Page 88 of The Neighborhood Ghost

He did the same. He had risked his soul so she could live and fight the Savinos. A random house for sale in a small town she had never heard of had changed her life more than anything else in the world. A chance encounter on a moonlit night brought together the union of two souls. She tried not to move, so she didn’t ruin the perfectly laid out dress, but she allowed herself to smile.

“Don’t start without us,” a woman’s voice said.

Alice glanced over at the approaching figures. Entering the candlelit room were her parents—Rowena and Linus Primrose. They were roughly the same age as the Raskins. Both had black hair with streaks of gray. Her mom wore an elegant hunter green dress. Her dad wore a slimming black tuxedo with floral flares on the end of his lapels. The fairies had provided both outfits.

“Mom!” Alice said as she stretched out her arms. She wanted to rush to embrace her mom, but the long train of the dress limited her movement.

Her mom swooped in and embraced her daughter in a long hug.

Alice fought back tears. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I missed you too,” Rowena said. “Oh, how I’ve missed you. Missed this.”

Rowena relinquished the hug, but still touched Alice’s arms. “You look like a princess.”

Alice and her mom gazed into each other’s eyes, both welling with tears. Alice couldn’t hold back any longer, and one trailed down her cheek.

“Why be a princess when you can be a witch? Right, sweetie?” Linus said as he pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Alice.

She used it to wipe the tear away without ruining her makeup. “Right, Daddy,” Alice replied as she opened her arms and hugged her father.

“You look beautiful,” Linus said.

“Thank you,” Alice replied.

Rowena said, “I’m excited to finally meet this Hugo. You should have introduced us sooner.”

“In fairness, I was on the run and hiding until a month ago,” Alice reminded them.

“He better be nicer to you than the last vampire,” Linus said. “Or else I’ll have words with him.”

Alice chuckled. “He’s better than everyone else I’ve dated combined. No question.”

“Good,” Linus said with a wink.

“Well, if he’s half the man Ez said he was—” Rowena began.

“Ez spoke highly of him?” Alice asked.

“She said he truly loved you and was a good man,” Rowena said.

“He’s the best,” Alice said.

Linus stood on her left side with Rowena on her right. They slipped their arms under her arms as she clutched the bouquet of flowers.

“I’m honored both of you will be walking me down the aisle,” Alice said.

“No,” Linus said.

“It’s our honor to walk you,” Rowena finished.

Alice’s eyes welled. “Thank you. By the way, Mom, I had them add little vine details in my dress. I know you wanted me to be a green witch, so I did it to honor you.”

Her mother tapped her arm, resting her head against it. “Thank you.”

“I think it’s time. The music is changing,” Linus said.

Right on cue, the double doors opened.

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