Page 42 of Fake-Off with Fate
After putting the car in park, I turn off the ignition and pick up the bags of our food. “You ready to go?”
“Oh, I’m ready. The question is, are you?” She jumps out of the car like there’s no potential threat lurking.
I open the driver’s side door slowly before joining her. Looking around, I say, “It looks like the coast is clear.” Then I practically run up to the cabin.
Ashlyn takes her time.
“Hurry up,” I tell her nervously. Just because we don’t see the papa bear doesn’t mean he isn’t waiting behind a tree. Or, god forbid, hiding in the branches above, primed to drop down like some crazy ninja bear.
When Ashlyn finally joins me on the porch, she says, “You really aren’t suited for life in small town Washington, are you?”
“There’s not much I can do about it now,” I tell her. “I’m stuckhere during the season, so I’m going to have to make the best of it.” That’s when I hear the papa bear announce his presence. Instinct takes over and before I can stop myself, I scream once again.
It’s a good thing nothing more than friendship can ever happen between me and Ashlyn, because at the rate I’m going, I probably don’t have a man-card left.
CHAPTER 21
ASHLYN
Maple Falls must beone of the only towns left on the planet where most people still subscribe to the newspaper. Opening the front door of my parents’ house, I retrieve their copy of theGazettebefore bringing it back inside.
I contacted the editor of the paper yesterday and filled him in on what’s happening. He asked for a letter to the town from my father. He said that if he got it by six, he would go into the office and reconfigure the Monday edition. We got it to him at five fifty-eight.
Sitting down in the breakfast nook in the kitchen, I open the newspaper and discover we’ve made the front page.
Monday, October 13
Dear Citizens of Maple Falls,
It is with a heavy heart that I need to inform you about a situation that has developed in our town.
My office received a call a couple of days ago from an attorney who represents Victor MacDonald’s heir. Accordingto documents sent, Alexander MacDonald’s daughter, Alexa, was working on a project regarding her family tree. By utilizing FamilyHeritage.com, she discovered her family was directly connected to Victor MacDonald. After doing some research, she learned about the sizable amount of unclaimed land that was left behind by her relative.
As Washington state does not have a statute of limitations on inheritances, we are no longer the owners of Victor’s land. Several properties in our downtown area, the entire arena and outlying land, as well as preservation sites are affected.
In an emergency town council meeting held yesterday, we brainstormed ideas to raise the amount of money needed to hopefully buy back this land. For the five hundred acres, we are looking to raise two and a half million dollars. While this is a daunting sum, we are confident our town can make it happen.
The first idea decided upon was to hold a bachelor auction with our newly-minted NHL team, the Ice Breakers. Both Troy Hart, the owner of the team and arena, along with Dale Hauser, the team’s coach, were present. They were joined by team captain Jamie Hayes. The Ice Breakers assured us that they are one hundred percent behind Maple Falls and will do everything in their power to help.
The bachelor auction will be held on October 24th. While we anticipate it bringing in a good amount of money, we also need our townsfolk to participate in any way they can. This is a grassroots effort, so nothing is too small. We’re talking about bake sales, car washes, crafting events. Whatever you can do to help, this is your call to arms!
Maple Falls needs all its citizens to step up and fight for our future.
Please join us at our regularly scheduled town hall meeting on October 3rd and bring your ideas.
Very Sincerely,
Mayor Thompkins
I’ve barely finished reading the letter when my dad’s phone rings. I’m not surprised to see that it’s Phillip.
After sending the call to voicemail, I finish my cup of coffee before going upstairs to change. Then I collect a couple of items that will hopefully help get me through the day.
Before leaving the house, I call my mom to see how she’s doing. She answers on the third ring. “Hey, Mom, how are things?” I ask, trying to sound relaxed.
“It’s very beautiful here, Ashlyn,” she says. “You did a nice job in choosing a location.”
“Have you heard about the hurricane?”
