Page 76 of Temporarily in Love

“Thank you!” they cheered. Or at least Callie tried. She was so little she still spoke in baby talk.

We went to a couple more houses, the girls getting more excited about the candy. Lila told them they had to wait until they got home so she could cast protection spells on everything.

I smiled to myself as I listened to her talk and interact with her nieces. Lila would be a great mom one day, and she was an awesome aunt for taking these two out tonight so Brian and Kelsey didn’t have to.

“How’s Kels doing?” I asked.

“Tired, but she seems okay,” Lila said.

“Baby number three, huh?”

Lila laughed. “Well, Brian has four brothers.”

“Four?” I exclaimed. “There’s a fourth one?”

I knew about Killian since he was in our grade, and Ronan was a grade or two below us, so we knew each other growing up. I hadn’t met Finn until the grand re-opening party at the pub. He had the red Murphy hair like Brian, so I probably would have guessed he was one of their brothers had they not told me. I didn’t know there was yet another brother.

“Oh, that’s because Lachlan’s the baby. He’s Gemma’s age,” she explained. “And he lives in Fishtown.”

That would explain it. If he lived in the city, I probably didn’t know him that well.

I rarely went into the city. Drakesville wasn’t in the country or anything. It was a small town close to Philly in a highly populated area. I preferred suburban life over the city. Or maybe I was complacent about living in the same place my whole life.

“He did the photography for the new website.”

“Oh. Those were pretty good.”

Lila nodded, and we continued to talk as we walked down the street until we made it to my brother’s house.

Lila bent down and put her hands on both girls’ shoulders. “Okay, my little witches, this is the house Declan grew up in. His big brother lives here with his wife and their baby. So we’re gonna knock quietly in case the baby’s sleeping, okay?”

Both girls nodded their little heads.

“Baby?” Callie asked and pointed to Lila’s stomach.

Lila laughed. “No, sweet pea. No baby for me, but Declan’s got a little niece like you were once.”

We walked the girls up to the porch, but I had already texted Avery that we were two houses down, so she opened the door before we had time to knock. And Norah was on her hip, wearing the cutest pumpkin costume ever. My niece was so cute.

“Aw!” Lila cried. “She looks so cute!”

“Look at you!” Avery exclaimed as she looked at the little girls. “I’m graced by double witches tonight!”

“Three,” I said as I took Norah out of her arms. I rocked Norah, and when I looked at Lila, she had a funny look in her eye when she saw me with my niece.

Avery laughed. “Oh, I didn’t even see you there, Lila. You all look great. Wow, Dec, you even dressed up.”

“It’s Halloween. It’s the rules!” Lila exclaimed.

Avery laughed. She wasn’t wearing a costume, unless a tired working mom was one, but she had Norah dressed up, so I thought that counted for something. Avery dropped two candy bars in the girls’ buckets, then I handed the baby back to her. Norah started to cry immediately.

Avery frowned. “Gee, thanks, Dec.”

“Sorry!”

She fixed me with a glare. “One day you’re going to have a crying baby of your own, and you’ll know my pain.”

“One day!” I said.