#Chapter 74: Reminiscence and Reconciliation

Nathan The tension of the earlier encounter with the waitress was still raw, and I felt a gnawing guilt in my chest as Olivia listlessly picked at her newly served pancakes. That bitter taste of regret continued to gnaw at me even as we left the diner after finishing our meal. Olivia's subdued demeanor cast a heavy cloud over what should have been an ordinary breakfast. I knew I had to bring back that spark in her eyes. A cheerful conversation was my ammunition. “Olivia,” I ventured as I guided the car around the curves in the road, trying to think of something to lighten the mood that we had so carefully cultivated before the incident at breakfast, “do you remember our ‘great expedition’ through the Sullivan forest?” Her brows knit together in thought for a few moments before her eyes lit up. “The one where we got lost for hours?” She chuckled softly, shaking her head. “You were so adamant that we were going in the right direction.” “And you kept insisting we fo