by Denise Carbo
“Bye,” Franny and Lucinda chorus as we walk out the door.
“Where did you park?”
He points up the street. I tilt my head in the opposite direction. “I parked in the lot by the docks this morning. Meet you at my house?”
He nods and kisses me on the cheek. “Drive safe.”
“You too. Mom will be there in a little while to get the boys off the bus. She’s going to be so happy when she sees you.”
We walk in different directions. My steps quicken and I clutch my purse strap in my hands. How can I avoid introducing Luke to my brother?
The last man I introduced Oli to was my ex-husband, and he punched Ryan in the mouth before he even said hello.
Granted, I had just confessed I was pregnant and dropping out of college to him the day before. Oli had been away at college and had hopped on a train to come home immediately.
That was an extraordinary circumstance. Oli was being an overprotective big brother. He takes those seven minutes being born before me very seriously.
Chapter 19
“Ryan’s here and he brought a friend.” Oli’s call up the stairs freezes me in place.
What? Ryan wouldn’t have brought a woman over without asking. He hasn’t even mentioned he’s dating anyone. Who the heck would he bring to go trick-or-treating with the boys?
I pull the safety pin from between my lips and climb to my feet. “There, you’re all set kiddo. No more tripping over the hem.”
“Thanks Mom.” Timmy runs over and hops on his bed to put his mask on.
Tommy is still in the bathroom so I knock on the door as I walk by. “You good in there?”
“Yeah, I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Okay.” I turn to go down the stairs but stop dead.
Oli stands in front of the open door. Ryan and Luke are both on the front steps.
I slap a hand on the wall to stop from falling down the stairs.
Shit!
Now what do I do?
Luke has his hands stuffed in the front pocket of his jeans with his gaze glued on me. Ryan is frowning at Oli who has a grin on his face.
He turns and looks up the stairs at me hovering at the top. “You didn’t tell me Ryan finally came out of the closet.”
What?
Ryan folds his arms over his chest. “Real cute, Oliver. Going into standup comedy now?”
Oli shrugs. “It’s always good to have options.”
I roll my eyes.
“Oli, behave.”
I rush down the stairs and smile at Luke. “Hi. Sorry, it’s a bit chaotic at the moment. The boys are getting ready.” I glance at Ryan. “Why don’t you go up and see if they need any more help.”
Ryan brushes between Oli and I and goes up the stairs.
“Luke this is my brother, Oliver. Oli, this is my neighbor, Luke Hollister.”
Luke holds out his hand. Oli glances down at it a moment before shaking it with his own.
He folds his arms across his chest and leans against the doorframe watching us.
I give him a tight smile and flick my gaze inside the house. He simply raises an eyebrow and remains leaning on the door.
I never got around to mentioning Luke or our budding relationship since Oli arrived two days ago. It’s been a mad dash between work, dinner with our parents, and the kids’ excitement over having their uncle to play with.
“Don’t you need to get ready?”
Oli glances down at himself and back up. “Nope.”
Sighing, I plaster a smile on my face for Luke. “Did you find the replacement costume for Joey?”
“Yeah, but in a different color. He was okay with it though.”
“Joey your son?”
Luke glances over at Oli. “Nephew.”
“Barbara must have been relieved.”
Luke’s gaze returns to me and he nods.
A door slams upstairs and Timmy and Tommy come running down the stairs making enough noise for a group five times their size. Ryan trails behind them.
“Mom, let’s go!” Tommy pushes by me.
“Say hello to our neighbor, Mr. Hollister.”
He stops on the threshold and tilts his head back. “Hi.”
“Hi. I like your costume.”
“Thanks.” Tommy runs to Ryan’s car.
“Appropriate too.”
I tilt my head.
The corner of Luke’s mouth kicks up. “The speed? He is the Flash, right?”
Laughing, I wrap an arm around Timmy when he stops and leans against me. “Yes.”
