‘Just think,’ Mimi said, ‘next year Bean will be here and that can be us!’
‘She’ll be less than a year old,’ Sive said.
‘Well, obviously we’ll have to carry her. But you’re not seriously telling me you won’t dress her up and take her trick or treating?’
Sive grinned. ‘Don’t be silly. Of course I will. Can’t wait!’
‘Bean’s a girl, then?’ Sam asked. ‘I thought you didn’t know yet.’
‘Oh, I don’t. We’re just treating her as one for now, for ease of reference.’
They got to the house just as a group of children were trotting down the path with their swag. Aoife and Sive had put up their Halloween decorations during the week, a signal that trick-or-treaters were welcome to call. They found Aoife in the kitchen chopping a mountain of kale, while pots bubbled on the stove, filling the room with steam.
‘Great, you’re here,’ she said, turning to them. ‘I was worried you’d get stuck in tech and Rocco, Jonathan and I would have to polish all this off by ourselves. Sam, could you take up the spuds and mash them?’
‘Aye, aye, captain.’ Sam saluted her, then rolled up his sleeves and set to work.
‘Mimi, can you check the sausages? They’re in the oven.’
‘What can I do?’ Sive asked.
‘Um … you could light the candles?’
The table was laid for six, an orange runner in the centre set with little pumpkin candles. ‘This looks great,’ Sive said just as the doorbell rang. ‘I’ll get that.’
‘Witch’s hat on the sideboard,’ Aoife called after her.
Sive grabbed the hat and pulled it on as she left the room. She picked up the big bowl of fun-size chocolate bars from the console table in the hall.
‘Trick or treat!’ A chorus of children’s voices yelled as she opened the door. She admired their costumes and told them how great they looked as she held out the bowl for them to helpthemselves. She was impressed by how well-behaved they were, just taking one piece of chocolate each and thanking her politely before trotting back to the gate.
She was just about to close the door when Rocco appeared, a cat carrier in one hand.
‘Trick or treat!’ he yelled. He put the cat carrier down in the hall and pulled Sive into a hug. ‘Can I?’ he asked, pulling back, his hand hovering over the bowl that Sive was still holding. ‘I’m starving!’
‘Well, just one. You don’t want to ruin your appetite.’
He tore the wrapping off a mini Snickers and shoved it in his mouth.
‘And you brought Kit Marlowe!’ Sive said as he bent to open the door of the carrier.
‘Of course! It’s his big night. Where would you three witches be without your familiar?’
He scooped up the big orange tabby. ‘Something smells great,’ he said, sniffing the air as they headed to the kitchen. ‘Are we having colcannon?’
‘Of course. What else? With sausages. And there’s barmbrack for later.’
‘Look who I found trick-or-treating!’ Sive said as they entered the kitchen. Rocco set Marlow down on the floor and he trotted straight over to Mimi, weaving around her legs and mewing until she picked him up.
‘Marlowe.’ He purred contentedly, nudging her hand as she gently scratched his neck and cheeks. ‘Excellent costume as always.’ She kissed his head. ‘But I don’t know what you’re supposed to be,’ she said to Rocco.
‘Isn’t it obvious?’ Rocco grinned, spreading his arms wide. ‘I’m Rocco Agnew, star of stage and screen.’
‘Huh, zero for effort. I hope you didn’t give him any treats, Sive.’ She put Marlowe down. ‘Here, make yourself useful,’ she said to Rocco, tossing him an oven glove. ‘Take up the sausages.’
Jonathan arrived just as everything was ready, and they all sat down to eat. They even pulled a chair up to the table for Marlowe, who had always made a point of joining them for family dinners. The meal was constantly interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell, and they took turns to answer the door to callers.
‘Now that we’re all here,’ Mimi said during a lull, ‘I thought we should discuss what we’re doing for Christmas.’
