Page 2 of Soulmates and Slapshots (Love in Maple Falls #6)

FIONA

I t’s so quiet in this town, which feels beyond strange to me.

Then again, anything would seem quieter after living in the constant, chaotic energy of Manhattan.

The stillness wraps around me like a thick, comforting blanket, and for the first time in forever, I can hear myself think. Which might be a scary thing.

I step out onto the porch of my aunt’s cottage, pulling my sweater around me as I take in the view.

Endless miles of trees stretch out before me, a mix of greens and golds moving in the crisp morning breeze.

The sight is so breathtaking, it almost feels like I’m dreaming.

I hadn’t realized how badly my soul needed this until now.

I guess a part of me has been craving wide open spaces, clean air, and the simple beauty of nature.

The change of scenery will hopefully do me good.

The last few months have been brutal, the type that can change a person.

Between the painful collapse of my relationship and some unexpected upheaval at work, it’s been one hit after another.

I guess you could say I ran away from my problems. Yes, very cliché.

The big city girl escaping to a small town to find herself again.

I probably sound like the main character in a Hallmark movie.

And no judgment from me because I love Hallmark movies.

Anyway, I made it. I’m standing on the back porch of my aunt Denise’s cottage in Maple Falls, Washington. And it really does feel like I’m in an alternate universe.

Aunt Denise (Aunt Dee to me) is the concierge at the Hawk River Lodge, the town’s rustic inn.

She’s built a life here that she absolutely adores, something I admire more than I can put into words.

Honestly, I owe her so much for inviting me to stay for a while.

At first, I brushed off her offer, convinced I could handle the unexpected events of my life on my own.

But it didn’t take long before pure exhaustion took over and I gave up my stubborn pride.

“Isn’t it the most picture-perfect view?” Aunt Dee’s voice calls from behind me.

I turn to see her stepping onto the porch, with two coffee cups. She moves beside me, offering me one of them.

“You should get out and explore today,” she adds, nudging me gently with her elbow. “The sooner you immerse yourself in the town, the sooner you’ll feel at home. You could shop downtown and stroll through the farmers market…”

“I will,” I reply, taking the cup from her. I arrived late last night, so tired from my cross-country travel, and haven’t seen much beyond the dark winding road that led the rideshare driver here. “Thanks so much for everything. I really think this time away will do me some good.”

She waves off my thanks like it’s nothing. “I understand what you’re going through, sweetie. I came here searching for something, and I never left.”

I laugh lightly, but deep down, I can’t imagine myself staying here permanently. Surely, this is just a temporary escape, a break before I figure out my next move.

“Trust me,” Aunt Dee says with a wink. “Maple Falls leaves a lasting impression on everyone. Our town slogan is ‘You’ll never want to leave’ - sounds like leaf.’ Get it?”

I giggle. “I get it. And I’m looking forward to checking out the town. It sounds like a magical place.”

For a moment, a flicker of worry flashes across her face. Did I say something wrong?

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

She hesitates, then nods. “Oh, it’s nothing major. Just some town politics. And you know how some people can be; they like making a big deal out of nonsense. Believe it or not, we have some drama going on within the town right now.”

“Ohhh, a small-town scandal? Now that sounds interesting,” I tease.

She chuckles. “You have no idea. They even called an emergency town council meeting which doesn’t happen often. I’ll fill you in on all the details later.”

“Yes, I’m curious.”

“Okay, I’ll be at the lodge all day, but stop by anytime and I’ll give you the grand tour. And on a more positive note—the big news in town is the upcoming Ice Breakers season.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Ice Breakers?”

“They are Maple Falls’ very own hockey team,” she says, practically squealing with excitement.

I nod. “Oh, that’s right. My dad mentioned something about a team being here.”

She scoffs dramatically. “They are not just a team. They are the team . The Ice Breakers are the pride of Maple Falls, and let me tell you…” She leans in closer. “Some of those players are very easy on the eyes. ”

In this moment I notice for the first time that she’s wearing tiny hockey puck earrings. I stifle a laugh. Who knew Aunt Dee would be a hockey superfan. Good for her—everyone needs something that brings them joy.

