The old bookstore had always been my escape, but today it felt different, almost magical, as it was suffused with the rich aroma of coffee. I looked up and locked eyes with the server. He had worked at this bookstore since it opened, and his recommendations were stellar. I hadn’t spoken to him without a cash register between us. But there he stood, pouring coffee, his lips forming an invitation, his lovely hands drumming on a new stack of personalized choices fire me to peruse. Shyly, I sat beside him, while he raised the coffee cup to his lips…