Page 20 of The Pumpkin Pie Book Nook

“I say you open it, snap a pic, and text it to the rest of the group,” Zoe offered up reasonably as not everyone could slip away for the hike.

Robyn looked over at Tyler.

He nodded. “Sounds sensible to me.”

“Open it! Open it!” Emma added.

“Okay, here it goes…” Robyn took a breath. Her great-grandmother had stood somewhere near this very trail, laughing with friends, hiding pieces of a story like breadcrumbs.

Robyn felt a connection that was hard to explain. Maybe it was because she hid away her own writing, tucked away on an anonymous page where no one she knew could find it. Or so she prayed. Her fans were just as faceless. Mostly. That morning, her top fan had left another comment, something about her latest chapter that made her laugh into her coffee. She didn’t know who he was, and she probably never would.

Carefully, she opened the envelope and tugged the clue free.

“Search the text that tells of Maple Falls’s past,” she began, the words steady even as her pulse kicked harder. “Where pages turn gently, a sweet secret you’ll see. Page sixty-two has a photograph for thee.”

“A book, then,” Zoe said.

“Yeah, it must be.” Robyn reread the clue. “A history book, I think.” Unfortunately, they didn’t have any Maple Falls history books at the bookstore.

“Maple Falls has a bunch of local history books at the library,” Zoe offered.

“And the library’s over one hundred years old,” Mrs. C. added.

Mayor Bloomfield brightened. “Town hall has a display case with some of the early town books, too,” he offered, ever proud of his municipality’s trivia. “We could check there too.”

Emma tugged on Robyn’s sleeve, eyes shining. “Are we going to find another box?”

Robyn smiled down at her. “That seems to be the theme.”

“Well, I’d love to keep this clue hunt going, but I have my standing euchre game to get to—and if I’m late, Anita will deal me out and never let me hear the end of it.” Mrs. C. looked genuinely torn.

“Yes, yes, and I have a town to run,” Mayor Bloomfield added. “But Edith and I will check the archives, let you know what we find.”

“I wish I could help too, but I need to run out to the farm. We have lunch with Jackson’s family, and I promised Daisy and Tinsel I’d bring treats,” Zoe said, referring to the Hawthorne family’s Sunday lunch tradition and their farm’s beloved llamas.

“Can I come? I haven’t seen Daisy and Tinsel in forever!” Emma begged.

Zoe looked over at Tyler. “It’s okay with me.”

Tyler eyed his daughter. “Only if you promise to be on your best behavior.”

“I will! I will! I promise. Come on, Zoe, let’s go before my dad changes his mind.” Emma tugged on Zoe’s hand, and they were off down the trail before Tyler could add any conditions.

Robyn watched them go, then glanced at the time on her phone and winced. “I need to get back and open the store.”

“I’ll take the library,” Tyler said easily, like it was the most natural thing in the world, the two of them dividing up a treasure hunt on a Sunday morning. “I’ll text you if I find anything.”

She nodded, but neither of them moved. The trail had emptied around them with Mrs. Bishop and Mrs. C. already halfway back around the lake, the mayor striding ahead, eager to consult the archives.

For a moment, it was just the two of them standing beneath the canopy, the leaves drifting down in slow spirals, the distant sound of Emma’s laughter carrying back through the trees.

Tyler reached over and tucked a loose strand of hair behind Robyn’s ear. His fingers lingered, just barely, at her jaw.

“I should go,” he said.

“Yeah,” Robyn replied.

“Raincheck?” he asked, smiling and stepping back, hands in his pockets, already turning away.