Chapter 2
Harper snapped herself out of her thoughts. „I‘m sorry, I’d like a coffee and a piece of whatever cake you recommend, please.“
„I’ve got just the thing.“ The barista smiled, making Harper feel that warm, unexpected flutter in her chest. Then she walked behind the counter, preparing the order with a practiced ease.
Harper noticed she had still been wearing her sunglasses and quickly set them down. How had she not noticed? She didn’t want to fall into that stereotype the rich, aloof type. A few moments later, the woman returned with a steaming cup of coffee and a piece of cake that looked as delicious as it smelled.
„Thank you“ Harper said, her smile polite but not quite reaching her eyes. „You’ve got good taste.“
„You’re welcome.“ The barista’s tone was light as she turned to assist another customer. Harper hesitated, considering for a moment whether she should ask for her name or maybe invite her to sit down, but quickly dismissed the thought. Her thoughts drifted back to Ethan, and she frowned. If someone like him didn’t seem interested, why would someone as pretty as her?
The cake was wonderful, rich with just the right balance of sweetness. She told herself she would come back for it, not for the barista. But that didn’t even convince herself.
Harper found herself sipping her coffee, her gaze unfocused as she stared out the window. She didn’t notice the barista occasionally glancing in her direction.
Once Harper finished, she gathered her things and glanced toward the counter. The barista was chatting with another customer, her voice light and easy, and Harper felt a flicker of something, maybe just curiosity.
Harper approached the counter to pay, placing the empty coffee cup and cake plate down. The barista looked up with a smile.
„How was everything?“ she asked, a hint of genuine curiosity in her voice.
„Perfect,“ Harper replied, offering a polite smile as she dug into her purse for her wallet. „The cake was amazing. I’ll definitely be back for it.“
„Glad you liked it,“ the barista said, her smile lingering as she rang up the total. Harper handed over her card, the familiar motion of paying bringing her back to the present.
The barista swiped the card and handed it back with a soft, „Have a great day.“
„Thanks, you too,“ Harper said, giving her one last, fleeting smile before turning to leave. As she stepped back into the cool air, a wave of quiet exhaustion washed over her. The town bustled around her, but for a moment, it felt like she was walking in slow motion. She put her sunglasses back on, a barrier between her and the crowd of people.
She made her way to the nearest grocery store, getting everything she needed for the next few days, then she headed home.
Harper placed her purse on the counter and opened the fridge, reaching for a bottle of water. As the cool liquid slipped down her throat, she leaned against the counter, staring blankly at the wall. The day had been uneventful, but something about it had stirred something within her. She hadn’t quite figured out what that something was yet.
Closing her eyes, Harper tried to shake off the feeling of longing that seemed to hang in the air. „Get it together,“ she murmured softly, though she wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince. Who would’ve thought a divorce could leave her feeling so miserable?
Harper woke up with a pounding headache, her mind foggy and slow to catch up with the reality of the morning. She had drunk a glass of wine while watching a movie. Or had it been two? Maybe even more? The lingering taste of it on her tongue told her the answer. She swayed slightly as she pushed herself up from the bed, and the dull ache in her head intensified with every movement. Based on the way she struggled to steady herself, she suspected it had been more. The empty bottle of red wine on the living room table confirmed it.
Harper groaned, throwing on a thin dress that clung to her body, a loose, comfortable thing that felt both too warm and too light for the sunny day. She grabbed her sunglasses from the coffee table and slipped them on, hoping they would shield her from both the harsh sunlight and the throbbing headache.
She had to get out of the house. She needed something, anything to distract her. The café. She had been there yesterday, and the thought of the friendly barista made her stomach flutter, though she couldn’t pinpoint why. Maybe a little company would do her good.
As she stepped outside, the sunlight hit her like a hammer. The headache was worse than she had anticipated, and she squinted, forcing herself to keep her eyes open. The world around her seemed too bright, too loud. Each step felt like a deliberate effort, but she pushed through, focusing on the sound of her feet on the pavement and the anticipation of the café’s familiar warmth. A warmth she desperately craved.
When she arrived, the door chimes tinkled softly as she stepped inside, the cool air of the café offering some relief from the heat. She made her way to the corner seat she had claimed yesterday, the one that felt just right, like it was waiting for her. She sank into the chair with a sigh of relief, her body grateful for the rest.
Before she could even begin scanning the café for the barista, she heard her voice, soft and bright. „You’re back.“
Harper blinked and looked up, momentarily dazzled by the woman’s smile. She pulled off her sunglasses, offering a tired, but genuine smile in return. „I am. I’ll have a coffee,“ she said, her voice rough from the remnants of too much wine and too little sleep. She could tell the barista noticed, her gaze flicking to Harper’s face with a look of concern.
„Rough night?“ the barista asked, her tone laced with sympathy. She leaned forward slightly, her eyes soft and understanding.
Harper chuckled dryly, running a hand through her messy hair, the words leaving her lips with more amusement than she felt. „Not really. I emptied a bottle of wine,“ she confessed, shaking her head at her own ridiculous behaviour.
