Page 112 of The Sugar Maple Inn

Voicemail.

“Dammit.” Grace tried again. Same result. She tried a third time, pacing across her tiny living room like a caged animal.

Nothing.

Think, Grace. Think.

She went to Reese’s business website and found the number of his snobby PA, Erika.

The phone rang twice before a crisp voice answered. “Erika Wei.”

“Erika, hi, it’s Grace Sullivan. I, erm, was in the tower with Reese. I need to talk to him. It’s urgent.”

“Ms. Sullivan.” Erika’s tone was professionally neutral, giving nothing away. “Mr. Spencer is currently en route to an airfield. His helicopter departs in approximately forty minutes.”

“Helicopter? Where’s he going?”

“Back to the Vancouver office. He has meetings scheduled for tomorrow morning.”

Grace’s stomach dropped. “I need to talk to him before he leaves.”

“I’m afraid Mr. Spencer left explicit instructions not to be disturbed—”

“Erika, please.”

There was a pause. Then, quietly: “Boeing Field. Private aviation terminal. Gate C. But, Ms. Sullivan? You’ll need to hurry.”

Grace was already running down the stairs. “Thank you!”

“MOM!” Grace shouted, bursting out onto the street where her mother’s ancient Subaru was parked at the curb, its faded green paint job and layer of autumn leaves giving it the appearance of a forest creature that had wandered into town.

Mabel was just getting out, arms full of grocery bags. “Grace? What on earth—”

“I need your car. Now. It’s an emergency.”

“An emergency? What kind of—”

“The romantic kind!” Grace was already wrestling the grocery bags from her mother’s arms. “I need to get to Boeing Field before Reese gets on a helicopter to Canada.”

Mabel’s eyes went wide. “He bought you the inn, didn’t he?”

“How did you—did everyone know before me?”

“Small town, darling!” Mabel tossed her the keys as she shoved the groceries back into the trunk. “You drive. Not sure I can cope with the nerves. But be careful with my car, she pulls to the left and the heat only works on the highest setting!”

Grace dove into the driver’s seat as her mom got into the passenger seat.

Grace paused. “Why are you here?”

“I’m your mother, that’s why. And this is my car.”

As she said that, Caleb came running down the street and threw himself into the backseat. “I’m coming with you!”

“Caleb, what the—”

“I just overheard it all. This is the most romantic thing that’s happened in Solace Springs since Mikkel proposed to me by the lake. I am NOT missing this.” He was already buckling up. “Drive, woman! Drive!”

Grace pulled away from the curb just as Zach came zooming up on his scooter, cutting right in front of them.