Prologue
I remember the days of long ago when I was an upscale New England town located on the coast of Maine. Over time, I became split in half, into two distinct sections of town. One was wealthy, the other was not. Port Dock and East Brook, they were named, as the segregation of haves and have nots took hold. During the same era, another battle was waged within my small town between the wealthy Ingram and Charleston families, one like what is about to happen between Carson Ingram and Callan Black. Speaking of feuds, Carson Ingram is also going to have a bone to pick with Miles Hamilton.
But the drama can wait. Let’s get back to the revitalization of my picturesque harbor town for now.
Port Dock is where the McMansions went up during the real estate boom that made the Fischer family one happy clan. Henry and Betty also did well with the only quaint B and B in town until it recently became too much for them to handle on their own and were forced to sell. Elliot and Courtney Montgomery have worked hard to bring the B and B back to its original splendor. They’ve also brought life and drama back to Falls Village with the arrival of their New York City friends and family.
Jordan Collins, the oldest of Courtney’s two half-sisters, made poor Callan Black’s life a living hell after he dumped her via text. But Black had it coming to him after his shitty behavior, and Jordan and her devious mind was just the girl to put the genius in his place. It’s how he’s found himself the proud owner of one of the Falls Village castles in the sky and in a feud with the owner of the other.
The youngest of the Collins/Knight clan, Jenny, unexpectedly returned to Falls Village with her little dog, Beast, in tow. When college wasn’t what she imagined, Jenny retreated to Falls Village hoping to find happiness and purpose in her life. Luck was on her side and she even found love with a man who came to Falls Village filled with loss…in hopes of rebuilding his life, a house, and his heart. Now, Lucas Hart and Jenny Collins are running The Perfect Pet with funding from an anonymous donor.
Speaking of that donor, one of my favorites to join Falls Village is that young, quirky man, Callan Black.
When Callan first arrived in Falls Village, he told everyone a story about who he was and the townspeople, being trusting as they are, had believed him. I knew what he was up to, but I let it go because he was in Falls Village for good. I had faith in Callan that he’d keep my small town safe and find his own way to help me return to my days of long ago and he has.
He also befriended Colleen Hamilton while he lived in the apartment above her shop, Spill the Tea. But Colleen won’t know who he’s working for until she comes face-to-face with her past.
I like to think of my town as a pretty forward-thinking community, but maybe it wasn’t always as modern as I thought. Colleen has been hiding the secret of Taylor’s paternity from her and the rest of us. I never understood why she let that boy leave, but Colleen had her reasons. And now, those reasons might destroy her.
As Colleen works through the drama of her past, the James clan continues to work to make my town a better place for everyone.
Mallory James worked her little butt off to make Falls Village great again. After finally coming to her senses and reaching out to her brothers for help, the revitalization took off like a comet through the night sky. Mason, Maxwell, and Matthew—loving their little sister—knew nothing was too great for her to ask of them, and the male James trio arrived home ready to do whatever Mallory needed.
Mason returned heartbroken and a shell of the man he was when he left for college. But I have confidence that he’ll get his groove back. I think he just needs a good woman to remind him that he’s a young man with more love in his heart to give. He’s struggling, but being home with his best friend, Cody Alexander, has helped the man to see that life has to go on.
Maxwell came barreling into town with his alpha swagger in place and took over before anyone knew what was happening. Ready to settle an old beef here in town, he left his DC life behind and took over as my new mayor. I always knew that boy would do right by us. It just took a little longer than I would have liked for him to get there.
Then there was Matthew James, who flew into town with his Hollywood tan and mirrored aviators in place. Matty was the most handsome of the James boys and he’s spent the last few years using his looks on the big screen alongside the likes of Raina Roman. But I overheard poor Matty complaining that he’s tired of the fake friends and the revolving door of women looking for nothing more than what he could do for them in and out of bed. I hope he can find a woman here in quiet Falls Village that will love him for who he is on the inside.
But that’s enough about my inhabitants for now. Back to my town.
Port Dock was always something to be proud of. The East Brook section had always been a dismal place. It’s where Mallory James and her brothers grew up. Over the years, it’s grown more rundown, but the James siblings recently changed that, and Falls Village is once again considered the mecca of the arts amongst other things.
As my town’s revitalization nears fruition, and a movie is set to film here, Falls Village will once again become the most sought-after locale in New England, bringing new people, life, and love to my small community.
I’m glad you’re here to share it with us. Sit back and enjoy the ride…
1992
Falls Village, Maine
“Jesus Christ, Colleen,” her mother scolded from the kitchen of their modest Cape Cod-style home. “You have eight days of school left. Can’t you just get through them without driving me insane? You look fine.”
Colleen huffed. She hated her Maritime Academy School uniform almost as much as she hated the way she looked in it. And she didn’t look fine; her mother was trying to pacify her and get her to move along so she could get to the saltwater taffy and fudge shop she owned and ran. Colleen had developed slower than all her friends, but once her hormones kicked in, she caught up double time and it wasn’t a good look on her small frame.
Now her once slender thighs touched. No matter how many leg lifts she did, that gap between them had disappeared as quickly as her boyfriend had once she’d spread them for him. And her once flat ass could now be the inspiration for a new Sir Mix-A-Lot song. Baby now had back, front, and sides. Her previously flat stomach was now a developing belly.
It didn’t matter that she worked out twice a day, a morning run at sun-up on the beach as the waves crashed into the rocks, instead of sleeping in like her friends. A nightly session of sit-ups, crunches, and weights in her room did nothing to help the matter. Colleen couldn’t make her body return to what it had been only a year ago, no matter what she tried.
She’d even cut back on her intake of calories. Well, cut back might be an understatement. Colleen has pretty much stopped eating anything but plain lettuce leaves and an occasional tomato at lunch to shut her meddling friends up.
“This skirt pulls up in the back and is too short. If I bend down, everyone is going to see London, France, and…”
“I hear everyone’s already seen your underpants,” Colleen’s younger sister, Georgia, said as she strolled into the kitchen.
“Who needs me to hand them their ass?” her older brother, Miles, home from college, asked.