Chapter 19
NINETEEN
KRISTA
Friday, Day One of the Summer Swap
Krista couldn’t get over how stunning Maple Falls looked in the height of summer. It was like Mother Nature had turned the dial all the way up. The trees were greener, sky bluer, and flowers exploded in color on every corner.
Joe walked beside her with that effortless confidence of his, with a soft gray T-shirt stretched across his chest, olive-green utility pants, and well-worn shoes that looked like they’d seen more adventures than she could count.
His forearms flexed as he adjusted the strap of his camera bag, veins traced under strong, sun-kissed skin.
At six foot five, broad shouldered and relaxed, he moved through the town as if he belonged here.
Krista tried not to stare. Tried not to notice the way his shirt clung just right, or the steady strength in his hands. It felt too natural, too easy, walking beside him like this. Her hand itched to brush against his, like she was seventeen again.
She focused on the town instead. Shop windows gleamed in the morning light, their displays stacked with lemons, daisies, vintage watering cans, and gingham picnic baskets.
Maple Falls smelled divine at every turn—cinnamon rolls drifting from the Cinnamon Spice Inn, savory dishes from the Maple Leaf Café, flowers everywhere.
A chalkboard outside the bookshop advertised summer staff picks and upcoming author talks.
A water bowl and container of dog treats rested by the door—the bookshop was Frankie’s favorite pit stop, and it was Robyn’s too, whenever she visited from Yale.
Krista enjoyed reading, but her sister was the bookworm of the family.
They passed the Maple Leaf Café patio, striped umbrellas shading jars of wildflowers.
People stepped out of the Pumpkin Pie Bakery holding iced lavender lattes and rosemary-lemon spritzers.
And somewhere down the block, a guitarist plucked soft music, serenading the street and collecting tips in an open guitar case.
Krista pushed open the flower shop door.
The bell chimed, and the scent of fresh blooms wrapped around them.
The window display was a riot of color with sunflowers bursting from galvanized watering cans, hot pink dahlias spilling from wire baskets, and bright orange zinnias tucked into vintage crates.
A hand-painted sign curved across the glass in lemon-yellow cursive: Let the Sunshine Bloom.
Whiskers, Zoe’s cat, was in the window, basking in the sun, while her fluffy white kitten, Angel, chased a crumpled piece of paper, batting it at a thousand miles an hour.
“What brings you two in?” Zoe asked with a smile, tying off the bouquet in her hands.
“Joe’s got something to show you,” Krista said. “Then I was hoping you could help us with that mystery we’re chasing, about my great-grandmother Isabel’s disappearance.”
“Oh, fun already.” Zoe wiped her hands on her apron. “Show me the goods.”
Joe pulled out his laptop and set it on the counter. “I finished the draft of the article on your Local Blooms project. Thought you’d want a peek.”
Zoe practically vibrated. “You bet I do.”
Joe opened the file. The first spread lit the screen showcasing Zoe and Jackson in the community garden, sunlight spilling over rows of native plants. Zoe laughed mid-giggle, of course looking at Jackson, who was caught staring at her like she was the only thing blooming in a five-mile radius.
“Oh boy,” Zoe whispered. “I look ridiculous.”
“It’s cute,” Krista said, nudging her. “Wholesome. Very ‘spring romance.’”
“It looks like I’m about to propose to him with a watering can,” Zoe muttered.
Joe clicked through more shots before landing on the final one—the Moonlight Kiss, shimmering faintly in the dusk.
Zoe pressed a hand to her chest. “Okay, that one might go on the wall. Seriously, Joe, this is incredible.”
“It was an amazing project,” he said simply. “I just captured it.”
They lingered over the photos, then moved on to Isabel’s journal. Krista flipped to the page they’d flagged. “We’re trying to figure out where Isabel and Jonah used to meet. It’s somewhere with water.”
Joe added, “Singing water, apparently.”
Zoe arched an eyebrow. “Singing water?”
Krista nodded. “Like echoing or changing pitch?”
“That could be a few places,” Zoe said slowly. “There are coves and inlets around the lake. Rock crevices near the ridge—some of them whistle when the wind hits right.”
Krista perked up. “You think one of those might be it?”
“Maybe,” Zoe replied. “When Jackson and I were searching for the Moonlight Kiss, we found so many strange little spots where the wind does funny things. ”
Krista traced the margin of the diary. “Could you make a list? Or a map?”
“I can,” Zoe said, twirling a stem of eucalyptus. “But hey, if you want company, I can play guide. Jackson too—he knows every rock and trail within twenty miles.”
“Really? You’d come?”
“Of course.” Zoe shrugged. “You’re hunting down a secret lovers’ hangout from the past. That’s a dream day for me. Just say the word.”
Krista grinned. “We could explore tomorrow morning before we get to work. If you guys are free?”
“I’ll check with him,” Zoe said. “Though, if you want to go alone…Mrs. Bishop mentioned your…wet and wild kiss yesterday morning.”
“Zoe!” Krista felt her face go scarlet.
Joe coughed into his fist. Krista pressed on. “We’ll text later and pick a time.”
“Deal,” Zoe said, waving. “Now go. I’ve got bouquets to finish, and you two have—whatever it is you’re doing. Mystery solving. Photography taking. Summer loving…” Her voice trailed off with a smile.
Outside, the sunlight hit full-on, warm and bright, carrying lake air and something sweet from Emily’s bakery.
Krista couldn’t wait to catch up with Emily when she came back from her vacation in a couple of weeks.
She envied her a bit, being able to take time away during the height of the summer season.
For now, she would just have to live vicariously through her and the rest of her friends as they went off on their grand vacations and travel adventures.
Joe slipped the strap from around his neck and held out his small camera bag.
“Here,” he said. “For documenting Maple Falls for my piece and for Elsie’s content, while I’m running the Hideaway.
” He pressed the bag lightly into her hands.
“She wants promo shots for the updated website and socials. I want to see the town through your eyes. Have fun. I’ll be elbows-deep in your ice cream and coffee chaos… ”
Krista smiled, shouldering the bag. “You’ll be fine.”
Joe raised a brow. “You’re not going to check on me?”
Krista slipped the camera bag over her shoulder. “Don’t worry,” she said lightly, stepping backward toward the sidewalk, “I’ll keep an eye out for smoke signals across the lake.”
Joe’s laugh followed her down the street—low, warm, and curling right through her, the kind that made her pulse skip, just like the memories of last night…