Luke glances down at Timmy. “And you’re his buddy The Arrow. Very cool.”
Timmy nods and then glances up. I raise my eyebrow. He knows his manners, but his shyness often gets in the way.
He looks up and then down. “Thanks.”
I pat his back. “Okay, kiddo, go wait in the car with your brother.”
He shuffles past Luke on the stairs and then jogs over to the car.
Ryan sidesteps me and then Oli. “We going, or what?”
“I left a bowl of a candy out on my front steps if the boys want to swing by.”
“Oh, thanks for reminding me.” I step back and grab the bowl full of candy from the kitchen table. “I almost forgot.”
I step down on the steps and glance back at Oli still lounging in the doorway. “Did you change your mind about trick-or-treating with your nephews?”
“No.”
“Well, then, shouldn’t you get in the car?”
He stares at me and then Luke before slowly stepping out and closing the door behind him.
As Oli walks down the walk, Luke leans close and whispers in my ear. “Love the costume, Legs.”
He turns and walks off in the opposite direction to his house. I set the candy on the stoop and check to make sure I locked the door before hurrying to the car.
My night is going to be an inquisition between stops. While the boys go to the houses, Oli and probably Ryan are going to pepper me with questions about Luke. I just know it.
At least they won’t be trading barbs with one another. Oli has never warmed to Ryan.
The passenger seat is empty so I walk around the front of the car. When I slide into the seat, I glance over my shoulder at Oli sandwiched into the backseat with the boys. “You can sit up front, you know. I’ll sit with the boys.”
He shakes his head. “We’re good. Aren’t we boys?” He glances at them and they both nod their heads.
Ryan backs out of my driveway and we start the family visits portion of Halloween. It’s been the same route every year since the kids were born. We start at Ryan’s parents’ house because they’re the farthest away and then we work our way back stopping at my parents’ house and then finish in town.
Oli and the boys are whispering conspiratorially in the back seat. Every once in a while, one or both of the boys giggle. I can only imagine what they’re planning back there. I pray, whatever it is, they don’t pull it at Ryan’s parents’.
Maria and Paul Banner aren’t exactly my biggest fans. They never have been. I guess I can understand a little. How many parents are going to welcome the girl who got knocked up by their son and who they blame for ruining their son’s life?
It takes two, but I’m the one who didn’t know antibiotics lower the effectiveness of the pill. And they know it.
They’re never mean, just distantly polite. They tolerate my presence because of the boys. Thankfully, they’ve never transferred their blame or dislike to Timmy or Tommy. I can endure the few times a year I see them because they love their grandsons without question.
I don’t know why they continue to blame me anyway. Ryan never dropped out of college. He finished on time. I was the one who dropped out. Maybe they don’t deem me worthy because of it.
When Ryan told them I planned to be a stay-at-home mom, they said it was too much of a financial burden to place on his young shoulders. We were living with my parents rent free. Yes, Ryan got a part-time job to
help with expenses for his senior year, but hardly the financial burden they painted it to be.
My parents were the ones who gave us a sizeable deposit for the house once Ryan graduated and got a full-time job. We never would have been able to afford it otherwise. Once the kids were both in school, I got a part-time job. First it was at a bank and then when Franny opened The Sweet Spot I applied there.
We’re divorced, I shouldn’t be worrying about pleasing my ex-husband’s parents anymore.
Ryan pulls into his parents’ driveway. The white colonial house with black shutters is awash in shadowy light form the solar lights lining the brick walkway and the porch lights flanking the hunter green front door.
The kids pile out of the door and race up the driveway. Ryan and Oli climb out and amble behind them. I take a deep breath and close my eyes before unbuckling my seatbelt and opening the car door.
The boys ring the doorbell and the front door opens. They both hold up their jack-o’-lantern buckets and sing out, “trick-or-treat.”
“Do my eyes deceive me? Are there superheroes at my door?” Ryan’s mom bends over and drops a full-size candy bar in each of their buckets. “One for each of you. Now where are my hugs?”
