Page 95 of Secrets That Bind Us
Present Day
Halloween in Adelaide is somehow bigger and better than Christmas. Every shop is decorated from top to bottom, inside and out. The spooky vibes aren’t lacking, and everyone has at least two costumes to wear. One for daytime and the other for nighttime activities such as trick-or-treating, the festival, or house parties. Over the last six years, it’s expanded to an all-day thing, ending with the festival on the outskirts of town– something I help organize every year– closing down at midnight.
I pick up Savannah and Noah from school after my shift, just a few short hours before it’s time to trick-or-treat. Their secondary costumes are in my cruiser– which they love to ride in– and I feel like I’m really fucking killing it at this dad thing. Just me, my kids, and getting ready to do Halloween the small-town way. I want them to experience the small town things I can offer.
I really love being a dad. I may not have the full experience yet, and I’ll never fully catch up to Verity, but damn– this dad thing is awesome, and Verity and I have finally set a date for our wedding– Mid-March, so we can honeymoon while the kids are on Spring break.
Trick-or-treating starts in the town square where there are already folks that live a little too far out on the farms to participate, by having kids coming to them door-to-door. They park with their trunks out, to hand out candy and treats. Some already have warm apple cider and hot chocolatestations ready, some folks are grilling hot dogs, and some trick-out their trunks just for this.
I will say, I’ll miss it when we’re gone. But for now… well, for now I’ll simply soak in all the small town feels.
So that’s where we’re headed. The Ink Plot Bistro may not be entirely set up for the soft launch tomorrow, but its window display is ready, with little jack-o-lanterns and a little porcelain village of haunted houses, ‘cobwebs’ and lights. It’s cute and I can’t wait to see how they react to this. Mostly, I can’t wait to see Verity’s reaction to all the changes I’ve helped bring about.
The bell above the door to the bookshop rings and Verity comes from the back dressed in a tight little inmate costume, hair down and wavy, contacts instead of glasses, red lips, eyes winged to perfection, and I swear to God, my knees buckle a little. I look down and notice she’s wearing little white sneakers instead of heels, and the bit of her that shows she’s a mom somehow makes it even hotter. God, I’m obsessed with Verity.
She hugs our kids and then reaches up, putting her arms around my neck and I lean down to kiss her while the kids go change into their costumes. “I’m pretty sure what you’re wearing is illegal.”
“Oh yeah? Are you gonna arrest me…Sheriff?” she winks.
Chills roll down my spine and shoot straight to my dick. I grab her hands and put them behind her back. “Careful, pretty girl– I already have my handcuffs on me.”
She moans.
“Got anything to say for yourself?”
“Mmm… If I do, will you hold it against me?”
Well goddamn… I nip at her earlobe. “You smell so fucking good, baby. This tight little thing looks so fucking good on you. I can’t wait to tear this off of you and fuck the absolute life out of you.” I snarl in her ear.
She hums and lowers her voice. “When we get home later, I want you to fuck my face like you used to. I want you to take your handcuffs anduseme.Howeveryou want to.”
She’s fucking dangerous.
“Mommy!”
“Hey there, Sheriff Huntington!” She slips so easily out of my grasp and turns to face Noah, bending down to fix his little Sheriff badge, and I have to think of everything but my bride-to-be and all the ways I’m gonna torture her for being a cocktease.
Nana, Nana, Nana. Yup. I’m good.
“No Mom, I’m Sheriff Carson. Remember?” He whips out his little fake pistol."You've gotta ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well,do ya, punk?"He says in a thick, southern drawl, imitating Clint Eastwood– a movie we watched together just a few nights ago. Verity and I chuckle, but my heart is swelling with pride that he wants to have my last name, and I will be rectifying that as soon as Verity and I are married. Both of my children will carry my last name– just like their mother.
My heart swells with pride again at that thought.
Verity nods. “You’re right, Sheriff Carson, how could I forget? You look just like him.” She boops him on the nose, and it makes him giggle.
“Um, Mom?”
We both look up to see Savannah hanging back in her Maleficent costume, and Noah points his pistol at her. “Go ahead, make my day.”
I cover my mouth to not laugh, Verity pushing his little arm down. She looks at me over her shoulder. “Just how many Clint Eastwood movies did you have him watch with you?”
I put my hands up in surrender. “Just the two, I swear.” It was three.
Savvy, of course, ignores her little brother. “Mom, can you help me with my makeup?”
Verity stands to her full height, which isn’t very tall. I fucking love that. It makes it so much easier to pick her up and manhandle her the way I like. “Yeah, of course. We’ll be right back.” She agrees, and they disappear.
I look down at Noah, hand on his hip, mimicking me. I grin. “Well, Sheriff, wanna see if Iris has a sandwich we can eat?”
