Page 2 of Halloween in Sleepy Hollow
I tear my attention from Cash and Winnie as I turn to my best friend. “Winnie just stuck them on there. I guess she thought his costume wasn’t sparkly enough.”
Thea studies Cash for a second. “Now he looks like a mix of Clifford and Rudolph.”
Laughing, I reply, “I know! I was just thinking the same thing.”
She reaches for her purse. “I need a picture of this. Cash the Big Red Reindeer Dog.”
“I got one already.” I find the photo on my phone and send it to her. “Feel free to use it for his next birthday. I’m sure he’d love it on a T-shirt.”
“Maybe you should get one of Ben, too,” she offers. “His costume is particularly creative this year.”
I follow Thea’s gaze to her husband, Ben, who’s being dragged towards the craft table by their son, Elias. The two of them are dressed in matching robot costumes, which I know Thea spent hours making herself.
“They’re amazing,” I tell her, taking a moment to admire her hand made astronaut costume. “I still can’t believe you made them.”
“Actually, Laila helped this year.” A proud smile curves her lips. “She was a huge help.”
Thea’s stepdaughter, Laila, just turned twelve, which is hard to wrap my head around. I still remember her as a the little seven-year-old who came to our Friends-giving the first year Cash and I were together. That was back before Thea and Ben even started dating, although—and I like to bring it up at least a few times a year—I justknewthere was something between them.
“Where is Laila?” I ask, glancing around the craft area. “Is she checking out the maze? Although, I suppose she’s too old for that now, isn’t she?”
Thea makes a regretful face. “Sadly, yes.” She pauses. “Remember the first Halloween I spent with her? When I made her that unicorn costume?”
“I do.” Laila was so excited to have a home made costume that year. And Thea was thrilled to make it for her.
“Laila’s at her first boy-girl party this year,” Thea adds. She shakes her head in disbelief. “It’s hard to believe. My little girl is growing up.”
I glance at Ben, who’s now sitting beside Cash and Winnie, helping Elias pick out his own small pumpkin to decorate. “And Ben agreed to that? A party withboys?”
Thea laughs. “I know. When Laila first brought it up, Ben immediately said no. But then we talked to the parents of the friend who’s throwing the party, and that helped. Both the parents will be supervising the entire time. So no opportunities to sneak off…”
“And find a closet, you mean?” Nudging her arm with my elbow, I add, “Remember that party freshman year? At Kyla’s?”
“Shhh.” She claps her hand over my mouth. “Don’t even bring that up. I still cringe when I think about?—”
“Jerry Anniston? The boy you weresureyou were going to marry?”
Thea grimaces. “What was Ithinking?” She glances at Ben and Elias again. “Don’t bring that up around Ben. He’s already worried enough about Laila without giving him ideas about sneaking into closets with middle school boys.”
“Who’s sneaking into closets? And what boys?”
From behind us, Grant’s low voice vibrates with laughter. “Do I even want to know what you two are talking about?”
We both turn to face Grant and his wife, Scarlett. Grant’s pushing a double stroller with their twins, Delia and Zack, seated inside it. Almost two-year-old Delia is waving a sparkly wand that matches her fairy princess costume, while Zack clutches a stuffed dragon that matches his own.
“Scarlett,” I blurt, “the twins look so cute!”
Scarlett gazes down at her son and daughter with an adoring expression. “They do, don’t they?”
Grant kisses her cheek. His gaze is soft with affection. “They’re perfect. Just like their mom.”
Aww.
“I was telling Ari about Laila’s Halloween party,” Thea tells them. “Laila is at her first boy-girl party. Which she’s very excited about. Me and Ben, on the other hand…”
“We have too many memories of the trouble we got into,” I finish. “But it’s a supervised party. So it should be fine.”
“Do you want me to have Oliver swing by?”
