Page 85 of The Monster I Loved
I shrugged. “I didn’t know. It was just the easiest, and the idea came to me.”
Summer’s blonde hair bounced as she came closer. “Guess we read each other’s minds. Either way, we’re a couple again, and Halloween seems like a great place to tell all of Tarrytown.”
My father’s newspaper announcement already did that yesterday. I’m sure some of the Tarrytown residents already fainted at the idea of Summer and me getting married. One of us killing the other had been more likely.
We walked side by side toward Main Street.
“Aww, look at the baby pumpkin. She’s so cute.”
She was a cutie, but her brother, the ninja, had my vote for cutest.
We debated this all the way down Broadway until we found Henry, Cora, and Wylie near the school.
“You two are finally here?” Henry asked, studying our face paint.
“It wasn’t planned,” I began to explain.
Cora smiled just like Henry did.
Summer playfully slapped my shoulder. “Hey, are you embarrassed to be in a couple’s costume with me?”
“Of course not?—”
“I want to get my face painted like that next year,” Wylie said.
Henry shook his head. “Uncle Thad and Aunt Summer will have their own little baby skeleton next year. How about doing matching costumes with me?”
“We can be ninjas!” Wylie suggested with wide, excited eyes.
That was the thing about Tarrytown: I meant it when I said we looked forward to Halloween. As the clock ran out on this one, even young Wylie had already started planning for next year.
Daisy and Eden joined us in our little spot as we watched the parade go by. Across the street, nearer to the park, I spotted Felix, Ashley, and, to my surprise, Melissa. Halloween’s greatesthater. How did they drag her here? She locked eyes with Felix, and I thought I saw Mimi wink. Ashley had better watch out.
On the sidewalk, I stood among all the other spectators watching smiling kids in every costume imaginable pass by. By my count, superhero and princess costumes led the score. Many adults wearing costumes accompanied their kids. I noted the ones pushing strollers decked out like ships or houses.Next year, maybe Summer and I could be in the parade.
Music blasting from an approaching float interrupted my thought. The whole street was alive, and I couldn’t help but smile. It was my first parade in ten years. I’d missed it. Not just this, but everything about Tarrytown, and I was happy as hell to be home.
I reached down and slipped Summer’s hand into mine. Not only for confirmation that this was real but also to make sure that as the crowd hurried off, they didn’t trample her. Summer and the baby she was carrying were worth more than my entire life.
20
EVERYTHING CHANGES
Thaddeus
After the parade ended,we all knew there was only one thing left. One very important activity before Tarrytown would fall into gloom until next year when Halloween rolled around again—trick-or-treating. Slowly, Summer and I walked up the hill, surrounded by kids running from one house to the next, growing their candy stashes.
Many houses set out buckets of candy on the honor system as no one was home to hand out the treats. It was Halloween, the liveliest day in Tarrytown, and the night when the whole town came alive. Beside me, Summer smiled, and I reached down for her hand. The same holiday that marked the end of our relationship would also ring in the start of a new one.
Next year, Summer and I would have a baby of our own, and despite our playful argument earlier, I didn’t care what our kid was dressed as for Halloween. I was just looking forward to making memories. Who the hell would have thought I’d be where I am right now?
We finally made it home. Well, to my house. Where we’d end up living permanently was still undecided. Aston stood outside, handing out candy with a big smile. I’d thought with my murderous reputation, parents would keep their children away, but I forgot Tarrytown celebrated monsters and evil.
“When we run out of candy, turn off the light,” Summer reminded him as we entered the house.
I nodded. “What should we do now?”
She grinned. “Let’s watch a scary movie.”
