Page 59 of The Cinnamon Spice Inn (Maple Falls #1)

FIFTY-TWO

MADISON

This sucks , Madison thought as she stared around the inn’s lobby. The fall sunlight streamed in through the front doors, casting a welcoming glow over the newly polished floors. Everything was perfect—except her. She was a mess.

“What’s that frown for?” Kit asked, walking briskly through the lobby, her arms full with a crate of butternut squash she was planning to turn into soup.

Madison blinked, startled out of her thoughts. “What?”

Kit set the crate onto the front desk with a soft thud. “Your face. You’re doing that thing again where your eyebrows scrunch up like you’re solving a murder mystery.”

Madison attempted a smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“The inn looks great,” Kit said, gesturing around the lobby. “I mean, really great. Zach did an amazing job.”

She wasn’t wrong. The place had come together better than Madison could’ve hoped.

The dining room glowed with new light fixtures, the walls had been painted a cozy sage green, and the fireplace had fresh tilework that somehow made the whole room feel more alive.

It looked like a real inn again. Like it was ready for the next chapter.

Madison nodded, her throat tight. Zach had done all of that, and she’d barely seen him the past four days. No phone calls. No text messages. No casual drop-ins or jokes about her caffeine addiction. Just… silence.

And she deserved it.

She tried to tell herself that it was easier this way. She could keep her mind on the inn’s relaunch and postpone their conversation until that was over.

But even though she tried to stay focused, it hurt. Every inch of this place had his fingerprints on it—his hard work, his care.

Her chest squeezed.

Hopefully, when they talked, he would understand.

Hopefully, Madison would forgive herself someday.

Madison realized that Kit was still staring at her. “No, everything’s fine. I’m just lost in my thoughts. Thinking about New York.”

Kit gave her a long look. “You leave next week, right?”

Madison shook her head. “Thursday.” She fiddled with a pen on the desk. “Grand reopening is Wednesday. I’ll leave the next morning.”

Kit leaned on the edge of the desk. “I’m really going to miss you, you know. You’re going to come back this time, right? Pop in for a visit every now and then?”

Madison forced a smile. “Of course! I’ll be back.”

But even she didn’t believe it.

Madison stood there a moment longer after Kit headed back to the kitchen. The quiet hum of the inn filled the space—the tick of the front desk clock, the faint rustle of the trees outside, the clink of dishes coming from the kitchen.

She needed air. She grabbed her sweater off the coat rack and slipped her arms into the sleeves, stuffing her phone into her pocket without checking it. A walk. That’s all she needed. Just a little space to clear her head and remind herself why she was doing all this in the first place.

Downtown Maple Falls had fully embraced Halloween.

Shop windows were strung with orange twinkle lights and faux cobwebs, and plastic bats fluttered on thin wires whenever the breeze picked up.

A skeleton dressed as a barista leaned against the café’s door with a tiny pumpkin spiced latte in its bony hand.

As Madison walked past the bookstore, the familiar chime of the chocolatier’s bell caught her attention.

The door swung open, and out stepped Gram, bundled in her cranberry wool coat, holding a white box tied with black-and-orange striped ribbon.

Right behind her was none other than Mayor Bloomfield, happily munching on a chocolate-dipped cookie.

“Well, if it isn’t our favorite innkeeper,” he teased, brushing cookie crumbs off his sweater vest. “Come to get into the Halloween spirit?”

“Something like that,” Madison replied half-heartedly.

Gram raised an eyebrow, her gaze narrowing just slightly. “She’s got that look again,” she said to the mayor. “Come on inside. Rita’s got a new truffle that might fix whatever that face is about.”

Madison didn’t protest. She followed them through the door, letting the aroma of chocolate, caramel, and just a hint of peanut butter wrap around her.

“Back so soon?” Rita asked, coming around the counter.

“I think Madison could use a couple of those new truffles of yours,” Gram said knowingly. “Can we buy a few more?”

“No need. These ones are on the house. I need a few more taste testers to tell me what they think. Do you mind?” Rita directed the question to Madison.

“Not at all.” Madison stepped forward.

Rita opened the display case and placed a chocolate square on a white napkin before handing it over. “It’s a s’mores truffle.”

“S’mores truffle?” Madison had had plenty of s’mores before when they’d had bonfires down by the lake in the summer, but she had never had one in a bite-sized chocolate.

“They’re made with a graham cracker crust, marshmallow filling, covered in milk chocolate, and finished with a sprinkle of sea salt,” Rita explained. “Tell me what you think.”

Madison took a bite. “This is heavenly!” she declared, covering her mouth with her hand so she could talk.

“Aren’t they delightful?” the mayor agreed. “You truly are a wonder,” he said to Rita.

She blushed under his praise.

“We’re sure going to miss you,” Gram added.

“Oh no, are you leaving town?” Madison asked. Rita had owned the chocolate shop for as long as Mayor Bloomfield had been in office.

“That I am. I am retiring where the sun shines year-round, and I don’t have to deal with any more snow!” Rita said with a smile.

“Florida?” Madison guessed.

“Mexico!” Rita laughed at Madison’s surprise. “My girlfriend and I found a nice apartment not far from her son’s family who moved there a few years back. We thought, why not!”

“Well, that’s exciting! Maple Falls’ loss, though,” Madison replied.

“Don’t worry,” Rita said, her smile growing. She turned, motioning toward Cassidy, who had just walked in through the door, her cheeks flushed from the chilly air. “I’m leaving the shop in good hands.”

Cassidy blinked. “What did I miss?”

“I’m just telling everyone how talented you are,” Rita replied. “I’m happy to be turning over the keys to you.”

“Oh, well, in that case.” Cassidy bowed. “I’ll do my best to live up to your reputation,” she said sincerely. “It’s really a dream come true.”

Madison’s heart warmed instantly. “That’s amazing,” she said, meaning it. “Welcome to Maple Falls.”

Cassidy smiled wide and bright. “It feels right, you know? Like this is exactly where I’m meant to be.”

“I bet,” Madison said, trying and failing to sound as excited as Cassidy looked.

Madison glanced over toward Gram and Mayor Bloomfield. They seemed to be lost in their own little world. Gram looked carefree, leaning toward Hank while he looked at her like she was the best part of his day. There was something so easy between them. It was subtle but unmistakable.

A warmth spread in Madison’s chest. She was happy for her grandmother, truly. For Cassidy, too. But it seemed everyone was finding their place in Maple Falls while she was getting ready to say goodbye.

Madison knew what she needed to do. She couldn’t put it off any longer. She couldn’t use waiting for the inn’s relaunch as an excuse. She had to be brave, find Zach, and tell him the truth. All of it.

It was time to say the words she hadn’t had the courage to face. Even if it broke both their hearts.