She finished her crab cake, hardly even tasting it. Emma had finished hers too and was scraping up the last of the sauce from her plate.
“You can have the other one,” Maddy said.
“No, it’s all yours, birthday girl.”
“Really,” Maddy said. “I have a big meal coming, and if we’re doing dessert, I’m going to have to stop now.”
Emma gave a cheeky smile. “Well, we can’t let it go waste, now can we? That’d be a crime.”
The waitress appeared at their table, a bottle of champagne in her hands. “Ladies, a bottle of Dom Perignon, our finest champagne.”
“No, thank you,” Nora said. “We’re fine.”
“It’s actually a gift—from the gentleman.” She gestured toward Connor.
He was wrapped up in conversation with his date and didn’t notice their attention.
“Well, isn’t that nice?” Emma said as the server proceeded to fill Nora’s glass.
Maddy winced, thinking of Nora’s pregnancy. She shouldn’t be drinking even if she was only barely pregnant. Surely she knew that; it hadn’t been that long since she was pregnant with Chloe. Maybe she wasn’t actually planning to drink it.
Emma waved the server off her glass. “None for me, thank you.”
Emma didn’t drink at all, and though Maddy rarely indulged, she allowed the server to fill her glass halfway. She didn’t want to be rude. It had been a gift in her honor, after all.
She caught Connor’s eye just then and raised her glass, giving him a nod. Her sisters waved their thanks.
Nora lifted her glass in a toast. “To Maddy—another year of success and prosperity and all the best life has to offer.”
“Hear, hear,” Emma said, raising her tea.
Success and prosperity. Those things were starting to seem empty. In her heart of hearts she wanted someone special to share her life with. And yet, romantic relationships were unpredictable and ultimately disappointing. It was a paradox she hadn’t yet figured out how to resolve.
They clinked glasses, and Maddy took a sip of the champagne. Its effervescence made her eyes water, and the pungent flavor was quickly lost on her as she watched Nora lift the glass to her lips and take a sip.
“Are you sure you want that?” Maddy asked.
“Of course,” Nora said. “Why wouldn’t I? Do you have any idea how much this stuff costs?”
“It’s just—” Maddy’s eyes toggled to Emma and, finding no help there, back to Nora. “I thought you didn’t care for champagne, that’s all.”
“It’s not my favorite, but I’m not going to turn away a gift. What do you think of it?”
“It’s good.” Maddy’s stomach tightened as she watched Nora take another sip. “Kind of fruity, I think, but I’m no expert.”
“It is fruity. A little smoky too. Very nice.”
Over an hour later Maddy took her last bite of raspberry cheesecake and dabbed her mouth with the linen. The service had been spot-on and the food delicious, from her perfectly seasoned salmon to the delightful sweet potato casserole. The chef at Harbormaster knew his business.
Nora had drunk a whole glass of champagne. Before her sister had a chance to refill her glass, Maddy asked the server to recork the bottle so they could take it home.
Connor and his date had left as the sisters were served their desserts. He merely waved good-bye, then placed his hand at the small of the woman’s back as he’d ushered her from the restaurant.
“I’m stuffed,” Emma said. “The pastries were delicious.”
“Which was your favorite?” Maddy asked.
“The apple turnover, I think. Although the raspberry one was really unique.”
