“Halloween was the one time a year David always took Abby. His office had a big party for the holiday, and he wanted to act like the model dad, so he’d take Abby. She’d get her fill of candy and him, so she was happy to go. I came to resent the holiday, but I never let Abby know. Usually, I’d go to Mary’s and have a drink and watch her kids. But you have to understand, I was doing all the heavy lifting and raising our kid, day and night, by myself, and David was the one who got to enjoy her in a costume, sticky from candy. I always made a paper due around the holiday, so I could claim to have something to do on October thirty-first. Now, I keep the tradition, especially since I don’t go to Mary’s anymore. She doesn’t even ask.”
His lips met mine. Spearmint mixed with Cabernet Sauvignon enticed my lips open. Happy for a reprieve from his potential rebuttal, I delved into the kiss. Then his lips were gone, my own immediately missing his.
“We’re definitely making new traditions this year,” he said. “Tell your class they have an extension and mark yourself busy that night, Richards.”
One week later, Aiken rang my doorbell, even though the door was unlocked.
“Trick or treat,” he declared from behind a Batman mask. He was dressed all in black, complete with a cape flowing down his back.
“I see you went all out.” His eyes grazed my black leggings tucked into black boots, before they made their trek back up to my short army-green jacket, aviator sunglasses hanging from the zipper.
“I’m Goose fromTop Gun. See?” I stuffed my hair into a Navy ball cap.
“I can see it now…sort of. Come on, your alpha badass has plans for you.”
“Now you’re an alpha badass?”
“I’m Batman.”
“Hmmm,” I murmured, shutting the door behind me, making sure all the lights were out, as they had been on Halloween for years. I hadn’t given out candy since David had lived here…
Aiken interrupted my thoughts. “Tell me, what was Abby’s favorite candy?”
“Twix when she was older, but when she was little, she loved M&M’s. She could sit for hours sorting them into piles of colors and eating them in rainbow order.”
“She sounds like she was quite the perfectionist. Like someone else I know.”
Our hands wove together as we settled in the cab of Aiken’s truck.
“She did have a lot of my bad qualities, but one thing about Abby, she loved life.”
“First of all, being a perfectionist is not always bad, and second of all, Richards, you love life too. You just have to forgive yourself for doing so.” Without his mask to drive, he gave me a quick glance and winked.
“So, what’s the plan?” I changed the subject, desperate to get the night over.
“You’ll see. I have to make a quick pit stop.” He pulled over in front of the drugstore. “You sit tight.”
Tucked inside his truck, I watched Aiken round the front and run into the store, his cape billowing behind him, and I smiled.
A few minutes later, he was back with a small bag that he tucked into the backseat before throwing the truck into drive.
“Any clues? I am your co-pilot. The Goose to your Maverick.”
“Nope. Should I blindfold you?”
“No.” I laughed. “I’ll sit here like a good girl. Swear.” I held two fingers up.
“Good Goose.”
The sun began to set, and the sky turned hot pink. All around us, the leaves were burnt orange and yellow. From the outside looking in, it was a fairy tale…but I wasn’t sure my heart would allow itself to agree.
Lost in the scenery, I didn’t realize where we were until we turned into the cemetery. “Aiken, I don’t think bringing me to a cemetery is the way to celebrate Halloween. This is where Abby’s buried.I don’t want to do this.I’m sure you thought it was fun or spooky or the theme of the evening or whatever, but I really don’t want to do this,” I repeated myself, stumbling over my words, my thoughts equally as jumbled.
“I know, calm down. I would never think this was spooky or funny.” His hand ghosted over mine. “Mary told me this is where Abby’s buried.”
“Why?” I couldn’t help but blurt it out.
“Because I asked. We’re going to spend a few minutes with her this Halloween.”
