Love isn't easy

Chapter 17: September 2016 (Part 1)

September 2016 (Part 1)

Lisa was late and by now the gallery was packed. Lisa scanned the room for a few solid minutes trying to find her wife but failed to spot the head of bright blonde hair in the sea of people. Before resuming her search, Lisa opted for heading towards the bar and getting a drink.

It had taken Lisa three hours and a tantrum of epic proportions to get Coraline ready to be dropped off at Claire's for a night with grandma and grandpa. After the endless tears and the screaming Lisa had to endure over the course of the several hours it took to make Coraline presentable enough to leave the house as well as the stress of making sure she packed everything necessary for the baby's overnight bag, Lisa had earned a drink. It was a shame that Mason wasn't feeling well and that in turn he and Claire had to skip Roseanne's opening, but Lisa was grateful that Claire offered to take Coraline overnight instead of them having to hire a babysitter and then come home to deal with another sleepless night.

Lisa leans against the makeshift bar. She makes eye contact with the really attractive and slender girl with loose locks standing behind the not-so-stable counter assembled in one of the corners of the gallery as she serves another customer. Lisa gives her a smile letting her know she'd like to be next before she turns her back to the bar and continues looking for her wife.

"What can I get for you?"

Lisa turns a few seconds later she hears a voice behind her.

"Whiskey. Please".

The 'I need it' is implied and the girl smiles at Lisa's pleading tone.

"Rough night?"

"Trying to bathe and dress a cranky ten-month-old by myself is a lot less fun than it sounds."

"Ahhh..."

The bartender puts down the bottle she had reached for and bends over lifting the table cloth covering the back table purposely giving Lisa a pretty great view of her toned behind. The bartender turns back around holding a bottle of Lagavulin.

"I'll break out the good stuff just for you. On the rocks?"

Lisa nods.

"You're my savior."

The girl laughs while searching for the perfect rock to put in Lisa's glass.

"So they left you alone with your...niece?"

"Daughter. My wife had to finish getting this ready."

Lisa points around the room and the bartender's face falls when she hears the word 'wife'.

"It's her show."

Lisa quickly adds.

"You're married to Roseanne Park-Manoban?"

The bartender inquires a little incredulously.

"I'm the Manoban part of the equation."

Lisa nods.

"No wonder you look familiar. You're in a lot of her paintings."

Lisa's cheeks acquire an undeniable reddish tint.

"I seem to be. I have no idea why she would pick those when she has better things at home."

"I got to look around a bit while we were unloading and setting up. She's good. She makes your face look just as beautiful on canvas as it does in real life."

Just as the bartender finishes her sentence and before Lisa has a chance to reply to the very brazen flirting, a pair of arms wraps around Lisa's torso.