We arrive at the Halloween store with my ball cap pulled low over my brow. Word’s obviously out that I live in town now, and people stare as we walk by. Thankfully, it’s a small town that’s off the beaten path, so the paparazzi isn’t as bad as it would be in a big city, but there are still people who break out their phones to take pics as we walk by.
Cailin runs toward the kids section and searches for her costume. “What size am I, Daddy?” she asks as she picks up a Cinderella dress.
I take it and hold it up to her body. “That looks about right.”
Sarah laughs as she steps toward the rack. “That’s a large. She’s definitely a small.” She grabs a small one and holds it up to Cailin, proving I’m wrong.
“See, that’s why we needed you to come with us.” I smirk, and she shakes her head in a chuckle.
“Come on. They have a dressing room back here. We can try it on to make sure.” She leads Cailin toward the back where she gets her set up. “When you’re finished, just come out to show us. We’ll be right outside.”
I place my arm around Sarah’s shoulders from behind when she joins me, and I love the way she leans against my chest, like it’s something she’s done a hundred times.
When Cailin comes out, my heart stops at the precious blue dress that falls down to her ankles.
How is that my little girl?
The costume makes her look like more than a made-up princess. She’s my princess.
She turns to Sarah, who finishes buttoning her up.
“You look gorgeous,” Sarah says as Cailin twirls around to show off the outfit.
“Will you help me with my hair?” Cailin asks as she attempts to pull her hair off her shoulders and place it on top of her head.
“Sure, we can do that.”
“Will you have your hair up too?” Cailin asks.
I see the hesitation flash across Sarah’s face as her body stiffens. She tries to recover, but when she glances my direction, it makes me wonder even more why she would react that way over a question about hair.
“We’ll let you be the true Cinderella on Halloween. If I wore my hair up too, no one would be able to tell us apart,” she says as she places a crown on her head.
Cailin giggles as she turns to view herself in the mirror. When Sarah stands up straight and heads back to me, I can sense that something’s different with her. An uneasy feeling touches me from the inside.
I wrap my arm around her shoulders, bringing back to our same position as before, and whisper into her ear when I pull her into me again, “Everything okay?”
She nods as she inhales a shaky breath. I know it’s a lie, but I let it go for now, hoping she’ll open up to me soon if something is bothering her.
“My gloves!” Cailin yells as she turns around.
Sarah pulls away from me again, all too eager to help Cailin with her costume accessories.
I try to ignore the voices telling me something’s wrong and place my focus back on my daughter, who holds out her hands to me once they are donned in long white gloves. I take them and swing her around before placing one hand out to dance like they do in the movies.
Cailin steps on my feet, and we take a few turns, causing a bit of a spectacle before I place her back on the storeroom floor and tell her to go get changed.
Sarah’s face is covered in a smile, but I can tell it’s not as genuine as it normally is. Whatever just went through her mind is big, and I need to figure out what it was.
19
Sarah
Today is the first day I haven’t seen Adam. Even if we don’t hang out, we see each other when he drops and picks up Cailin every day for school. Now that it’s Saturday, I realize just how nice those opportune meetings are. We haven’t had to plan anything or had those awkward moments of calling each other. It’s been natural since we’re already together.
Now, I’ve spent all day wanting to call him, see what they’re doing, and I’m noticing just how bad I have it for the guy.
I busied myself with home chores, cleaning my kitchen and bathrooms, and then going grocery shopping. I noticed the few glances I got as I walked by, which only made me think of him more.
