A Sip Of Love

3

Chapter 3:

It was a Wednesday morning when Raya first realized she had slipped into a new routine. She had arrived at the coffee shop just before 9 a.m., the familiar chime of the door greeting her as it swung open. She’d come straight from a quiet, lonely apartment where the silence weighed heavily on her shoulders.

But here, in the soft warmth of the West Land coffee shop, the outside world faded away. The shop, with its rustic wooden tables and mismatched chairs, had become a kind of sanctuary for her. It wasn’t just the coffee, though it was undoubtedly perfect every time. It was the sense of peace she found in the place—how it seemed to welcome her in, just as she was, with no expectations, no judgment.

And then, there was Travis.

She hadn’t come here looking for anything, not really. She was just trying to fill the quiet spaces in her life, trying to find comfort in the little things. But somewhere along the way, she started looking forward to seeing him. Not in a way that felt overwhelming or too fast—just in the way you look forward to seeing a familiar face in the crowd. Someone who made you feel, if only for a few minutes, like things might just be okay.

“Good morning, Raya,” Travis greeted her, his voice a little lighter today, as though he was used to seeing her now, rather than simply recognizing her as a stranger.

She offered a small smile, feeling the same warmth she had grown accustomed to. “Hi, Travis.”

Her routine had become simple: coffee, then a quiet moment to breathe. Some mornings, she would bring a book to read or stare out the window, letting the rain or sunshine paint the world outside. Other days, she would simply sit and sip her cappuccino, listening to the low hum of conversations around her.

Travis had already begun to prepare her order before she even reached the counter. He was quick, moving between the espresso machine and the cash register with practiced ease, but there was a focus in his movements—an attention to detail that made her pause, watching him for a moment longer than she had intended.

As he set the cappuccino in front of her, he gave her a knowing smile. “I thought I’d change it up today. A little extra foam, just the way you like it.”

Raya blinked, momentarily taken aback. “You noticed?”

He chuckled softly. “I notice a lot of things. You’re one of our regulars now, after all.”

She felt a flutter of something in her chest, but she quickly masked it with a casual sip of her drink. Regular. She hadn’t realized how much she’d started to rely on these little visits until the word hit her in such a simple, unexpected way.

She hadn’t come looking for familiarity, but somewhere between the quiet mornings and the steady comfort of the coffee shop, it had found her.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice quieter than usual, though she tried to keep it light. “This is perfect.”

Travis smiled. “I’m glad you like it. Anything else I can do for you today?”

She hesitated. “Not right now, but... I do have a question. I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

“Ask away,” he said, wiping his hands on a towel before leaning on the counter, his expression open and easy.

Raya took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. She wasn’t sure why she was asking—maybe it was curiosity, or maybe she simply felt comfortable enough in the space to let herself wonder. “How do you know exactly how much foam to put in the cappuccino? It always feels... just right. Like you’ve got it down to a science.”

Travis looked thoughtful for a moment, and then his smile turned a little more playful. “Well, I’ve been making coffee for a long time. I pay attention to the details—like how the milk froths or the way the espresso pulls. But honestly, it’s mostly about knowing the person you're making it for. Every cup is different. You just have to listen to it.”

Raya blinked, surprised by the depth of his answer. “Listen to it?”

“Yeah,” he said, his voice quieter now, as though he was letting her in on a secret. “The way the coffee sounds when it’s being brewed, the way it smells when it's ready. You can tell a lot about what’s needed next just by paying attention. And sometimes... people are like that, too. If you listen closely enough, you start to know what they need.”

Raya felt a small shiver of something as he spoke, a flicker of understanding passing between them. She hadn’t expected such an answer—not here, not in this little coffee shop. But it made sense in a way she couldn’t quite explain. The simplicity of it, the way he connected his craft to something more.

“Well, I think you’re really good at it,” she said, the compliment slipping out before she could stop it. She felt her cheeks flush slightly, but Travis’s smile only deepened.

“Thanks,” he said softly. “I take pride in what I do.”

She nodded, her fingers absently tracing the edge of her cup. There was a quiet rhythm between them now, something unspoken but familiar. Every time she visited, she noticed something new about him. The way he greeted each customer with the same warmth, no matter how busy the shop was. The way he remembered little details—like how Mrs. Dawson liked her chai with extra cinnamon, or how Mr. Harper always ordered his espresso with a splash of oat milk. He treated everyone with the same level of kindness, as though their presence was something worth cherishing.

She admired that about him. It wasn’t the kind of thing you saw every day.

“Do you enjoy it?” she asked before she could stop herself.

“Enjoy what?”

“Making coffee. Do you like it, or is it just a job?”

Travis didn’t immediately answer. He stood there, his eyes momentarily far away, as if considering her question. When he looked back at her, his expression was softer, more introspective.

“I guess I like it,” he said after a pause. “It’s not just about the coffee, though. It’s about the people. About making something that feels like home, even if just for a little while. I’ve always been the kind of person who likes to make people feel comfortable, you know? It’s what makes the work worth it.”

Raya nodded, absorbing his words. There was something so genuine about him that made her feel like maybe, just maybe, she could let herself open up a little more. She didn’t have to explain her life, her heartbreak, her uncertainties. But in his presence, it felt easier to breathe.

The soft chime of the door interrupted their moment, and Travis gave her a brief smile before stepping back to greet the new customer.

Raya sat back in her chair, her mind still wrapped around the conversation they’d just shared. She didn’t know when, exactly, but somewhere between the warmth of the cappuccinos and the quiet connection she was beginning to feel, the coffee shop had become more than just a stop on her way through the day.

It had become a place where she was slowly learning to find herself again.