spit-roast girl for her own party so they started comparing notes and they turned out to be talking about the same girl.”

“Small world, eh?” Laura chuckled. “Is she here tonight too?”

“No, she had other plans. But Nana promised to keep her a couple of slices!”

“Glad to hear it!” Laura grinned. “And this must be the little piglet whose Christening Amelia’s going to roast for, right?”

“That’s right!” Emma beamed down proudly at her infant daughter. “This is Cindy-Lou. We named her that because she was born so close to Christmas!” She giggled and Laura reached in to tickle the little cutie’s cheek. Little Cindy-Lou wiggled her nose a little and squirmed in her mother’s arms but did not wake up.

“She seems like a little angel!” Laura smiled warmly.

“She is when she’s asleep!” Emma chuckled. “Anyway, I was just going to take her upstairs and put her in the crib for a bit but I saw you and I wanted to come and say hello.”

“I’m glad you did.” Laura smiled. “It’s very nice to meet you and I’m sure we’ll chat more later.” Still holding her second glass of wine, this one barely touched since it was going to be a long night and she wanted to pace herself, especially as she was fairly sure she would be the one driving home later, she headed out into the garden in search of her husband and his pre-teen concubine.

“So, you decided not to wear the dress your Grandma gave you?” Josh teased as Amelia led him outside onto the patio.

“Do you really want my knee rather than my tongue on your bollocks tonight?” Amelia retorted, sticking her tongue out at him. “Maybe I should bequeath it to Erin and tell her to wear it for you since you seem to like it so much?” She teased. “Are you fucking her yet?”

“What?” Josh asked, genuinely shocked. “No!”

“Good!” Amelia stepped close and hugged him tightly, looking up at him with her chin on his chest. “I want to be the only other girl you make love with, other than Mrs Martin, of course, for the rest of my life! After that, you can do what you like with whoever you like!” Josh leaned down and kissed her lovingly.

“You don’t need to worry about that!” He assured her. “Now, didn’t you have a piggy to introduce me to?”

“Oh yeah!” Amelia grinned. “This way!” Beyond the mingling guests in the garden was the cooking area, set up by the same catering team that was serving the drinks and nibbles inside with a standing banner advertising their company.

“SB Catering” it read. “Serving you the finest meats since 1605!”

“Sixteen-oh-five?” Josh read with incredulity. “Am I missing something here?”

“It’s a joke!” Amelia gigged. “They were founded in Scotland and named after a legendary cannibal who was said to live in a cave by the sea near Edinburgh!”

“I see!” Josh chuckled. The area was buzzing with activity as the caterers in their smart black uniforms were busy wiping down and oiling up various pieces of equipment including a long, very sharp-looking spit while others tended to the coals over which the flames of lighter fluid were still dancing, waiting for them to be ready to cook over. Beside the brick-edged roasting pit stood a pretty girl of about fourteen with pale skin and long, dark hair that was nearly black, or certainly looked so in the dim light of the solar-powered lamps and tikki torches which illuminated the garden, tied back in a pony tail. She was completely naked, of course, and from the way her toned, athletic young body glistened, it was clear she had already been oiled up ready to cook. She was chatting to two men and a woman who were clearly guests at the party but Amelia slipped her arm through Josh’s and marched him up to her, not exactly elbowing her way into the little huddle but making their presence awkwardly conspicuous until the others parted to allow them in.

“Hi again!” the meat-girl grinned. “Who’s this handsome fella? That boyfriend of yours your Grandma was talking about?”

“Yup! This is Josh!” Amelia declared proudly. “Josh, this is Candice. She’s our dinner tonight!” Instinctively, Josh held out his hand with a polite smile. The meat girl looked down at it then raised her own palms with an apologetic look on her face.

“Sorry!” She half smiled, half frowned, tilting her head to one side then looking at her own oily hands. “Please don’t think me rude, it’s just that I don’t want to get this all over you!”

“Oh right!” Josh chuckled, lowering his hand awkwardly. “Of course. Sorry! Anyway, nice to meet you.”

“I hope I’ll be nice meat!” Candice giggled. “Go on,” she urged, “take a proper look! It’s allowed since I’m a piggy and I’m sure your girlfriend won’t mind!”

“Yeah!” Amelia giggled. “Check out the menu properly!” she encouraged Josh, poking him playfully in the ribs. “Why don’t you give him a nice twirl like you gave me earlier?” She suggested to Candice who seemed happy to oblige, slowly turning in a circle, wiggling her hips as if she were hula-hooping in slow motion, allowing Josh to take in every inch of her delicious young body.

To be continued...