Page 17 of Fake-Off with Fate (Love in Maple Falls #1)
ASHLYN
The first thing I do when I get to the library is to search out old maps of Maple Falls.
I need to find out exactly where Victor MacDonald’s property was located.
As I spread the first drawing out on an old walnut table, my knee strikes something sticky.
Gross. I wonder how much gum has been stuck to the underside over the years.
Maybe as acting mayor I can assign the task of cleaning off old gum to people who get caught littering. Or better yet, to Phillip.
Forcing myself to refocus, I scan the first map. According to the key on the copy of the original settlement boundaries map, everything marked in blue belonged to Victor MacDonald. My heart sinks into the pit of my stomach like a lead weight when I see blue everywhere.
Consulting a copy of Maple Falls’ most recent map, I learn what property is at risk.
An audible gasp escapes me when I see that it encompasses a large amount of Main Street, as well as the arena.
Of less importance to the town, but of great importance to everyone on my parents’ street, the preserve behind a lot of our homes is also under threat. This is so, so bad.
Taking both maps up to the librarian I ask him to please make copies for me. Once I have them, I go to my car and call Phillip. He doesn’t answer his phone, which I can only take to mean that he doesn’t want to talk to me. That makes two of us, buddy.
I call Marcy next. Before she can say anything, I blurt out, “It’s worse than we thought, Marcy.”
“How bad is it?” she sounds nervous.
“Victor MacDonald owned the land the arena is on, as well as a big part of Main Street.”
“No!”
“I’m guessing his heir knows this and he’s going to play hardball. I mean, why wouldn’t he?”
“Do you have an emergency meeting called yet?”
“I asked my dad’s assistant to do it, but the guy hates me. I’m not overly optimistic he’s going to make it happen.” I slump back against the driver’s seat and start to seriously consider calling my dad.
“I’ll do it,” Marcy says. “I have all the names and numbers of the council members. I’ll set the meeting for tomorrow afternoon.”
I exhale loudly. “I’m sure everyone will love being called in on a Sunday.”
“At least most of them should be able to make it,” Marcy says. “Are you sure you don’t want to call your dad?”
“I’d like to see if I can’t handle this before I do.”
“I’ll make the meeting for two o’clock. That way stomachs will be full, and hopefully brains will be ready to come up with some great ideas.”
“Where does the town council meet?”
“There’s a room on the first floor of Town Hall,” she tells me. That makes sense even though I envisioned it in a quaint building in the middle of town like they used in that old television series, Gilmore Girls.
After hanging up with Marcy, I look at the clock. It’s nearly eleven, so instead of driving my dad’s car to the office, I text Phillip from his phone.
Mayor Thompkins
I’m taking the day off to spend with Mrs. Thompkins. Don’t worry about setting up the emergency meeting, Marcy Fontaine is taking care of that.
The ellipses appear immediately. So the little sneak was avoiding me.
Phillip
Sir, I was going to set up the meeting as soon as I spoke to you. Your daughter wouldn’t tell me what it’s about.
Mayor Thompkins
Don’t worry about it, Phillip. Ashlyn is on it.
Phillip
But, sir …
I don’t bother responding. I figure the less I pretend to be my dad, the better. It’s bad enough I’ll have to host the meeting tomorrow without the actual mayor being present, but I’ll come up with some excuse.
Before I leave the library parking lot, I get another text. This time it’s from Jamie Hayes.
Jamie
I’m done at the rink. Is the offer to show me around town still open?
Shoot, I forgot about that. I suppose the good news is that Jamie knows what’s going on with Victor MacDonald’s land so he can help me brainstorm.
Me
How about if we meet at the farmers’ market? It’s at the park at the edge of town.
Jamie
That’s not very specific. Isn’t there an address or something?
Me
Just follow the crowd.
Jamie
Are you serious?
Me
Jamie, this is Maple Falls, not New York. Trust me, you really can’t miss it.
On the way to the market, the gravity of what’s happening hits me. My hometown is in serious jeopardy. I’m just grateful my dad will be home next week, and he’ll be able to take over. All I have to do is get the ball rolling and then I can go back to LA and my own life.
The parking lot around the farmers’ market is packed, so I have to park a good distance from the entrance.
I see several people I know on the way in.
Some of them I simply wave to, but others, like Bailey, I stop to chat with.
I’m also eyeing her delicious-looking maple butter products she’s carrying in for her booth.
When I finally arrive at the entrance, I spot Jamie waiting for me. He’s talking to two young boys that I don’t know. Hurrying to his side, I tell him, “Sorry it took me so long. I bumped into half the town in the parking lot.”
“No worries,” he says before turning his attention back to the boys. “I’ll be looking for you two at the arena, okay?” They nod enthusiastically before running away. “Two of Troy Hart’s boys,” he tells me.
Before we can walk in, a woman about my age runs over to us. I’m half-convinced she’s going to hit us bowling-ball style, but she slows down at the last minute. “Jamie!” she calls out.
The look on my new friend’s face suggests she’s someone he’s not happy to see. “A fan?” I guess. The interloper arrives before he can answer.
“Emily,” he says to her. “What are you doing here?”
“I followed you from the arena.” Hmm, maybe she’s a stalker.
“I wish you wouldn’t have.” He steps in front of me like he’s trying to shield me.
The woman looks around him right at me and asks, “Ashlyn?”
“Do I know you?” Just because I don’t recognize her doesn’t mean we didn’t go to school together or something. People do change.
She looks so happy, I’m convinced we must have been best friends at some point. “You’re Ashlyn, right?” she repeats.
I step around Jamie and tell her, “Ashlyn Thompkins. Did you go to Maple Falls High?”
She shakes her head. “I’m a reporter for Hockey magazine. I have a couple of questions for you, if you don’t mind.”
How in the world did the press get ahold of the Victor MacDonald story already? I’ve only known about it for a day. “Did Alexander MacDonald contact you?” I ask, sounding a bit more hostile than I intended.
“Who’s that?” she asks.
Well, if she doesn’t know, I’m sure as heck not going to tell her. “No one,” I mumble before asking, “What could you possibly want to talk to me about?”
“Jamie Hayes,” she says excitedly.
The color drains from Jamie’s face. “Please, Emily, I told you I’m not ready to talk about this publicly yet.”
“That doesn’t mean Ashlyn isn’t,” she says with a near-maniacal grin on her face.
My head swivels between the two of them. “Ready to talk about what?”
Jamie agitatedly says, “Nothing. There’s nothing to talk about.”
At the same time, Emily states, “I want to ask you about your relationship with Jamie. He claims he’s not ready to share that you’re his new girlfriend, but seeing as you’re standing right here, I figure you might have something you’d like to say.”
“His new what, now?” I want to know.
“His new girlfriend,” she repeats.
“I’m not his …” before I can say “girlfriend,” Jamie takes my arm and starts to pull me away from her.
Then he says loudly, “Come on, honey. You don’t need to talk to the press. Our relationship is none of their business.”
What in the world is he talking about?