Chapter 74: Coffee Shop Confessions

Pushing open the door of The Blue Teacup, a jolt of reminiscence ran through Olivia as the familiar ring of the bell sounded. This pint-sized coffee shop—its walls filled with local artwork and the furniture purposely mismatched—had once been her and Nathan's haven. Now, it felt like neutral ground, a no-man's land between the past and present. She let her eyes roam the room until they came to rest on a familiar figure huddled in the corner over a steaming mug. Nathan glanced up, and their gazes locked across the space. Olivia felt a whirling moment of déjà vu then, as if all those intervening years had never happened. Taking a deep breath, she made her way to the table. Nathan stood as she approached, his movements awkward and uncertain. "Olivia," he whispered quietly, "thank you for coming." She nodded and slid into the seat opposite him. "I think both of us need this, Nathan. Closure, clarity, whatever." An attendant reappeared, and Olivia made an order as per the custom: a dou