ANASTASIA


    As I walked through the driveway, headed for the bar''s entrance, I was impressed at the renovation that had been done to the ce. It looked better upclose.


    I still remembered when Dennis told me, before our wedding, about renovating the ce. We had both stayed up for several nights after a hectic workday, picking designs and themes.


    A smile creeped onto my lips. Those were fun times. Times when I had no gaping worry.


    He let me on throughout the whole process of the renovation. After the renovation, he showed me pictures of the ce and we both took pride in our taste in the designs that we chose as they turned out exceedingly well.


    My heart warmed and my smile widened at how we had argued nonstop about who picked which design.


    The result that the renovation yielded was the best part. The new weing yet intriguing designs had attracted more customers, causing the spot to be one of his bubbliest bars.


    As I stepped into the bar, goosebumps scattered all over my skin as all eyes fell on me.


    It was as though they had just seen a rarely-seen celebrity walk into a random coffee shop. Some of them even craned their necks to see me.


    Weird.


    Was this like a norm in bars or there was something else? I wondered as I made my way to the counter while I discreetly nced down at my tummy.


    Perhaps, I''d started to develop a baby bump and they were just wondering why a pregnant woman was in a bar but there was no sign that I was pregnant yet.


    At the counter, there was a boy and a girl there. They both looked like they just stepped out of their teen years. And they looked like they were flirting.


    "Hello?" It took a while before they noticed my presence.


    The smirk wiped off the boy''s face and the girl hid her blush with her hair as she nced down, pretending to scribble something on paper.


    "Sorry. What would you like to have? We have..."


    I tried to stop him but his gaze wasn''t on me. He was looking at the drinks on the menu in his hands and reading them out. So I allowed him while wondering why he wouldn''t just give the menu to the customer so they could select what they wanted.


    While I nced around the bar, I realized that the outside view was just a tip of the iceberg. The interior of the bar was stunning. If I loved close by, I could see myself justing in here to sit for a while just because of how beautiful and homey it looks and feel. I would definitely take pictures too.


    I remembered one of Dennis'' words as we picked out designs and furnitures. "You know, I want it to feel like home. Not just some bar you walk into to knock yourself out. Even if it will be just a little, my patrons should have an inkling of what a home feels and look like once they stepped in."


    it was then I noticed that all the furniture in there were cushioned, even some of the tables were padded too. It gave the ce the look, and I''m certain, the feel he wanted. I guess the wooden chairs we picked out together went to the offices then.


    But I remembered picking out some


    of the cushioned chair with him. I couldn''t help but be proud of him. us, of what we could create together. Dennis and I, we work and fit together so well. There were just so many hurdles for us.


    "How many times do you need me to ram it into your brains to direct customers to their seats, hand them the men, then go attend to them there? The voice got my attention and the three of us turned to the stern voice that came from behind me.


    The man stopped beside me, and red at the boy.


    The boy bowed several times. "I''m sorry, sir." Then the girl stepped out from behind the counter, "Ma''am, please, let me lead you to a vacant seat."


    "Actually, I''m not here to order anything." Immediately I said that I wondered if I should''ve just ordered something before I made my intention known. "I''m-" "Mrs Dennis!"


    Yep. I turned to the man. His eyes were wide.


    "Hello," I smiled.


    "We''re so sorry, ma''am. I didn''t recognize you immediately."


    "It''s okay."


    He introduced himself as the manager of the bar then he turned to the attendants. "Come on, greet. She''s the boss'' wife."


    Now there were more eyes on me as the boy and girl apologized me non stop. I could sense the apprehension in their voices. Do they think I''ll report them or something? "It''s alright, really. I''ve taken no offense."


    Finally, they quieted down when other customers arrived and they had to attend to them.


    So I told the manager, "I''m here to see Dennis. He is in his office, right? I stopped by so we could go home together."


    "Oh, you missed him," he briefly nced to the sliding doors I stepped through a few minutes ago. "He just stepped out a while ago."


    "Oh? I see," I nodded slowly, my gaze also sliding to the door. "Do you have any idea when he''d be back?" Or did he already go home? The manager shook his head. "I''m not certain but he should be back soon."N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    I tried to remember if I had spotted his car in the parking lot on my way in but I hadn''t really paid much


    attention there. The view of the bar outside had taken all of my


    attention.


    I knew it would be weird to go out to check his car. I just hope he wasn''t trying to avoid me. Besides, Dennis cannot act so petty. So I said, "Alright then, I''ll wait."


    "Let me escort you to the VIP section, ma''am. You canfortably wait there."