Page 5 of Soulmates and Slapshots
I nod. “Yes. I’m staying with my aunt for a few weeks. I’m Fiona.”
“Neesha,” she replies, reaching across the counter to shake my hand. “Nice to meet you, Fiona. Welcome to Maple Falls. Where are you visiting from?”
“New York City,” I answer, bracing myself for the inevitable reaction.
Neesha lets out a dreamy sigh. “Oh wow. I’ve always wanted to visit New York. It’s on my bucket list.”
I smile, feeling a familiar mix of pride and exhaustion. “It’s an experience everyone should try. There’s nothing like it, but it’s not all glitz and glamour. Sometimes it’s loud and chaotic and overwhelming.”
She nods, surprisingly understanding. “That makes perfect sense. I love Maple Falls, but I still daydream about big cities, new places, fresh starts. A place where something new happens every five seconds.” She stops and shakes her head. “Sorry. I’m totally rambling.”
“Not at all.” I glance back up at the chalkboard menu. “I’ll take an iced hazelnut espresso and…that cinnamon coffee cake looks impossible to pass up. Oh, and I’ll take one of those cupcakes to go. I’m on vacation, so why not?”
Neesha beams as she begins prepping my order. “Excellent choices.”
I lean casually against the counter. “Since we’re bonding over pastries and coffee, maybe you can tell me what MapleFalls isreallylike. My aunt gave me a brief overview, but I think she left out all the juicy stuff.”
She grins over her shoulder. “Oh, there’s plenty of gossip in this town. It’s practically a local sport. Naturally there’s a group of locals who love to come in here and discuss all the latest news.”
I nod. “My aunt mentioned some drama going on lately. She promised to give me the scoop later.”
“Who’s your aunt?” she asks, sliding the espresso across the counter and setting a slice of coffee cake on a small white plate.
“Denise Hale. She works at the lodge—I can’t remember the name of it.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Denise is your aunt? Oh wow. She’s a character.”
I laugh. “That’s one way to put it.”
“She’s funny. And she really loves the Ice Breakers,” Neesha adds.
“Oh yes. The hockey team.”
“Yep.The hockey team.”
Hmm…I get the feeling Neesha isn’t a superfan like Aunt Dee.
“Anyway, things in New York have been a bit hectic, so she invited me to visit. I think she’s hoping I’ll fall in love with the place like she did and never leave.”
Neesha shrugs playfully. “Wouldn’t be the first time. Maple Falls does that to people.”
I sip my espresso. “I heard there’s even a town slogan?”
She rolls her eyes. “‘You’ll never want to leave.’ Cute, right?”
“Super cute,” I reply with a grin.
As she hands me a small pink bakery box with mycupcake, I lean in a little, lowering my voice. “So, back to this mysterious drama. Do you have any intel?”
She shakes her head. “I really don’t know the whole story. But knowing Maple Falls, I’m sure we’ll get the scoop very soon.”
Before I can prod further, a group approaches the counter.
“Duty calls. But come back soon—I still want to hear all about New York.”
“I’ll definitely be back,” I say, genuinely meaning it. “It was nice meeting you.”
“You too,” she replies with a warm smile. “See you soon, Fiona.”
