The sun had fully risen now, painting the sky in shades of blush and gold. Liam knew that back in town, people were waking up, getting ready for work and school. But out here, it felt like a private world for just the two of them.
“Are you in a hurry to get back?” he asked, surprising even himself.
“I should be opening shop in a couple of hours,” she replied. “But if you’ve got something else in mind, I’d love to hear it.”
“It’s just… talking about old times reminded me of a place nearby. Thought maybe you’d like to see?”
“Keeping it mysterious, are you?” Cassidy teased, bumping her shoulder into his side.
“Something like that.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You know I’m dying to know what you’re up to.”
“Honestly? I’m just sort of winging it,” he admitted with a grin.
Cassidy laughed, her eyes sparkling beneath the glow of the lampposts that lined the lakeside trail.
“You’re not allergic to pine trees, are you?” he asked, remembering her earlier allergic reaction with sudden concern.
“Not at all,” Cassidy assured him with a warm smile.
They set off, hand in hand, along the paved trail that wrapped around the lake. The city council had kept the main path clear, but where they were headed wasn’t paved. Pines stood tall and dark against the brightening sky, their branches heavy with fresh snow, creating a tunnel of white and green that shimmered faintly.
Liam glanced down at Cassidy’s boots.
“You checking out my footwear?” she asked with a smirk.
“Just making sure we’re prepared.” He grinned then turned off the trail, leading her through the snow toward a dense cluster of pines. They were still hand in hand, Liam in front, making a path through the snow for her to follow.
“You’d never see it from the paved trail—it’s too buried—but I know right where it is,” he continued, guiding her with sure steps.
Back here, the snowdrifts were dramatic. On one side, the snow was only inches deep, the other, several feet. Liam led her right down the middle, carving a path just for them.
Some people loved Maple Falls in the fall, with its fiery maples and woodsmoke from the campground. Others thought you couldn’t beat it in the spring, when the town came alive with flowers and the promise of new beginnings. And it was beautiful in the summer, with the boats bobbing on the lake, the sun warming everyone through, the smell of honeysuckle in the air.
But if you asked Liam, he’d say there was nothing more beautiful than that moment, right there.
For years, he hadn’t let himself see it. December had become a month he endured, a season that pressed on old wounds, turning all the twinkling lights and carols into reminders of whathe’d lost. The snow-laden pine trees, the crystal ice rink, all the colorful lights—they’d been pushed into the background.
But now, with Cassidy’s hand in his, it was like seeing Maple Falls in winter for the first time.
The bright morning light filtered through the trees, making the snow glitter in gold and silver. The entire scene looked enchanted.
“It’s beautiful back here,” she said, her voice soft, reverent.
He felt it too. The way the woods held the quiet, the stillness that settled deep in his bones, the kind that made you feel like the world had paused just for you.
They ducked through the trees, pine needles brushing their coats and caps, the scent of resin sharp and clean in the cold air. Branches hung low, heavy with snow, and Liam reached out to steady Cassidy as she stepped over a half-buried log, her gloved hand warm in his.
“Back in sixth grade, I was really into camping, survival training, all of it. I was convinced I’d find myself lost in the woods far more than I ever have,” he explained.
“Lumberjack Liam.” She grinned.
He let out a gentle laugh, the sound echoing softly between the trees. “Anyway, I don’t even remember how I found it, but through middle school and high school… this was my spot.” His voice went quiet, his gaze tracking the path ahead. “Whenever I needed space… I came here.”
He held back a pine bough, revealing the hidden entrance.
She stepped inside and looked around in awe. They were underneath a massive white pine, its trunk at least a hundred feet tall. The first branch was above both of their heads, but its weight caused the tips of the branch to touch the ground, closing them off like a curtain.
