Page 103 of Reclaimed

“You can show me your ball later.” He kisses the tip of my nose.

“Only if you show me yours.”

“Deal.” His husky murmur gives me butterflies. Or maybe that’s the baby moving around.

For the next hour we hand out baggies to kids dressed as superheroes and princesses, and every trademarked movie character in existence. The mix of homemade and store-bought costumes is fun to experience. My thoughts turn to my own baby and the future. About Halloweens to come. Am I the type of mom to make a costume, or will we run to the store together topick one out? It’s not something I’ve ever thought about before now.

The future is a big unknown.

As I look to the man beside me, smiling as a little girl touches his puppy ears, I surrender to the idea that unknown doesn’t have to mean scary.

Unknown can be exciting too.

“I recognize this little bat,” Aiden announces.

“Uncle Aiden!” Bennett runs over to us, his little legs pumping as he carries a full bucket of candy. Without pause, Aiden scoops the little boy up and into his arms.

“Whoa, is any of that for me?” Aiden asks.

Bennett looks at his bucket then back at his uncle. “You can have one piece,” he says sternly. I smile at the image the two of them create.

Aiden laughs, dropping an extra ring pop into Bennett’s bucket. “I won’t take your candy, kid. You keep it.” He sets Bennett back on his feet just as Lucy reaches me.

She holds up her bucket and says shyly, “Trick-or-treat.”

“Here you go, Lucy. Do you want a pink or a red glowstick?”

She points at the pink one.

“Good choice. Pink is my favorite too.”

I crouch down and show the kids how to crack their glowsticks. The light illuminates their grins as they shake them to life.

Red and blue flashing lights interrupt the moment. Two cruisers pull in, and both Sutton and Silas hop out.

“Uh-oh,” Bennett says. “Did you break the law, Uncle Aiden?”

“Not this time, kid,” he says, taking his nephew’s hand in his.

A chill runs through me at the serious expression etched on the brothers’ faces.

“What’s going on?” Lee reaches us the same time Sutton and Silas do.

Sutton’s mouth flattens into a firm line. “Time to shut this down. Fairview Valley is enacting a curfew.”

Concerned parents begin to usher their kids away.

“Now?” Jack sputters. “What happened?”

Silas flicks his gaze to Lucy and Bennett. “You might want to take them elsewhere.”

“Come on guys. Let’s go see what candy you got.” Frankie moves without prompting to shuttle the little ones away. Jude follows, likely not wanting to leave them on their own.

“Spit it out.” Aiden inches forward, his hand curling around mine at our sides.

“A girl was murdered,” Silas shares. He twists the knob on his radio, dampening the crackle.

I gasp, and Juniper covers her mouth with her hands.

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