However, like the other times Callie had taken her to the places in her new life, Lauren tucked her unease away and followed Callie’s lead. So when the maître d’ handed her an open menu containing a selection of wines and cocktails, she accepted it with a thank you. Looking down at the menu, she tried to forget about the discreet glances the other restaurant patrons threw in their direction.
Even the restaurants and clubs she frequented overpriced their alcoholic drinks, so when she did order one she favored those that were least expensive. A quick scan of the menu showed she couldn’t do that tonight. No dollar amounts were listed next to any of the drinks. Just another reminder of the clientele that frequented the restaurant, and the fact that within this group she was the outsider. The only one who couldn’t easily afford her portion of the tab tonight, not that Callie would let her pay. As with previous times they’d gone to restaurants like this, Callie would insist on covering the whole check. Lauren hated having Callie foot the bill for her, and they’d disagreed about it in the past. At the same time, places like this would put a dent in her monthly budget, so they’d reached a compromise more than a year ago. Whenever Callie visited her in Massachusetts, Lauren paid for meals, but when she visited Callie in either New York or Connecticut, Callie covered dinners out. While not the ideal agreement, it worked.
If I married Kevin, Callie wouldn’t need to cover my portion at places like this. As soon as she had the thought, she bent her head in disgust. Money should be the last thing influencing her decision.
“And what can I get for you tonight?” the uniformed waiter asked, once Sara finished placing her cocktail order.
“I’ll have an Espresso Martini.” Unprepared, Lauren automatically named one of her favorite cocktails and reached for her dinner menu. When the waiter returned for their dinner choices, she wanted to be prepared.
“I’ll have a sparkling water,” Callie said when the waiter turned toward her.
“I’ll put this order in while everyone looks over the menu. So, please take your time making your choices. If you have any questions, please ask.” The uniformed waiter smiled then stepped away.
“You’re not having a drink?” Lauren closed the menu, food no longer on her mind. Callie didn’t drink a lot, but in a social setting like this she would normally join in.
Rather than comment, Callie shrugged and looked down at her menu. The dismissal of the question set the gears in Lauren’s brain in motion. The last time they’d been around alcohol at the retirement party, Callie had skipped it as well. Not to mention when she stopped by to wish her a happy birthday, she’d opted for herbal tea instead of coffee. Then this morning she’d looked pale as a ghost and tired.
“Callie, are you feeling okay?” Even as she asked the question, she suspected the answer.
Callie met her stare. “Of course, why?”
“You haven’t been yourself.”
Before Callie answered, the waiter reappeared. “Please excuse me, but the chef wants you to know that if you cannot find anything to your liking on the menu, he will prepare anything you wish.”
We are definitely not at The Davenport. Lauren clenched her fists under the table, hoping to still her nerves. The Davenport, where they’d held her mom’s retirement party, had given them a hard time when they’d asked if guests could have a choice of sides to accompany either their beef or seafood dinners. Yet here, the chef offered to prepare something special in the event they didn’t find what they desired on the menu.
Across the table, Charlie lowered her own menu and joined the conversation. “She’s right. You looked awful this morning and last night you fell asleep early.”
Dropping her eyes, Callie chewed on her bottom lip. I’m right. Lauren almost sprung to her feet to hug her friend, all thoughts of where they were gone, but she held back until Callie made it official.
“This cannot leave this table, but I’m pregnant.” A smile bright enough to light up a coal mine spread across Callie’s face. “We’re waiting until Warren and Elizabeth come back from South America to tell them.”
A strange combination of emotions rippled through Lauren’s chest. The joy and excitement made sense. After all, this was her closest friend. She loved Callie like a sister. The pain and sadness took her by surprise, and for a brief second envy surged through her as well. At one time she’d almost had a baby. Nate’s baby. The same emotions always came when a friend announced a pregnancy, yet tonight they were stronger perhaps because of her recent run-in with Nate.