It’s fine. Everything is fine.
Leaning back in my chair, I smile as I watch the kids run around with everyone else. It only took the kids thirty minutes to raid our street and the next one over for candy before we came here, where they got even more.
The kids were so excited about how full their bags were, and I swear I’ve never seen Jane look as shocked as she did when she saw how much they got. The kids are going to be bouncing off the walls for the next month.
“Hey, you,” Jane says as she comes to sit down next to me. “Where are the kids?” she asks as she scans the area.
“In the bounce house,” I tell her without taking my eyes off them.
“I got you a beer,” she says as she hands it over.
I take it from her and smile at her before turning back to the kids. “Thanks.”
I don’t dare take a drink, though. I’m driving, and with them, I refuse to take the chance. I won’t tell her that, though. She thought of me, so I will take it.
“You’re welcome.”
“So on a scale of one to ten, how happy do you think they are?” I ask after a few moments of silence.
Jane laughs. “I’m pretty sure they are on cloud nine. Honest to God, I don’t think I’ve ever seen that much candy outside of a grocery store until tonight.”
“We don’t do things half-assed around here,” I tease.
“That’s for sure.” She smiles.
“Do you think it’s their favorite Halloween yet?”
I don’t know why I ask the question, but I want to know. Maybe it’s part of my competitive nature. I want all their good memories to include me. I want to give them everything they’ve never had in the past.
You’re a selfish bastard, Mac.
Jane’s smile dims as she leans back in her chair. Without overthinking it, I reach over and grab onto her thigh, pulling her closer to me. Jane leans her head against my shoulder with her eyes trained on the kids. As I go to remove my hand from her leg, she places hers over mine, holding it in place.
“He didn’t like Halloween. He thought it was ridiculous that kids would go out and beg for candy and dress up. He said the only candy they could have was when he bought it for them, so we didn’t go. Well, not when he was in town. If he was gone, I would take the kids out, but that only happened a few times,” she says quietly.
I squeeze her thigh as I clench my jaw.
That motherfucker.
It would be one thing if he had banned Halloween because of religious purposes, but to ban it simply for appearance’s sakeis fucked. Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised. Nothing should surprise me with him anymore.
“I think this is only the third time Emily has been out and maybe the fourth or fifth for Tanner,” she says quietly.
“So what I’m hearing is, this is definitely the best Halloween they’ve had so far,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood.
Jane laughs and squeezes my arm. “Definitely.”
I watch as Tanner helps Emily out of the bounce house, and they come running over.
“Mommy, can I get my face painted?” Emily pants.
Jane hums. “Sure, but only if you drink some water first,” she tells her.
Emily groans. “I hate water.”
“No, you don’t.” Jane laughs as she stands, pulling me with her.
“Are you going to get your face painted, bud?” I ask as I grab his mask and lightsaber from the bench we were sitting on.
