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waiting for everyone else to catch up. I
do
understand that. I just get a little . . . well, for example, last year I had a little conflict with Renata.”
    “Madeline
loves
conflict,” said Celeste to Jane.
    “Renata somehow found time in between board meetings to ask the teachers to organize an exclusive little excursion just for the gifted kids. It was to see a play. Well, come on now, you don’t have to be bloody gifted to enjoy
theater
. I’m the marketing manager at the Pirriwee Peninsula Theatre, you see, so that’s how I got wind of it.”
    “She won of course,” grinned Celeste.
    “Of course I won,” said Madeline. “I got a special group discount and all the kids went and I got half-price champagne at interval for all the parents and we had a great time.”
    “Oh! Speaking of which!” said Celeste. “I nearly forgot to give you your champagne! Did I— Oh, yes, here it is.” She rummaged through her voluminous straw basket in her typically breathless way and handed over a bottle of Bollinger. “Can’t give you champagne glasses without champagne.”
    “Let’s have some now!” Madeline lifted the bottle by the neck, suddenly inspired.
    “No, no,” said Celeste. “Are you crazy? It’s too early for drinking. We have to pick the kids up in two hours. And it’s not chilled.”
    “Champagne
breakfast
!” said Madeline. “It’s all in the way you package it. We’ll have champagne and orange juice. Half a glass each! Over two hours. Jane? Are you in?”
    “I guess I could have a
sip
,” said Jane. “I’m a cheap drunk.”
    “I bet you are, because you weigh about ten kilos,” said Madeline. “We’ll get on well. I love cheap drunks. More for me.”
    “Madeline,” said Celeste. “Keep it for another time.”
    “But it’s the Festival of Madeline,” said Madeline sadly. “And I’m injured.”
    Celeste rolled her eyes. “Pass me a glass.”
    Thea: Jane was tipsy when she picked up Ziggy from orientation. So, you know, it just paints a certain type of picture, doesn’t it? Young single mother drinking first thing in the morning. Chewing gum too. Not a good first impression. That’s all I’m saying.
    Bonnie: For heaven’s sake, nobody was drunk! They had a champagne breakfast at Blue Blues for Madeline’s fortieth. They were just a little giggly. That’s what I heard, anyway; we actually couldn’t make orientation day because we were doing a family healing retreat in Byron Bay. It was an incredible spiritual experience. Would you like the website address?
    Harper: You knew from the very first day that Madeline, Celeste, and Jane were a little threesome. They arrived with their arms around one another like twelve-year-olds. Renata and I didn’t get invited to their little soiree, even though we’d known Madeline since all our boys were in kindergarten together, but as I said to Renata that night, when we were having the most divine degustation menu at Remy’s (that was
before
the rest of Sydney discovered it by the way), I really didn’t care less.
    Samantha: I was working. Stu took Lily to orientation. He mentioned some of the mothers had just come from a champagne breakfast. I said, “Right. What are their names? They sound like my sort of people.”
    Jonathan: I missed all that. Stu and I were talking about cricket.
    Melissa: You didn’t hear this from me, but
apparently
Madeline Mackenzie got so drunk that morning, she fell over and sprained her ankle.
    Graeme: I think you’re barking up the wrong tree there. I don’t see how an ill-advised champagne breakfast could have led to murder and mayhem, do you?
    •   •   •
    C hampagne is never a mistake. That had always been Madeline’s mantra.
    But afterward, Madeline did wonder if just this once it might have been a tiny error of judgment. Not because they were drunk. They weren’t. It was because when the three of them walked into the school, laughing together (Madeline had decided she didn’t want to