Page 73 of Sanctuary

“New clinic?” Lennie asked, enunciating each word like she was talking to an academically challenged six-year-old.

Lori prodded Rosie’s arm and offered an apologetic look. “Sorry for putting our foot in it and spoiling tonight’s surprise.”

Lennie’s face relaxed a little—well, Lori thought it had, but it was hard to tell under all the Botox—and Ellery mouthed a silent thank you out of Lennie’s eyeline.

“We’re celebrating?”

Ellery kissed Lennie on the cheek. “Surprise. I was going to tell you over a bottle of Veuve Clicquot.”

“Veuve Clicquot?”

Lori glanced at Rosie and tried not to laugh, sure she must be thinking the same thing: that Lennie had injected so much Botox that it had limited her speech to two-word questions. Maybe if she said much more, her face might crack.

“You’d prefer something else?” Ellery asked.

Lori bit the inside of her cheek. That question was going to cost Ellery dearly.

Lennie pointed to the selection of champagnes under cool lightning at the back of the bar. “Not Krug?”

Rosie coughed her drink back into her glass. “Sorry. Escapee mint leaf went down the back of my throat.”

“I read that Veuve Clicquot is America’s favorite champagne,” Lori said, though she knew her attempt to help would probably be futile.

“I’m sure it is,” Lennie said, raising her nose in the air, “for people who can’t afford the more superior Champagne house.”

Ellery’s forehead creased like she was in pain, which was unsurprising given the cost of a bottle of Krug. Lori hadn’t seen a single bottle sold in this bar before, and she was sure their stock had been there since they opened in 1976.

Ellery waved for the bartender’s attention. “Can I get a bottle of Krug, please?”

The bartender looked taken aback by Ellery’s request and leaned in closer as if she hadn’t heard correctly, then she backed up to the champagne display and pointed to the bottle of Krug, still not looking convinced that she’d understood Ellery’s order.

Ellery nodded. “That’s what I want?”

Lori would’ve laughed if she hadn’t felt so sorry for her; Ellery was way too soft for her own good, and Lennie had been taking advantage of that for far too long.

The bartender pulled a chilled bottle from the lower fridge and arranged it in a Krug-branded ice bucket that looked unused too. “How many glasses would you like?”

Lori put her hand on Ellery’s forearm and squeezed gently. “We don’t want to mix our drinks, Ellery.” She shot Rosie a look when she frowned in obvious disagreement.

Ellery’s sigh of relief was audible even over the mid-level music thumping in the background. “Are you sure?”

Lennie put her hand above Lori’s on Ellery’s forearm. “They’re sure.”

Lori wondered just how much of the over-priced grape juice Ellery would actually get to drink. She was surprised Lennie hadn’t just asked the bartender to fix a teat to the bottle so she could keep it all to herself.

“Two glasses, please,” Ellery said and held her card to the payment terminal when the bartender indicated it was ready. She glanced at Lori and gave her a tight smile before tearing off the gold neck wrapping and popping the cork.

“You should keep that and write the date on it,” Rosie said. “It’ll be a nice reminder.”

Once again, Lori had to stop herself from laughing and lightly tapped her foot to Rosie’s shin. “Troublemaker,” she whispered, and Rosie grinned.

“When will you be moving in?” Rosie asked.

“Soon, hopefully.” Ellery finished pouring a half glass and offered it to Lennie.

She raised her eyebrows and didn’t take it, so Ellery filled it to the brim and tried again. Lennie nodded as if she were the queen of everything and accepted it this time.

Ellery smiled, but she still looked pained. “The building is in great condition, and I just need a couple of walls put in to create treatment rooms and a reception area.” She poured herself a full glass and took a long, slow drink like it was the nectar of the gods.

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