Page 14 of His Loving Wife

“I don’t think there’s an age limit when it comes to fun.” She knelt down in front of him. “Besides, it’s your favorite holiday.”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t feel the same.”

Kate sighed. She’d been dreading this reaction all month. Ever since they moved into this neighborhood, the Brooks family hosted their own Halloween party. They had a great street for trick or treating. Parents would take turns caravanning the children around the block, then meet back at theirs for snacks and spirits. As much as she wanted to continue the tradition for her children, Kate couldn’t do it. These days, she ducked around the corner when she spotted a neighbor or friendly face. She couldn’t very well invite those same people to her house and fake being jovial all night.

“There’s always a big celebration at the park. Give it a try this year. You might enjoy it.”

“There’s too many people there. Half the kids in my grade don’t dress up anymore, and I don’t want them to see me and make fun. I just want to stay here, like we always do.”

“No one will make fun of you,” she said, hoping it was true. Noah was at that age between child and teen, and she wanted him to stay in the former category for as long as possible. She pinched his nose. “You’re too scary for that.”

There was the sound of a door opening downstairs.

“I think that’s Dad,” she said, cupping his chin. “Let’s see what his plans are for the night.”

When Kate reached the main level, Andrew was standing in the kitchen, still wearing his coat. The refrigerator door was open, and he was looking inside. When he heard Kate behind him, he startled slightly, then looked back at the fridge.

“The traffic once I got off the highway was ridiculous,” he said. “Cars are already lined up entering the neighborhood.”

“It feels different this year, doesn’t it? Because we’re not throwing the party.”

“I suppose.” He closed the door without retrieving anything.

“Noah might enjoy going to the community park. Maybe we could take him.”

“Crowds aren’t really my thing.” Above them, there was a rhythmic thudding. The unmistakable sound of Willow’s stomping. “What’s that about?”

“I don’t approve of Willow’s costume. She’s not very happy about it.”

“What’s she supposed to be? A witch or something?”

“I’d describe her costume as Victoria’s Secret model meets Bratz doll.”

Andrew arched his eyebrows and made a whistling sound. If Kate felt unprepared to handle their daughter’s teenage fits, Andrew was even less so. He didn’t know much about women in general, but Kate had made it easy on him. Willow was testing his limits altogether.

She took a step closer to her husband, putting a hand on his forearm. “Maybe after we get back from the park the two of us can watch a movie together. Pour some wine. Munch on popcorn.”

Andrew pulled his hand away. “I told you, I’m not very keen on going to the park.”

But she felt what he meant to say was that he wasn’t keen on spending a romantic evening with her. There’d been a gap between them ever since the attack really, but the divide had deepened after she fessed up about her encounters with Paul.

“This is usually such a fun night for us. As a family.”

Upstairs, they heard a door slamming. Both their heads jerked in the direction of the sound.

“Well, things are changing,” he said.

Kate bit her bottom lip and shifted her weight. She wasn’t one for drama, but she’d rather have a confrontation and lay it all out. Andrew was more inclined to pout, and it had been almost an entire month of detachment. She’d been foolish in thinking tonight, a holiday, might change things.

“You have to stop this. I swear I didn’t do anything wrong. How was I supposed to know that Paul would—”

She stopped talking when she realized Noah had joined them in the kitchen. He stood with his treat sack in front of him, his skeletal makeup perfected.

“Look at you,” Andrew said, walking toward him. His smile was wide, and his voice was chipper. He turned into Dad mode at the turn of a dime, something Kate admired, but she wondered if his eagerness had more to do with their conversation being on pause.

“Do you think I’m too old to go trick or treating?”

Andrew looked at Kate, then back at their son. “Not if it’s something you’d like to do. Mom mentioned something about going to the park—”

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