Right Where You Left Me

Chapter 10

The soft hum of conversation and the clinking of dishes filled the air in the cozy ambiance of Nathan's mother's cafe. Taylor and Nathan huddled together at a corner table, surrounded by papers, glue, and the remnants of their attempt at a project. The colorful construction paper lay scattered, awaiting their artistic touch.

Nathan, engrossed in affixing a tiny tree onto their project, couldn't help but feel a twinge of uncertainty. Taylor, however, appeared optimistic. She took a step back, assessing their work, and enthusiastically declared, "You know what, I think it looks amazing."

Nathan, trying to share Taylor's enthusiasm, joined her in examining the project. Yet, as he looked, he couldn't quite see the brilliance Taylor saw.

"You think so?" Nathan questioned, his gaze fixed on the project. Taylor nodded, seemingly pleased with their work. "Yeah, look at it," Taylor insisted, gently touching the miniature house they had just glued. However, disaster struck as the house fell apart at her touch, shattering the momentary tranquility. 

A brief silence hung in the air, only to be broken by Nathan's laughter. Taylor shot him a reproachful look, prompting him to stifle his amusement. "Stop laughing and help me!" she insisted, irritation lacing her tone.

"Alright, alright," Nathan conceded, sitting back down and offering to hold the house steady while Taylor repaired the damage. Even in the midst of a mishap, he found himself captivated by Taylor's focus, her determination to salvage their project.

"Can you hold still?" Taylor requested, placing her hand atop Nathan's to steady the delicate construction. He grinned, realizing his unintentional disturbance. "My bad," he admitted, attempting to be more cooperative.

After successfully mending the house, they turned their attention to the next task – crafting a farm. However, Taylor's phone interrupted their progress with a sudden message. Her initial exclamation of dismay turned into a realization.

"Oh, shit... I totally forgot," Taylor exclaimed, her eyes widening with guilt as she assessed the situation. Nathan, surprisingly calm, looked up inquiringly. She confessed, "I had plans with Abi, and I totally forgot."

Despite the apology etched across her face, Nathan smiled, alleviating any tension. "Go ahead, I'll finish this. I've got work soon anyways." Taylor's relief was palpable, and she hurriedly gathered her belongings, promising to make it up to Nathan.

As she left the cafe in a rush, Nathan glanced out of the window and saw Taylor on the phone, presumably with Abigail. His focus shifted back to the half-finished project before him. "I guess I'll finish this by myself. No problem at all," he reassured himself.

Little did he know, the project had other plans. What started as a hopeful attempt at creativity descended into chaos. Glue was everywhere, on Nathan's hands, on the table, even on the floor. The trees resisted adherence, and the sheep refused to stand upright. Nathan found himself amidst a sticky, disorganized mess, wondering how their once-promising project had taken such a tumultuous turn.

As Nathan persevered, struggling with each element of the project, he couldn't shake the feeling of missing Taylor's presence and her knack for turning chaos into camaraderie.

The next morning brought a hustle and bustle to Nathan's mother's cafe, with a stream of customers filling the tables, creating a lively atmosphere. Nathan, as always, was there to lend a helping hand. Balancing a plate with a delicious sandwich and two cups of Coca Cola adorned with ice cubes, he skillfully maneuvered through the crowded tables to deliver the order to table number 5.

As he made his way back to the kitchen, a thought crossed his mind. "Taylor's still not here?" he inquired, turning to his mother who was diligently washing dishes.

"No, she said she overslept and will be here as fast as possible," his mother responded, her hands immersed in soapy water.

A sigh escaped Nathan's lips. Concerned, he contemplated calling Taylor to check on her whereabouts. However, before he could reach for his phone, the cafe door swung open, and in rushed Taylor, looking disheveled and tired. It was evident she had hurried to get there.

"I'm so sorry that I'm late. I didn't hear my clock going off. I'm so, so, so sorry. I promise that this will be the last time," Taylor breathlessly apologized as she sank onto one of the bar chairs, attempting to catch her breath after the sprint.

Nathan couldn't help but smile at her, understanding that mornings were not Taylor's forte. Without a word, he fetched a cup of water, sensing she needed a moment to recuperate. "Here," he offered, handing her the drink.

"Thank you," Taylor said gratefully, taking a few sips to quench her thirst.

"You know you shouldn't make that many promises," Nathan teased gently, trying to lighten the mood.

Taylor, still catching her breath, glanced up at him. "And you shouldn't be sorry to me but my mother. She's doing your chores because you were late," Nathan revealed, a playful glint in his eyes. Taylor's eyes widened, and without wasting a moment, she darted towards the kitchen to find Nathan's mother amidst the soapy dishes.

Taylor's eyes widened in realization as she saw Nathan's mother diligently working on the dishes. Guilt crept into her expression.

I'm so sorry for being late. I'll take over now," Taylor apologized, her fatigue momentarily forgotten in the face of her tardiness.

Nathan's mother, a warm and understanding woman, smiled at Taylor. "No need to worry, dear. I just wanted to help while Nathan was serving the customers. You've had a rough morning."

Nathan, standing nearby, chimed in, "But seriously, Taylor, oversleeping and running to the cafe? You're lucky you didn't trip."

Taylor chuckled, realizing the absurdity of her morning. "Yeah, I guess luck was on my side."

Mrs. K patted Taylor's shoulder affectionately. "Just try not to make it a habit, alright?"

"I promise, Mrs. K. It won't happen again. Thank you for covering for me," Taylor said sincerely.

Nathan handed Taylor a fresh apron. "Get to work, and no more promises. Just be here on time," he teased, and Taylor playfully rolled her eyes.

The bustling sounds of the cafe continued as they all resumed their roles. Nathan returned to serving customers, his mother continued helping in the kitchen, and Taylor started attending to her responsibilities.

As Taylor moved efficiently around the cafe, there was a sense of camaraderie between her and Nathan, a silent understanding that transcended the chaos of the morning. The incident became a shared story, a humorous memory to be recounted later, fostering a sense of connection and unity in the small, bustling cafe that Nathan and his mother called home.

Im sorry for not updating i had some things to take care of but i will try to update as much as i can.