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I swore I felt some sort of happy, encouraging warmth in reply.

I headed off to work, leaving Polo behind for the moment, although I could come back to fetch him later, since he was part of my costume. There was so much to do at Provisions and in preparation for the party that, with any luck, I would be too distracted to spend my day wringing my hands and wondering what Bastian was thinking.

It turned out that a lot of people needed last-minute snacks and things for their own Halloween parties. Provisions was buzzing from the minute I unlocked the doors. It was an utter relief.

“See?” I told Hugh as he wrapped cellophane around a gift basket of items a customer had personally selected. “I told you business would pick up.”

“I never doubted you,” Hugh grinned at me over his shoulder from the wrapping station.

I laughed. “Admit it. You did sort of doubt me.”

“Not for a second.” Hugh winked.

Hugh’s confidence was contagious. It was nice to have people who believed in you. I knew what I was doing with gourmet retail. I could up-sell with the best of them, and I loved it when a distinguished older woman asked my opinion about Spanish versus Italian olive oil.

Throughout my entire explanation, though, I kept glancing out the window at the door to the funeral home. I hadn’t seen a hint of blood-red hair or pale skin in days. I was hungry to catch a glimpse of Bastian. I wanted more than a glimpse of him. I wanted to throw myself into his arms and keep him with me for as long as I possibly could.

“Are you going to be at Common Grounds’s Halloween party tonight?” the older woman, Joanne, asked me as I packed a bottle each of Spanish and Italian olive oil into the reusable shopping bag she’d also bought.

My eyebrows flew up. “Of course. Provisions is co-sponsoring it this year,” I said. “Are you coming?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Joanne said with a surprising grin that emphasized the smile lines around her bright eyes even more. “It’s my favorite event of the season. I love it even more than the Christmas treasure hunt.”

“Christmas treasure hunt?” I loved that idea.

“Oh, yes. We do one every year, starting December fifteenth. I hear the prizes are going to be spectacular this year since the Wolfe family is hosting.”

“That sounds really incredible,” I said, thrilled at the idea.

I wanted to ask more questions and find out more, but the door of the funeral home opened, sucking away all my attention. My insides clenched and I held my breath, waiting for Bastian to step out, and maybe even cross the street to come visit me.

I was out of luck. The only people who appeared in the doorway were a sad-looking older couple and one of Bastian’s employees in a drab suit.

My disappointment must have shown. Joanne squinted curiously at me, then looked to the side to see what had caught my attention. A vague smile danced across her wrinkled face. “Another thing I always look forward to at the Halloween party is what sort of elaborate costume Bastian Gorman will come up with.”

I blinked and shook myself, embarrassed that the moon-eyes I was making at the funeral home were that obvious. “I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s costumes,” I said, handing over the bag I’d packed for her. “I’ve got a great one myself.”

“I can’t wait to see it,” she said. She took the bag but didn’t leave the counter. She pressed her lips together, pinched her face in thought, then met my eyes and said, “You know I used to be a teacher at Abington Middle School.”

“I didn’t know that.” I leaned against the counter, pleased that a member of the community wanted to tell me more about themselves.

Joanne continued to smile mischievously. “Yes, and Bastian Gorman was one of the cleverest and most interesting students I ever taught.”

“Oh?” My face flushed hot. Somehow, this woman I’d only just met had me figured out.

“He was also greatly misunderstood,” Joanne went on. She studied me for a moment longer, then said, “Rumor has it he’s been seen out and about with the new shopkeeper in town.”

I blushed even hotter. “We’ve become friends.”

“Ah, yes, friends,” Joanne repeated. “It’s about time he had a friend.” She turned away from the counter and took a step towards the door. “You have good taste, Mr. Andreotti,” she said as she left. “I’ll have to return to shop here more frequently.”

“I look forward to seeing you again,” I said, smiling and waving after her.

The smile stayed on my face and kept my spirits lifted. At the same time, I felt kind of awful for letting the sort of criticism I’d gotten from Stanley the other day influence my feelings about Bastian. I didn’t want to be that person who bowed to other people’s opinions and made major life decisions because of them, but it made me happy that Provisions wouldn’t sink under the opinions of the curmudgeons of the community if I got closer to Bastian.

I was still a big old bundle of guilt, hope, and uncertainty as I handed the store over to Hugh in the afternoon and headed home to fetch my costume and Polo for the big party. The neighborhood was bright and festive with Halloween decorations as I strode quickly down the streets to my house. A few smaller kids were already out with their parents, dressed in costumes that ranged from the beautiful to the macabre. Everyone was happy and excited, which might have meant the kids were pre-gaming sugar before going out, but was still adorable.

I’d decorated my house with care the weekend before. I had several jack-o-lanterns on the porch, along with garlands made of silk leaves and even a scarecrow stuck into a bale of hay. I’d really gone all out for my first Halloween in the neighborhood, though honestly, the house itself did most of the work when it came to looking spooky.