Along with the main platter, various dishes of potatoes and vegetables were placed around the table along with decanters of gravy which, the wait-staff explained, were made using a mixture of the remaining stock from the soup, Ava’s blood and the run-off juices from the roast, along with the other regular ingredients of course.

At Carlos’ insistence, Mollie was served first as guest of honour, followed by Maria, then both sets of parents and finally himself and his fiance. Of course most people had their hearts and taste-buds set on a slice of rump and Mollie was no exception, requesting a mix of rump and thigh. It seemed right to her that the sweet little meat-girl’s fillet should go to Rosita and it seemed like the rest of her fellow diners agreed as none of them requested it, leaving it for the young bride to be. Once everyone had been served, the waiter did not leave the carving set for people to help themselves as Mollie had expected but rather promised to come back regularly to check of them and serve anyone who wanted more.

It came as no surprise that Ava’s roast meat was absolutely delicious and, following the lead of the others, Mollie enjoyed three plates-worth, along with the trimmings, sides and rich, thick gravy until she herself felt as if she had been stuffed ready for roasting! By the time everyone had eaten their fill and the remains were cleared away, there was little left of Ava but greasy bones and a few scraps of meat which Mollie felt sure would be made use of in some way, as Gingerbread seemed committed to the concept of not letting anything go to waste.

Throughout the meal, Mollie felt Maria’s hand on her thigh, gradually working its way further and further up, and she reciprocated by subtly kicking off her shoe under the table and caressing the lower part of her date’s legs with her foot. As the evening wore on, they both nudged their chairs slightly closer to each other, just a little at a time, until eventually their thighs were pressed against each other and Mollie started to find it difficult to focus on the meal thanks to the anticipation of what might happen afterwards.

Dessert, served with a sweet wine after an appropriate interval to let their main course go down, was a rich, chocolate sponge pudding with a dark chocolate sauce which had been made, so they were informed, using Ava’s blood rather than eggs, and there was also a little blood in the soft, pink, cranberry ice-cream that was served with it. All five course really had been made from, or at least included ingredients derived from the adorable little meat-girl. Mollie had heard that blood worked as a perfectly good substitute for eggs when baking a cake but it was not something she had ever tried. As she was planning to bring in a cake for her colleagues on her last proper working day of Friday, she decided to try to save some blood from any girls or boys butchered on Thursday, or pop to the butcher’s shop if there were no in-house slaughters that day, and take it home to experiment with. If it was a disaster, she could just make another the conventional way and nobody need know but it felt like something she wanted to try at least once!

The meal was followed by a final round of drinks then Carlos paid the bill and, once Mollie had said polite and warm goodbyes to the parents around the table, took both her hands in his and kissed her twice on the cheeks.

“The house is yours and Maria’s for the night.” he told her in a warm and friendly voice. “We won’t be troubling you. The car is outside to take you there and please do order a cab to work in the morning on us. He kissed her again softly on the cheek then whispered in her ear. “Take care of my three girls for me, okay? I love them very much.”

“I will!” promised Mollie, wondering for the first time whether Carlos was actually fully on board with trading his wife for her younger sister or whether he was just doing it to please her and, given the choice, he would prefer to keep Maria. She had assumed that he would be delighted to be able to “upgrade to a younger model”, but something in the way he spoke of Maria and their daughter made her wonder. Still, it was not her place to interfere and ask questions, any more than it was to ask volunteers who presented themselves to her as meat whether they were really sure about their decision. Isabella, Sophia and Maria herself all seemed very keen on the idea of cooking and Rosita seemed lovely, not at all the spoiled, pampered princess Mollie had worried she might be, and would certainly make Carlos a wonderful wife and hopefully give him many more beautiful and potentially delicious daughters!

Once the goodbyes were concluded, Maria slipped her arm through Mollie’s again and led her outside where the same car that had dropped Mollie off was waiting, the smartly-dressed driver stood by the open back door to welcome them. Maria got in first and made herself comfortable then held out her hands to Mollie who slid down onto the comfortably-upholstered seat beside her. Almost immediately, Maria wrapped her arms around Mollie and the pair began to kiss, with passion and a loving intensity. The driver cleared his throat politely and the pair broke their kiss, giggling like naughty school-girls who has just been caught behind the bike sheds.

“Sorry to interrupt.” he smiled, obviously suppressing a chuckle but unable to disguise the avuncular glint of amusement in his eyes. “But I’d be remiss in my duties if I did not ask you ladies to put your belts on before I drive of. It’s my job to deliver you home in one piece after all!” Now he allowed himself a light chuckle. “I don’t think I would made a very good substitute for you if I were to let any harm come to you before the party!” He winked at Maria who giggled. It was clear that the pair had a real mutual respect and friendship.

“Sorry!” she giggled and Mollie gave a sheepish smile of apology as the pair of the put on their seatbelts. The driver gave a nod of approval then closed the door and returned to his own seat. “Now,” Maria slipped her arm around Mollie’s waist once more, “where were we?”


To be continued...