Chapter 4: The Ones Who Stayed

The morning at Chapter and Brew felt different.
The usual rhythm-soft music, clinking spoons, sunlight sliding through the glass- was there, but quicker somehow, like the world had woken up a few minutes ahead of schedule.

Kaia moved faster than usual.
Her steps were sharp, her hair pinned up hastily, a strand falling near her cheek that she didn’t bother to tuck away. She adjusted the :pastries in the display, checked the time- 7:18- then glanced at the door with that familiar sigh.

Late.

“of course,” she murmured, wiping her hands on her apron. “of course, she’s late today.”

The door chimed- perfectly on cue - and in stumbled Elena, hair in a messy braid, bag slipping off her shoulder, holding a croissant in one hand and guilt in her eyes.

“I swear the bus-”

Kaia raised an eyebrow.

“-was on time,” Elena said, grinning, “but I wasn’t.”

Kaia tried to look stern, failed miserably, and turned back to the counter, ”You know, one day I’ll actually believe your stories.”

Elena hopped behind the counter, tying her apron in a hurry. “And that’ll be the day I start showing up early.”

Kaia shook her head, hiding a tiny smile. ”Not possible. The universe can’t handle that kind of shift.”

The sound of soft laughter filled the cafe, broken by the gentle creak of the back door.

“Morning girls,” came a familiar voice. Mrs. Alder stepped in, carrying a small basket of freshly cut flowers- their scent immediately softening the air. Her silver hair was loosely tied, her apron faded but clean, and her eyes - kind of knowing - landed on Kaia.

“You’re early,” she said, setting the basket on the counter. “Or…nervous?”

Kaia paused for half a second, then busied herself with refilling the sugar jars. “Just…a lot to do today.”

Mrs. Alder smiled faintly, arranging the sunflowers with slow, deliberate care. “Big days don’t announce themselves child. They just arrive.”

Kaia looked up, caught off guard. “You always say things like that.”

“Because they’re true,” Mrs. Alder said, her tone soft but sure. “And because you need to hear them.”

Elena peeked from behind the counter. “Is this another one of your magic sayings, Mrs. A? Should I write it on the board?”

“Only if you spell it right this time, ”Kaia said dryly.

Elena laughed. “Hey! ‘Latte’ and ‘Late’ look similar, okay?”

Mrs. Alder chuckled, shaking her head as she adjusted the flowers. “You two keep me young.”

Kaia moved to the small baking corner, the one bathed in a ray of sunlight that stretched across the counter. She paused there, just for a second - her favorite spot - watching the light spill over her hands. There was something peaceful about it, but today….it also felt like a reminder. Time.

She checked her watch again, 7:42.
Too early for what she wasn’t saying out loud.

From the doorway, Mrs. Alder watched her - that motherly concern wrapped in affection.
“Whatever it is you’re rushing toward, Kaia,” she said softly, ”don’t forget to breathe on the way.”

Kaia looked over her shoulder and smiled.
“I won’t, “she promised.

Outside, the street began to stir - cars, voices, a world waking up.
And just beyond the corner, a tall man was about to turn toward a cafe he didn’t mean to enter.