Maddie stared at the plate. “I’m never going to eat all this.”

“You ordered all five courses.”

“I’m emotionally unstable. You should not follow my instructions literally.”

“That wasn’t in the employee handbook.”

She laughed. The sound startled her. It felt like discovering electricity in a house she’d believed was dark.

Eli glanced around the empty ballroom. Employees were already clearing the abandoned tables. Flowers leaned in tall glass vases. Place cards sat untouched.