“It’s awfully expensive,” Maddy said. She’d looked up the menu online. It was important to know the local competition—even though the Harbormaster was above the Landing’s pay grade.
“Oh, it’s a special occasion.” Emma raised a saucy brow. “Besides, Nora can afford it. Can’t you, Nora?”
Maddy gave Emma a look. She wished they’d get beyond these snarky comments.
Nora’s lips thinned, and her mug clattered on the glass table as she set it down. “Of course. Wherever you want to go, Maddy. It’s your birthday, after all.”
That evening a pretty hostess led the sisters across the Harbormaster’s dining room. The restaurant wasn’t yet crowded as they’d skipped lunch and decided on an early supper.
The table for four was swathed in white linen, impeccably set with sparkling silverware, and situated by a glass wall overlooking the quiet bay. Soft music played in the background, mingling with the low hum of conversations. The savory smell of grilled steak hung in the air.
Chilled by the air-conditioning, Maddy slipped on her lightweight sweater as she settled into the leather chair. She let her gaze rove objectively around the front of house. The building was old but recently refurbished. They’d kept the scarred, wide-planked floor, but it was scrupulously clean. Old brick walls gave the room added character, and antique chandeliers dangled from the lofted ceiling, giving off a dim glow that made the space feel intimate.
The staff seemed efficient and friendly. They wore white oxford shirts and black trousers. The long-haired servers wore theirs back in a bun or ponytail, and they were all clean-cut and well-groomed.
“It’s really charming, huh?” Emma said.
“Definitely a different vibe from the Landing,” Maddy said. “More formal and sedate.”
“Well, I for one can’t wait to try the crab cake appetizer. And we have to save room for dessert,” Emma said. “I want to try out their pastries. They have a sampler.”
“I’m sure they don’t compare with yours.” Maddy opened her menu and winced at the prices. They were even higher than she remembered.
Nora was perusing the menu too, twin frown lines etched between her brows. She bit into her bottom lip.
“There’s a landlubbers section at the bottom,” Maddy told Nora. She’d never cared much for seafood.
Nora’s frown disappeared, and she gave Maddy a smile as she closed the menu. “I saw that. The chopped steak looks really good. I think I’ll get that. What are you getting?”
“That’s just a glorified hamburger,” Emma said. “Did you see the coffee-crusted filet mignon? I’ll bet it’s to die for.”
“That’s too heavy for me.” Nora straightened the silverware. “I snacked a bit this afternoon.”
The server came by and took drink orders. Emma and Maddy ordered one of their specialty teas, and Nora stuck with water.
When the server left, Maddy’s gaze drifted to movement beyond Emma’s shoulder, focusing on a man several tables away. She recognized Connor’s profile, even though he was clean-shaven, and his hair was slicked back in a style she hadn’t seen on him before. He wore a gray plaid button-down shirt and khakis, another first.
Across the flickering candlelight from him was an attractive woman with a long brown bob and sideswept bangs. Her features were small and dainty, her halter-style black dress complementing her tanned, slender shoulders.
The woman laughed at something Connor said and brushed her bangs to the side in a feminine gesture that for some reason gave Maddy a pang of jealousy.
No, not jealousy. Confusion. They were obviously on a date. And hadn’t Connor told her just yesterday that he hadn’t been on a date in years? What was up with that? Why would he lie to her?
She’d only known him a couple weeks, but he’d seemed so genuine when they were talking. On the other hand, she knew better than to trust her own intuition. He could be a complete con artist for all she knew.
“Did you hear me, Maddy? What are you looking at?” Emma turned and looked over her shoulder.
Maddy took a sip of the tea the server had apparently brought while she’d been distracted.
She looked up in time to see that Emma had caught Connor’s attention. Too far away to engage in conversation, they all exchanged waves.
Maddy froze as Connor’s eyes connected with hers. Some emotion flickered on his face. Guilt? Or maybe just chagrin at having been caught in a lie?
Maddy gave him a stiff smile and turned her attention to her sisters. She made an effort to engage in conversation about the house and the needed repairs.
When the conversation dragged on, Maddy turned her thoughts to Gram’s overgrown flower beds. She had big plans to restore them to their former glory. She would do a thorough weeding, thin out the perennials, prune the rosebushes. She wanted to add some colorful annuals too. Some red zinnias and yellow lantanas for the sunny spots. Pink and white impatiens for the shaded areas.
The server returned, took their orders, and scurried back to the kitchen. For the next while Maddy made sure to keep her eyes away from the table behind Emma. It was harder than she wanted to admit.