The boys give her hugs and then do the same to their grandfather who arrives behind her. Ryan steps up and kisses his mom on the cheek. “Hi Mom.” He nods at his father over Timmy and Tommy’s heads. “Dad.”
“Hi Mr. and Mrs. Banner. You remember my brother, Oliver, don’t you?” I wave my hand towards my brother standing next to me at the bottom of the stairs. They haven’t seen him in at least a year, probably more.
They give us both polite smiles. “Of course, we do.” She puts her hand on Tommy’s back. “Come in, come in.”
We all trudge inside. Ryan’s dad stands in front of the stairs bisecting the house. He raises his chin when Oli steps in behind me. “Here for a visit, Oliver?”
“Yes sir. Just a few days.” He holds out his hand to shake.
They shake hands and Mr. Banner questions him about work. I sidle off down the hallway to the kitchen where I can hear the kids’ voices.
Ryan’s mom tucks a rolled-up dollar bill in each of the boys’ buckets. “Now this is a little extra for later.” She glances up at me hovering in the doorway. “You’re not too cold in that outfit, Olivia?”
The costume isn’t risqué by any means. It covers more than almost any bathing suit I’ve ever owned has. My maternity swimsuit would probably hide a little more especially now without my belly full of twins. There’s a skirt which ends just above my knees. I have on tights and a full cape too.
“No, I’m fine.”
She turns back to Ryan rooting through the fridge. “What are you looking for, honey? Didn’t you eat dinner?” She shoots me a look over her shoulder.
Not my responsibility to feed your son anymore.
She glances over at the boys. “Did you have anything to eat?”
“Yes, Oli fed them.” The boys stayed with Oli today while I was at work. Ryan didn’t argue when I asked if they could instead of going with him today like normal. They’ll go home with him tonight.
She stares at me a moment before turning back to the fridge. “Go sit. I’ll fix you something.”
Ryan walks over and sits at the kitchen table while the boys pet the old hound dog lying in his bed by the mudroom.
His mother has a firm opinion on gender roles. She called once during one of the rare times Ryan was handling bath time for the boys and demanded to know why he was giving them baths and not me.
I wander over to the boys while Ryan devours the sandwich she made for him. Oli and Mr. Banner enter the kitchen. Oli joins me while Ryan’s dad sits at the table with his wife and son.
“You good?” Oli hovers over my shoulder.
I nod and toss him a smile.
Ryan stands and his mother carries his empty plate to the sink. “We better head out. There’ are still a lot of stops to make.”
“You’re a good father, but you push yourself too hard.” His mother hugs him and rubs his back. He kisses her on top of her head.
“Boys, go give your grandparents hugs and say thank you.” Tommy and Timmy run to do my bidding while I walk over to the entryway and wave at Ryan’s parents. “Nice to see you.”
They give me their polite smiles.
Oli and I reach the car first. He gives me a hug. “You’re the best mom, Sis.”
“Thanks, Oli.” I lean on his shoulder and hug him back. Obviously, I didn’t do as good as a job as I thought hiding my feelings in there. Never been one of my strengths.
We all pile back into the car after the boys race out followed more slowly by Ryan.
My parents open the door and step out onto the porch as soon as we arrive. Mom was probably watching out the window waiting for us.
She holds her arms out to the boys and they run over to give her hugs. Even though she babysits for an hour every Wednesday thru Friday, she always acts like she hasn’t seen them in forever and wraps her arms around them and rocks them back and forth. Dad rubs the tops of their heads and stuffs a hand full of candy in each of their buckets.
“Laura. Mike.” Ryan rests his foot on the bottom step and holds the railing.
Mom gives him a hug. “I haven’t seen you in forever. How are you?”
Dad shakes his hand and pats him on the shoulder while Oli kisses and hugs Mom before waltzing inside with the boys.
“I’m good. How are you doing?”