“Honestly you came here at the best time,” she continues, adjusting the sleeves of her fitted blazer. “There’s nothing quite like fall in Maple Falls . The crisp air, the leaves changing—it’s like the whole town comes alive. Plus we have hockey.”

Wow, is hockey that big of a deal here? I’ve seen a few games back in New York, but I don’t follow it regularly. Seeing my aunt get so excited about a sport is interesting. Although she’s always been a bit of a wild card.

I sip my coffee and smile. “Well that all sounds amazing, I can’t wait to see the town. I’ve always loved fall in Central Park.”

She shakes her head, making her chin-length bob move. “Oh please, Central Park has nothing on Maple Falls. You’ll see what I mean.”

I laugh. “If you say so.”

“Alright, I’m off. Enjoy your first day.” With a final wave, she disappears through the front door, humming a cheerful tune under her breath.

Aunt Dee has always been the spunky, energetic, cool aunt.

She’s my dad’s older sister and has quite the story.

She dropped out of college to run off and marry a drummer named Skip.

Supposedly they only knew each other a few weeks and that was all she needed to leave her life behind.

The band went on and had some success playing venues up and down the West Coast. Aunt Dee and Skip divorced after several years, and that’s when she came to Maple Falls.

I only met her ex-husband a few times, and all I remember is he had long curly hair, and he’d give my brother and me twenty dollars when we saw him.

Naturally that made him the coolest uncle ever. We were bummed when they split.

I sink into one of the cushioned armchairs on the porch, hugging my coffee close to my chest. A cool breeze flutters the hem of my sweater, and the sounds of the trees rustling and birds chirping fill the air around me.

It’s like one of those relaxation apps I listen to at night—except now, it’s real life.

I take some time to soak it up, which feels strange.

For the first time in as long as I can remember, I’m not rushing off somewhere, not cramming breakfast into my mouth while sprinting to catch my train, not juggling endless notifications on my phone.

Here, the world moves slower, and maybe that’s exactly what I need.

Still it feels unnatural for me. I’ve always been someone who thrives on being busy.

I will literally judge myself by how productive or non-productive my days are.

This is something I need to work on while I’m here.

I prop my feet up on the wooden table, pull out my phone, and snap a photo of the view.

The vibrant colors of the beginning of fall are spreading out in every direction, and it’s breathtaking.

I manage to ignore the few notifications on my screen.

I’m not going off the grid or anything, but this is my first day of trying to be more present without a packed schedule or to do list.

I send the photo to my best friend, Hayley, with a quick text.

Made it to Maple Falls. Here’s my current view. Jealous? A few seconds later, my phone buzzes with her reply.

Wow. That’s a lot of…nature. I still think you should’ve gone on a cruise or the islands for your getaway.

She follows up with another text filled with beach and palm tree emojis.

I chuckle under my breath. That’s a typical Hayley response. She’s even more of a city girl than I am, born and raised in Manhattan, and allergic to anything that doesn’t involve concrete and tall buildings. I grin as I type a reply.

So much fresh air. And so many birds chirping, it’s very peaceful. You need to come visit. It’ll be good for you to get out of the city.

Still smiling, I lean back in the chair and close my eyes for a moment, breathing in the fresh, pine-scented air.

Maybe this little town has more to offer than I thought.

A getaway, plus time to clear my mind and ground myself.

Especially because things back in Manhattan are very tumultuous right now.

The publishing company I work for is going through a reorganization—so there’s a lot of uncertainty there.

I’ve had a few new job offers, but I haven’t made any decisions.

Although, the work situation was nothing compared to the humiliation of thinking my now ex-boyfriend, Joshua, was going to propose to me but instead announced he thought we needed a break.

It was like a scene in a movie—think Legally Blonde .

And like the saying goes, a breakup wasn’t on my bingo card for this year.

Two years together, planning a future and I honestly didn’t see it coming.

Maybe I was ignoring the signs of us growing apart.

Joshua and I are both very career-oriented, but it always worked for us.

I truly believed we were both in the same place.

Anyway, all the chaos went down within the past month, and now I’m in Maple Falls.

My phone suddenly buzzes a few times back-to-back. Clearly Hayley is on a roll.

Visit?

Wait. How long are you planning on staying there?