The morning of the Taste of Maple Falls Festival dawned bright and early, and there I was, amidst the burgeoning buzz of the town square, making sure every detail was perfect. This was it, the day I'd been working towards, and I was determined to see it start without a hitch.

As I strode through the stalls, checking on the vibrant displays of local produce and the stages set for performances, my phone buzzed. It was Ava, the embodiment of my New York challenge, the very woman I had the ...