“Oh, the same as always.” She turns to me when I bend to give her a quick kiss on the cheek and a one-armed hug. “Hi honey, don’t you look festive. You always loved Halloween.”
Did I? I suppose so. I like all the holidays.
We visit inside for a few minutes while Mom fusses over everyone and offers drinks, food, and the use of the bathroom before we say our goodbyes.
Once again, we’re back in the car and headed back to Granite Cove.
Arriving in the village, Halloween banners flutter from the streetlights lining Main Street. Orange, purple, and green lights are strung on the storefronts. Kids and adults wander the sidewalks dressed in costumes carrying their goodies. The village portion of Granite Cove not only decorates for Halloween, but most of the local businesses have people dressed up in costumes handing out candy too.
Ryan finds an empty parking spot in the lot behind the plaza across the street from the bakery. Air filled giant ghosts, Frankenstein, and spiders fill the small medians in the parking lot. A graveyard with plastic headstones sits on one side of the plaza. The boys hit all the stores handing out candy in the plaza before we walk down the sidewalk to Main Street.
Fanny and Mitch dressed in matching Colonial era costumes have drawn a small crowd in front of The Sweet Spot. I wave enthusiastically from across the street to get her attention. She glances up, waves back, and curtseys. I laugh and point up the street and make a U shape in the air to signal our route. She nods and returns her attention to handing out candy.
A zombie and mummy flank the door of the new candy store which opened last month. Spiders on webbing edge their front window. Tommy and Timmy receive candy and coupons for their buckets.
The boys high five friends they come across as we meander up the street. I spot a familiar face carrying a purple dragon across the street ahead of us. Luke, with Joey fast asleep on his shoulder, strides down the sidewalk with Barbara by his side clutching a Halloween tote in her hands. They turn down the road to the docks.
“That his sister?”
I glance up at Oli over my shoulder. He’s staring at the back of Luke and Barbara as they disappear. They must have parked in the parking lot in front of the docks.
“Sister-in-law. Barbara was married to Luke’s brother Wyatt.”
“Was?”
“He died before Joey was born.”
“That’s rough.”
“Yes, it is.” I look to ensure the boys are where they’re supposed to be. They’re
running towards the next store. “Slow down boys, wait for us.”
They slow to a fast walk. Oli and I follow behind them. I glance back to see Ryan conversing with a man and woman I don’t recognize. They’re probably clients.
“He’s only been your neighbor a few months, right?”
I glance up at Oli. “Luke? About six.”
“His brother lived here?”
“No, Barbara’s parents do. She moved here to be closer to them. Luke followed.”
“Huh.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Nothing, just, huh.”
I lean against the pole of a streetlight with my arms folded while the boys chat with a group of friends. Oli rests a shoulder on the pole behind me.
“Luke and the sister-in-law must be close.”
“Yup.” I know what he’s inferring. I’ve thought the same myself. That doesn’t mean I want my paranoid suspicions confirmed by my brother.
“Be careful, Sis.”
I push away from the pole as the boys head over to the last store before we cross the street and make our way back. Ryan rejoins us.
I haven’t told Oli about my date with Luke or mentioned our hot and heavy make out session. There’re some things you don’t share with a brother.
What clues do I give out? Because he obviously knows I’ve gotten more than neighborly with Luke.
I sidle over to Oli while Ryan cajoles the boys into sharing some of their candy with him. “We went on one date.”
He folds his arms over his chest. “Okay, are you planning to go out again?”
“I don’t know. He hasn’t asked.”
“He will.”
I glance up. “What makes you so sure?”
“Because I’m a guy and a guy with no kids doesn’t drop by his neighbor’s house for Halloween just to say hi. And he couldn’t take his eyes off you.”
“Oh.” A bubble of pleasure rises inside me.
“But I don’t know of any guys that would pack up and move to follow their sister-in-law either—unless they had more than brotherly feelings for her.”
The bubble pops.
Chapter 20