Chapter 5 - part 1 cont

The next day was our last, and we wanted to go out with a bang. It was going to be a six hour drive to get home, so we had reservations for our last meal at 1 o'clock. It was probably the most lavish meal of the trip and we had intentionally saved it for the end. The meal itself boasted 12 courses, although of course they included soup and sorbet among them. It was advertised to take about three hours, so we would be getting home pretty late. Fortunately it was on a Friday, so we'd have the whole weekend still.

After a relatively light breakfast, we checked out of the hotel and packed up the car. We spent the next couple hours walking the city and building up an appetite, joking with each other about how much we'd be eating soon. Before we knew it, it was time for our belly busting bonanza.

We were like giddy schoolgirls as we arrived at the restaurant. We all decided to stick with water to drink, as we didn't want anything else to fill us up. After a rather short wait, the amuse bouche arrived.

Then pasta, the first course. It was a very tasty roasted butternut squash ravioli. Next a delectable Waldorf salad. It was followed by some pheasant, and truly each dish was better than the last. We all murmured appreciatively as each course was served, reveling in each bite.

As the fourth course (cream of roasted walnut soup) gave way to the fifth (rack of lamb) and then the sixth (dirty shrimp in butter beer sauce), I think we were all starting to feel the effects. At first it was a pleasant warm glow of filling stomachs with good food, but before long came the familiar pinch of a tightening waistband.

"Halfway there," Jill announced.

"Hoo boy, this is going to be a challenge," Marcy laughed. "You all are going to have to roll me out after this."

I laughed, but knew I would be in similar straits.

As we made our way through the seventh course (braised beef ribs), I wasn't the only one loosening my belt by a notch. After the eighth course (ginger glazed mahi mahi), I was starting to doubt my ability to finish.

"One more *hic* big one," Bren sighed.

Jill pressed a fist to her mouth to stifle a burp. We were all looking a little flushed. I discreetly loosened my belt again and opened the button on my slacks to relieve the pressure. Marcy was wearing a dress and I envied her, chiding myself for only packing shorts and pants.

All too soon the roasted pork tenderloin arrived at the table. Conversation hit a lull as we picked away, already full stomachs stretching to take on the added load.

"Ooh, that's it," I finally groaned, pushing away my empty plate.

We sat quietly for a bit, caught in the tension between gastronomic glory and bodily limits. The sorbet course came to cleanse our palate and give us a little time to digest. The cheese course was nice, but we were honestly all really looking forward to the dessert course.

And then the last course, and it did not disappoint. There were chocolate covered strawberries, lemon bars, individual sized hazelnut cheesecakes with chocolate fudge topping, and cannolis.

We glutted ourselves shamelessly, attacking them as if we had not just finished a gut-busting 11 courses.

"Mmf, try one of those."

"Oh dear heaven this is amazing."

"I'm having such a foodgasm right now."

"Here, just a little bite of this, you have to."

"Try this."

"Have this."


"Taste this."

And then:

"I think I'm going to die."

Every plate was clear and we had sat in over-gorged silence for several minutes before Marcy broke the silence.

I wasn't sure how it was possible, but it felt like my entire body was full and bloated. I was pretty positive that I had actually reached full capacity, my stomach so full that not a single bite could physically fit. From the moaning at the table around me, I was pretty sure that everyone else was in similar straits.

We gingerly sipped our coffees as we slowly recovered from our gluttony. Even with the button undone, the waistband of my pants were digging cruelly into my ballooned midsection. Once we were more or less coherent again, we took care of the check and all stopped by the Ladies room on our way out. The trip home would be pretty long and we didn't want to stop too often.

After taking care of what I needed to, I splashed some cool water on my face. I had taken off my belt and put in my purse. I couldn't bear the thought of trying to fasten my pants again so I left them unbuttoned and unzipped, pulling my shirt down to hide it.

We all slowly waddled out of the restaurant, cradling out swollen stomachs. Once in the car I spread my legs and leaned back to gain as much relief as I could. Fortunately Marcy didn't mind driving the first leg, although she did groaningly joke that she was going to have to slide her seat back to fit behind the steering wheel.

I slept fitfully for most of the ride home, except for when I took my turn driving a couple hours. It was late when we finally got home and we all felt grimy and sleepy. I was the second to get dropped off and I yawningly carried my bags to the front door. As I rummaged around in my purse for my keys, the door suddenly swung open.

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