Heather hurried towards the dark blue SUV parked a short distance from the school entrance. As she slid into the passenger seat, she turned to Rhys, a playful curiosity in her voice. "Don't you have any schedule for today?"
Rhys met her gaze, a warm smile spreading across his face. "I asked for a leave for today," he replied, his voice laced with a hint of mischief.
"Oh, cool," Heather said, a wave of surprise and appreciation washing over her. She buckled her seatbelt, a sense of anticipation building within her.
With a smooth purr, the car pulled away from the curb, blending into the flow of traffic. Heather, initially engrossed in her phone, looked up after a few minutes, noticing they weren't heading towards her condominium. "Where are we going?" she asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"Aunt Maggie called me earlier," Rhys explained, his eyes fixed on the road. "She made a reservation at Ember & Ivory for dinner, as a celebration."
"Celebration?" Heather asked skeptically, her voice laced with doubt. "But we're not even sure if I passed the board exam."
Rhys chuckled, a reassuring warmth in his eyes. "I'm sure you'll pass, baby," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "I know how hard you studied for this exam. And once the results are out, then that's another celebration."
"Wow," Heather said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Even I'm not that confident. But thanks for believing in me."
The rest of the drive was filled with comfortable silence, punctuated by occasional snippets of conversation. After about ten minutes, they arrived at their destination. Ember & Ivory, nestled on the outskirts of Garnet City, exuded an air of secluded elegance.
As they stepped out of the car, Heather stretched her limbs, taking in the serene surroundings. The restaurant's sign, a small, hand-carved plaque of dark wood inlaid with a sliver of polished ivory, was subtly elegant, barely visible from the road.
A winding stone path, illuminated by discreet, lantern-like fixtures casting a warm, amber glow, led them deeper into the embrace of the surrounding trees. The restaurant itself was a low, elegant structure, crafted from dark, polished timber and pale, almost luminous stone, reminiscent of an ancient, enchanted tree.
Floor-to-ceiling windows offered tantalizing glimpses of soft, golden light and hushed, reverent conversation. The sounds of the forest—the rustling leaves, the distant murmur of a stream, the occasional chirp of an unseen bird—created a soothing symphony, harmonizing with the gentle, almost imperceptible music drifting from within.
Inside, the air was a tapestry of delicate aromas, a symphony of herbs and spices, roasting meats, and subtly sweet desserts. The open kitchen, a stage for culinary artistry, glowed with the warm, flickering "ember" of the cooking fires, a stark contrast to the pristine "ivory" of the meticulously arranged fine porcelain plates.
As they entered, a male staff member greeted them with a courteous bow. "Good evening, sir, miss. Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes," Heather replied. "It should be under Marjorie or Anthony Go."
The staff member consulted his tablet, his fingers scrolling through the list of reservations. "Ah, yes. Mr. and Mrs. Go are already inside. Please, allow me to escort you to them."
He led them through the elegantly appointed dining area, where Heather noticed a few of the other guests casting curious glances in their direction. Some were blatantly staring, their eyes wide with recognition, while others attempted a more discreet form of observation.
Unaccustomed to such attention, Heather felt a wave of unease wash over her. She tried to ignore the stares, focusing on following the staff member.
Rhys, sensing her discomfort, leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Heather replied, her voice barely a whisper. "Just noticed a few people staring at us."
Understanding, Rhys simply nodded, his eyes conveying a silent reassurance. "Just ignore them," he advised gently.
"Here we are," the staff member announced, stopping before a closed door. He bowed slightly and then retreated, leaving them in front of the private dining room.
Heather and Rhys entered, greeted by the warm smiles of Marjorie and Anthony. "Heather, Rhys, you're here!" Marjorie exclaimed, rising from her seat to embrace them both, planting affectionate kisses on their cheeks.
"Hey, auntie," Heather replied, returning the hug. She then leaned in to kiss Anthony on the cheek. "Hi, uncle."
"Heather, congratulations on finishing the board exams," Anthony said, his voice filled with genuine warmth.
"Thank you," Heather replied, her smile widening. She then turned her attention to her nephew, Dave, who was perched in a high chair. "And who is this little gentleman here?" she cooed, lifting him from the chair and showering him with kisses and hugs. "Oh, I missed you, baby."
Dave giggled, his small hands reaching for her face. "Heda! Tickles!"
Heather hugged him once more before placing him back in the high chair and taking her own seat.
"We already ordered, and we're just waiting for the food to be served," Marjorie announced.
"Oh, cool," Heather replied, her gaze sweeping across the elegant dining room. "So, how did you find this place?"
"Oh, I was watching TV the other day, and this restaurant was featured on a show," Marjorie explained. "It's a reservation-only type of place, and I called them. They were fully booked today, but someone canceled their reservation, so we got this slot."
"Wow, how lucky are we that the cancellation coincided with the day after my exam," Heather said, her voice filled with a mixture of surprise and gratitude.
"I know, right?" Marjorie replied, her eyes twinkling with delight.