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“So we’re doing this?” she asked, smiling.

“We are. You and me, together, and we’ll figure out the rest as we go.”

“Good.” She rose onto her toes and kissed me again. “Because I was going to be very disappointed if I had to drive back to Chicago tomorrow without another one of those.”

I laughed against her mouth.

From the living room came a small, impatient sigh. Sienna had taken out her earbuds.

“Dad?”

I looked over Goldie’s shoulder.

Sienna stood beside the sofa, her sketchbook tucked under one arm and her trick-or-treat bag in the other hand.

“Are we going to go get candy? Because Mary-Kate said people start running out of the good stuff if you wait too long.”

Goldie laughed and stepped away from me, although she kept hold of my hand.

“You’re absolutely right, Sienna. We shouldn’t keep the Bride of Frankenstein waiting.”

Sienna looked hopeful.

“Will you come with us?”

Goldie glanced at me.

I’d come here hoping she’d let me apologize, and I hadn’t dared assume she’d want to spend Halloween with us.

“I’d love to come,” she told Sienna. “Just give me a minute to get my coat.”

My daughter grinned and hurried toward the door.

Goldie went to the front hall for her tan coat, and I followed to help her into it. She turned toward me as I settled it over her shoulders.

“Thank you for coming back,” she said quietly.

“Thank you for opening the door.”

Her smile softened.

I kissed her once more, enjoying the way her fingers curled into my jacket.

Sienna groaned from the porch.

“Dad! You’re making us late!”

Goldie laughed against my mouth.

I kissed her again anyway, then took her hand and followed my daughter down the steps toward the truck.

Epilogue

Goldie — One Year Later

The strings of orange and white lights above the festival paths blinked on just as Sienna reached for my hand.

“Come see this, Goldie. Dad says the lighting’s better now that it’s getting dark.”