At least so I thought.
She laughed and told me it was no big deal. That I would not have to wear a costume.
But here we were.
“I could be a time-traveling husband. Like those Star Trek people who go to the Renaissance festivals and pretend to be from another planet.”
Katy closed her eyes as if she was giving herself time to calm so she didn’t try killing me later while I slept. “This isn’t cosplay, Pierce.”
“I don’t understand what it is if it’s not a cosplay you consider socially acceptable because it’s historical.” They didn’t have me fooled. These women wanted to play dress-up a few times a year. I didn’t miss the way Katy always swept her dress skirts around as she walked through our home before each event.
She pinched her lips together and then opened them. “It is a reenactment.”
“No, it’s a bunch of people dressed in costumes pretending to be from another century. It’s cosplay with a pretty name.”
“I am the chair of this committee. Don’t you see? I can’t have my husband not in costume.”
I stepped out of the closet and tried to take her in my arms. Over the years, I’d found a particular spot on Katy’s neck that made her do almost anything I suggested. Sadly, she apparently had limits too, and we’d hit them. Plus, the hoop skirt of her ridiculous outfit waylaid my attempt.
“Suits have looked the same on men for years. Do you really think anyone is going to notice?”
She stared at me, not answering, but her eyes narrowed. If she wasn’t wearing the crazy contraption, I would’ve been worried. But I thought her hoop skirt reached out further than her arms did. She’d never catch me.
I sighed. Eventually she’d take the dress off, and I’d be at her mercy. “Fine, I take from your silence the answer is yes. You expect there to be a crazy historical accuracy concerned person at this event who will recognize the slight differences of man’s business wear in this decade from 1776.”
She shrugged. “You never know.”
“If it’ll make you happy, I will wear the ridiculous thing on the bed.”
She smiled, and it was that certain Katy smile. The one she learned would make me do anything she asked. And scared me. “Thank you. I’ll reward you later.”
“Oh I’m definitely getting a reward.” And as usual there would be tense negotiations before we decided what the reward would be exactly. Katy loved to argue, and I learned over the years that certain topics we could negotiate lively for hours and I was perfectly fine with it. We put our boundless energy to good use at the end.
“And what are you dressing Ethan up as this year?” I already donated five thousand dollars for the event. The Kensingtons were always a charitable family, but since Katy took over my life and the bed-and-breakfast, our purse strings had definitely loosened. As long as it made her happy, she could spend every single dollar we had on saving the whales, buying holiday decorations, or pretending she was a revolutionary woman helping the fight for American Independence.
Hand to God, one time I heard her tell our son to call her Scarlett O’Hara while she wore a costume to make lunch. She just liked the dresses.
“Wait until you see Ethan. He looks wonderful.”
I saw the bill from the costume shop, so I imagined they’d sewn diamonds into whatever Katy dressed him in today. “How many parts are there for a six-year-old to play at a non-cosplay reenactment?”
None of the children had leads and most of their parts were limited. Last year he played our son. I expected the same this year.
“You’re going to love it. He gets to be one of the coal mining children,” she said it like it was something to be proud of rather than horrified. How realistic did she make this thing? Most of the time everyone used it as an excuse to wander town in heavy clothing and drink before three p.m.
“We paid twenty-seven hundred dollars for him to dress in rags and have someone wipe dirt over his face?” I’d seen the costumes from years prior. She had clearly lost her mind. This leadership position had gone to her head.
“Of course not, silly. I had them make a costume for all the coal mining kids. They had to be consistent.”
“Perfect,” I said nodding as I’d often learned to do. “Should we deposit to other children’s college funds, too.”
Katy’s eyes lit up, and I experienced a moment of panic. She had the exact look she got whenever a crazy idea floated around in her head. She hadn’t broken into many buildings lately, but there was always a cause she volunteered to lead the charge on. And it usually cost me significantly.
“That’s a great idea. We’ll start the Kensington College Scholarship Fund for local kids.”
“Sweetheart,” I said, walking closer and doing my best to push her hoop skirt out of the way to take her face in my hands. “You started that two years ago.”
She deflated slightly but then perked up again when I kissed the side of her lips. Knowing I could bring Katy’s mood around gave me extra pep as well.