The barista raised an eyebrow, a surprised look crossing her face for a brief moment before a smile spread across her features. „Want me to keep you company while you drink it? My shift hasn’t started yet.“
Harper leaned back in her chair, taking a deep breath. The atmosphere of the café, calm and cozy, felt like a small refuge from the chaos of her thoughts. She glanced up at the barista, who was still smiling at her with that easy, unhurried warmth. Something about it made Harper feel more at ease.
„You don’t have to,“ Harper said, half-seriously, half-joking. „I’m not that much of a mess. But if you’re offering.“ She definitely was that much of a mess.
The barista laughed softly, „I wouldn’t offer if I didn‘t mean it.“ She paused, tilting her head slightly, her gaze thoughtful. „Besides, I think it’s good to have someone to talk to when you’re having one of those mornings.“
Harper met her eyes and let out a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of her neck. „Well, you caught me at a rough time,“ she admitted, feeling a bit self-conscious. „But I guess it’s nice to be around someone who doesn’t seem to be in a rush.“ She glanced at the barista’s nametag. „What’s your name, by the way?“
„I’m Sam.“
„Harper,“ she replied, feeling the smallest flicker of something, relief, maybe, or just the warmth of not being completely alone in this mess.
Sam nodded sympathetically, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. „I get it. We all have those days. You know, the kind where you wonder how much wine is too much wine?“ she said, her voice light but knowing.
Harper chuckled, rubbing her temples. „Exactly. And then you wake up, wondering who let you do that to yourself.“
Sam smiled softly, her eyes sparkling with unspoken understanding. „Hey, at least you made it here. And you’re talking to me, so you’re doing better than some.“
Harper felt a warmth spread through her chest. It was rare, these days, to meet someone who didn’t judge her for her occasional reckless decisions or the mess of her life. It was a comfort, a small gift in the midst of the fog.
„Thanks,“ Harper said, smiling genuinely for the first time today. „I think it’s easy to feel like you’re the only one screwing things up. But I guess everyone has those days.“ Except she was the only one responsible for how her life had changed. She just wasn’t enough.
„Yeah,“ Sam agreed softly, taking a step back toward the counter. „I think the trick is knowing when to stop pretending everything’s fine. You’re allowed to have a mess of a day. Or week. Or month, if that’s what it takes.“
Harper blinked at her, surprised by the softness in her tone. It wasn’t often someone was so real with her, not since the divorce. Her family hadn’t understood nor had her friends, but she had felt too embarrassed to tell them that Ethan simply didn’t want her anymore.
„That’s kind of refreshing to hear,“ Harper said quietly. „Most people just keep going, pretending everything’s fine, you know?“
Sam shrugged as she began preparing the coffee. „It’s easy to fall into that trap, especially when everyone around you acts like they have it all together.“ She glanced over her shoulder at Harper, her eyes catching the light as she smiled again. „But really, who‘s got it all figured out?“
Harper laughed softly, the tension in her shoulders starting to ease. Daphne and Cameron had it more figured out then she had, though at the beginning she had thought the opposite.
Sam slid the cup of coffee in front of Harper, her fingers brushing lightly against hers. „Here you go. On the house, call it a new-friends discount.“
Harper raised an eyebrow, taken aback by the gesture. „You’re serious?“ It wasn’t about the money, but the fact that Sam had just announced herself as her new friend.
„Absolutely. I mean, you’re here, I’m here. I think that’s the start of something, don’t you?“ Sam said, a playful glint in her eye.
Harper blinked, processing the lighthearted but meaningful tone. She took the coffee, feeling the warmth seep into her hands, and nodded slowly. „Well, if you’re offering, I’m not going to argue.“
The two sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the café filling with the usual morning hum of conversations and clinking cups. Harper took a sip of her coffee, letting the bitterness clear away the lingering taste of wine from her mouth.
„So, what do you do when you’re not selling coffee?“ Harper asked, curious, her mind turning toward a more normal, less emotionally charged conversation.
Sam shrugged, her smile never wavering. „Oh, you know, the usual, work, try to get a few hours of sleep in between. But I’m actually dabbling in acting, in my free time.“
„An actress?“ Harper repeated, intrigued. „Like in television or something?“
„Yeah.“ Sam said, her voice lighting up. „But I haven’t gotten any big roles yet. Right now I‘m performing in a play. What about you? What do you do when you’re not, well, trying to survive a hangover?“
Harper chuckled, the humor feeling more genuine now. „I‘m a lawyer.“
Sam looked impressed. „That‘s lovely. But if you need some more colour in your life, you’re welcome to come see my play this weekend.“
Harper felt something shift something small but significant. It wasn’t just about the coffee or the casual conversation. It was the connection, the feeling that maybe, just maybe, she had found someone who understood the messy, imperfect parts of life, and who didn’t shy away from them.
„Maybe I’ll take you up on that,“ Harper said, smiling for real this time. „I could use a distraction.“
„Anytime,“ Sam replied. „And hey, you don’t have to drink wine alone next time. I’ll be here.“
Harper couldn’t help but laugh, feeling lighter than she had in days. „Deal.“
As the morning sun streamed through the windows, the two women sat together in the corner of the café, the beginning of an easy friendship taking shape”one laugh, one coffee, and one shared, imperfect moment at a time.