“You handed out the flyer to the parents at the library, right?”
I nod.
“So, if you count up all of those families, plus all of the kids who live and ride here at the ranch, we’ll probably see about thirty or forty.” He points to each of the empty bags littering the countertop in quick succession. “That’s at least four pieces of candy each.”
I turn my head and smile. “I love when you get all nerdy on me.”
He leans in for a kiss, but I stop him. “Don’t. You’ll get silver makeup all over me.”
“Let me remind you that this family costume was your idea, Dorothy.”
I giggle. “In my defense, you were already halfway there. I just needed to add a few finishing touches.”
“It’s cute that you think that particular appendage accounts for half of me.”
Clio’s face pulls into a look of disgust as she tears open a Twix. “Ew. Gross. That’s TMI, even for me.”
“Where’s Lexi?” I ask.
“Last I checked, she was in the office trying to coax Atticus into his costume.”
Footsteps travel down the stairs, and Lexi materializes in the kitchen with Atticus in her arms. He’s half her size and looking as disgruntled as ever with his fluffy ears peeking out of the lion’s mane Clio crafted for him out of colorful felt and hot glue. He swats at the straw sticking out of Lexi’s overalls, and she giggles.
“Your hat is done,” Clio says, gesturing to the deconstructed straw hat sitting on the island. My sister is exactly the kind of mom I always knew she’d be—patient, compassionate, resourceful—everything a mother should be.
Lexi sets Atticus on the floor so she can put it on. He jerks his head to rid himself of the costume to no avail.
“I think he’s broken,” Jaxon says.
The doorbell rings, and I rush to answer it, armed with the overflowing bucket of candy. Our first trick-or-treaters of the night are Emmy and Gracie. They’re in matching fairy princess costumes, complete with shimmering wings and plastic tiaras.
“Trick or treat!” Emmy hollers.
With a bucktoothed grin, Gracie echoes her a second too late.
Jaxon joins me at the door.
Emmy beams. “Uncle Jaxy! Callie! Look!” She does animpressive pirouette on the stoop, showing off her costume. Gracie mirrors the movement.
“Wow, Emmy girl,” Jax says. “You’re the prettiest princesses I’ve ever seen.”
I wave at Liv and Wilder, who are standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking on with pride.
When Wilder spots Jaxon, he lets out a hearty chuckle. “Never thought I’d see the day.”
“Fuck you. Just because you’re too chicken shit to dress up with your kids, doesn’t mean I am.”
“You don’t even have kids,” Wilder retorts.
“Not yet.”
I glance down at Emmy, who’s holding out her palm. “That’ll be two dollars, please.”
Jaxon slides the cash into Emmy’s hand, and I drop two handfuls of candy into their pumpkin buckets.
“Go see Uncle Griff next,” Jaxon whispers. “I heard he’s got the full-size candy bars.”
“Yes!” Emmy fist pumps the air and bounds down the steps.
