Page 3 of Soulmates and Slapshots
“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 myselfstaying 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 toleave’- 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? Nowthatsounds 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 theteam. The Ice Breakers are the pride of Maple Falls, and let me tell you…” She leans in closer. “Some of those players areveryeasy 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 likefallin MapleFalls. 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 metwenty 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.
