Living Happily After

18: Tavern Visit

As Violet walked out the door, she felt the warm sun and light breeze on her face. It was refreshing, she felt so warm, she gets to see her friends again - who she misses vey much.

She didn't lie to Gilbert, she did have a walk around the streets, what she didn't tell him though was that she was meeting up with someone....someone whose face she hasn't seen in years, though they haven't been that close when they met.

She quickly scurried to a familiar tavern and went inside.

"Welcome- Ms. Violet Evergarden, I see you have come to visit." Maria said, such a familiar face, but this isn't the face that Violet was meeting up with.

"How have you been, Madam Maria?" Violet said, greeting her.

"I have been well, but I haven't seen you come around around my tavern to visit, I've seen you around yet you don't visit an acquaintance." Maria said, daringly.

"I am very sorry to have not visited, I've got thoughts surrounding my mind."

Violet said, a little ashamed that she forgot to visit Ms. Maria and Eva, speaking of which- "Where is Ms. Eva, may I ask?"

"Oh, she is cleaning up a little with her parents, actually you haven't met them, have you? Do you mind if I introduce you?" Maria asked.

Violet looked unsure, she looked around and saw HE wasn't there yet so- "I don't mind, you can introduce me, I would like to meet them."

"Okay then, they're just 'round back, I'm sure Eva will be delighted to see you." Maria said, walking Violet to the back.

Violet nodded along.

"Reuben, Anne, Eva! Can you all come out, I have a guest I'd like you to meet!" Maria yelled.

Then seconds later, out came a tall middle-aged man, a pretty-looking middle-aged woman, and a teenaged girl. And then, not a second after this, out came a yell out of the teen's mouth.

"Ms. Violet! Nice to see you again!" The teenaged girl named Eva, walked towards Violet.

The middle-aged couple, who Violet assumed who can only be the teens parents.

"Hello, I'm Violet, Violet Ev-" Violet paused, then she spoke again smiling. "Bougainvillea, Violet Bougainvillea." She said, shaking both of the adults' hand.

"Well, hello and welcome to our family tavern, I'm Reuben Reid, and this is my wife, Anne, and as you might already know, my daughter, Eva, and my sister-in-law, Maria. It's very nice to meet you." Said Reuben, ever so kindly.

"It's very nice to meet you as well, Mr. and Mrs. Reuben." Violet said, bowing.

"Thank you very much, if you'd like to request a drink?" Reuben asked.

"Oh-okay then, a mug of warm tea will be nice." Said Violet, walking towards a table, sitting down.

"Okay then, I'll get that for you." Said Anne.

"And if you don't mind, I'll be carrying on." Said Reuben.

"Please continue from what you were doing then." Replied Violet.

Reuben nodded, then walked back out.

While Eva and her mother are off making coffee, Maria walked up to Violet.

"Care to chat a little?" Maria asked, asking for a seat.

"Of course, sit down." Violet answered.

When Maria sat down, an awkward silent engulfed them. Then, Maria thought of something.

"How about this, I shoot to you questions and you have to answer as much as you can." Maria proposed.

Violet hesitated before saying, "Yeah, okay."

"Okay then, what are you doing in town?"

"Mmm, visiting."

"Did you visit here with someone?"

"Yes."

"Are waiting for someone now?"

"Yes."

"Someone I know?"

"I don't think so."

"Is this someone you're meeting a man?"

"Yes."

"Is this a date?"

"What?! No."

"Then who is this person you're meeting?"

"An acquaintance I haven't seen in a long while."

"An acquaintance?"

"Yes."

"And how about this person you came with, is he a date?"

"No..."

"Oh? A friend then?"

"No, he's my husband."

"Husband? You're married? What's with no ring then?"

"Well, um..." Awkward, Violet would say.

"Welcome, how can I help you today?" Anne greeted from the counter.

"No need, I'm waiting for someone." Said a tall, black haired man.

Violet stood up. "Kousuke."