Maddy's heart is beating a little more erratically than usual as she opens the door of Coffee Club. She tries to convince herself it's because she's walked faster than usual.

And the walking faster than usual was because there's still a bite in the spring wind that's whistling through the trees.

Not because she's eager to be here, sat in a chair opposite a guy whose eyes sparkle like diamonds. A guy who checks out classics from the library and smells like coffee and cinnamon. A guy called Tristan, whose name, since she had found it out on Friday, has painted the inside of her head until it's all she can think.

Because that would be absurd.

She glances over, breathless, and grins when she spots him already in place. It's just a fleeting glance, but it has her both soothed and giddy all at once.

She moves to the counter, smiling softly at the barista, but instead of making her order, he simply shakes his head.

Maddy frowns.

"Someone's beaten you to it." He says gently, nodding to her right.

Maddy turns slowly, glancing at their table, and realises he's right. There are three mugs on the table, instead of two.

She can see the soft dusting of cinnamon, the rich brown hues winking at her atop the creamy white foam. Her heart thuds unevenly inside her chest.

"Oh, thank you." Maddy says and Jerome laughs.

"Don't thank me." He says and she feels her cheeks burn brightly.

"Thank you for making them." She corrects and he smiles fondly at her.

"Don't let it get cold." He orders, effectively shooing her away. His eyes are twinkling and while he moves away, he doesn't look away. It makes her nervous, but she knows she can't put it off any longer.

She clutches her tote bag closer, feeling awkward without a coffee cup to balance, and slides into her seat gently. Her stranger looks up as she does, meeting her eyes. He looks watchful, perhaps even nervous, his expression completely blank. Her warm smile seems to thaw his unreadable expression, as after a moment his lips lift in a tentative smile.

He marks his page, placing his book down before sliding the second mug towards Maddy.

Her smile evolves into something more, her fingers curling around it gratefully. Coffee Club is busy today, but as she looks up again and meets his eyes, which are a glittering storm, and the warm smile on his face, the room feels very quiet.

Her world, which has only just begun to turn once more, slows again, but this time she's so grateful for it. It could be just the two of them sat here. In fact, very often it feels that it is, and she's not ready to lose that feeling just yet.

"Thank you." She says.

Her voice is so soft, almost lost to the noise around them, but he nods. She can feel the blush dancing on her cheeks, and notices the curl of his fingers around a book that she is so fond of.

"Are you enjoying it?" She asks.

The question had slipped out without her permission, in a conversational way that only a book could induce, but she's glad it did. He glances at the book and nods almost immediately. He takes a moment to consider, but once he begins talking, the words come easily.

They recognise familiar territory, safe conversational ground, and from there things flow naturally. His voice grows stronger as her opinions become bolder. Laughter, which at first is stifled, soon bounces freely around the four walls of the cafe.

As the sun begins to set, two strangers become something more, and there's a palpable magic in the air. Magic that can only be found at dusk, in illimitable moments of transition.

And for the first time in a long time, Maddy feels something aside from grief in this place that she loves so much.