by Sara Miller
Leah looked up at his face and saw his strain. Saw the muscles in his neck tight and his hard jaw clenched. She squeezed and stroked him once more. He closed his eyes and his breath caught. She released him with a sigh.
Cade kissed her hard as he reached around her and turned off the shower.
Leah squealed as he picked her up and carried her, still soaking wet, to his bed. He tossed her on it and her body bounced as it hit. She giggled. Cade growled and climbed on top. He entered her without warning and she screeched involuntarily. Cade froze.
“Oh God, hun, did I hurt you?”
He smoothed her wet hair back from her face. Voice full of concern. She moved underneath him, letting her body get used to his fullness, while he simply stayed in place. His restraint amazed her.
But enough was enough.
“Now, Cade,” she demanded.
“As you wish.”
♦
Leah woke tangled in her sheets. She was naked. Again. She momentarily regretted the loss of another set of pajamas to her dream world, then decided it was totally worth it. She laughed, put on a robe and stumbled into the bathroom.
She was immediately glad Eric had not seen her like this. She would be hard- pressed to explain her appearance. Her hair was a disaster. It looked like . . . well, it looked like she’d gone to bed with it wet without so much as combing it. Her face looked as if she had spent the whole night doing exactly what she’d done. Her whole body still hummed.
Leah sighed contentedly and stepped into the tub to shower off the evidence. She closed her eyes and let the warm water wash off her sins, still smiling.
Chapter 17
“I’ve been invited to a Halloween party with the guys at work. More just an excuse for us all to get together and drink beer.” Eric looked at her, gauging her response. “You don’t like beer, so I didn’t figure you’d wanna go.”
“Oh.”
They stood in the small living room facing each other.
Leah’s mind raced to process what he said. Was it really just guys or did he not want her along? He was right about the beer thing. She’d never cared for it and disliked parties where it was the only beverage served.
She had no desire to go. She also had no desire to pick a fight.
“Okay, sure.”
“I wasn’t exactly asking permission.” Eric winced, noticing how harsh his words sounded. “I mean . . .”
She put up one hand to stop him. “No, I get it.”
“Okay good.” He looked awkward, like he had more to say.
“And?”
“The party is on Friday, even though Halloween is on Thursday, so I can still hand out candy here with you . . . if you want. But I’ll probably just stay over Friday if the party runs late. There was talk of maybe even making a whole weekend of it,” he shrugged.
Ah-ha, there it was. After a few weekends at home, Eric was going to be gone again. She found she honestly didn’t mind but knew she should not look eager.
“The whole weekend?”
“At least Friday and probably Saturday. No one’s mentioned Sunday yet. Why?”
Leah shrugged. She didn’t care but asking seemed like the right thing to do.
“Cool.”
Eric looked relieved but also, something else she couldn’t place. She watched his face as he continued. “So for Thursday, you wanna pick up the candy or me?”
The look she could not quite put her finger on was still on his face. “About Thursday . . .” she took a deep breath and confessed. “Truth is, I hate passing out candy and Lily asked if I could help her take the girls trick-or-treating. Robert has to be out of town for work and I kind of already said I would.” She held her breath, waiting as she broke seven years of tradition. She felt guilty. It was their thing, but she was tired of pretending.
“Really.” Eric blinked at her. She couldn’t read his expression. “Really?” He shook his head, pacing back-and-forth.
The need to apologize was strong but Leah held her ground.
“Oh my God, Leah!” He looked at her oddly. “I hate passing out candy. Why didn’t you say something?” his question came out as an accusation. Leah had no response.
“I only did it for you,” he admitted, “you know . . . ’cause you like kids.”
Leah’s legs gave out and she plopped heavily on the couch. Eric moved and joined her.
“What have we done to each other?” she asked, leaning back and staring at the ceiling. She felt Eric shift, put his arm around her and settle in beside her.
Leah couldn’t remember the last time Eric had his arms around her like this. It felt comfortable and reassuring but not in the least romantic.
“We’ll figure this out, babe.”
She just nodded. They did indeed have a lot to figure out.
♦
The night before Halloween, Leah dreamed. She was in Cade’s living room wearing jeans and a hoodie, whereas the man in front of her was dressed in all black and had a sword hanging at his hip. Even wearing a mask, she easily recognized Cade. He smiled and his bright blue eyes twinkled with mischief.
Leah shrieked as something brown and hairy lunged at her. It had a long nose, beady eyes, and sharp yellow teeth. When she spied a rat-like tail, the pieces clicked into place in her mind. She laughed as Liam leapt into her arms.
“Westley!” she cried out to Cade’s character, “save me!”
The large rodent in her arms giggled. “It’s just me, Miss Leah!” Liam He pulled his mask up and smiled at her triumphantly. “Do you like my ROUS costume? Dad had to order it on the internet and everything. Isn’t it cooooool?” He slid the mask back in place and put out his hands curled like claws. He growled and hissed.
“The coolest!” she agreed.
Liam wiggled in her arms and she set him down. He danced and pounced around her play-attacking.
“We just need Princess Buttercup, don’t we, bud?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Liam cheered.
“Okay, how much sugar has he had?” she laughed.
“Believe it or not? None. It’s gonna be a long night.”
“Daaaaad, come on! I wanna go!” Liam hopped in place.
“Is Sky going as Buttercup?” Leah asked, looking around for the teen.
Sky emerged from the kitchen just then, dressed completely goth. “No way in he—ck. I’m going out with my friends. My ride’s here. Bye Dad, have fun, Liam.” She patted her little brother on the head as if he were the family dog, not a giant rat.
“Phone charged? No boys. Be home by nine, it’s still a school night.”
“I know, I know, luv ya,” she called over her shoulder.
“So who is your . . . oh. But I don’t have a costume.” Leah was instantly disappointed.
“We got yours, come see!” Liam grabbed her hand and pulled her down the hall to Cade’s bedroom, “Look!”
“Oh!” Leah stared at the bed. She looked at Cade for confirmation.
“The red dress is classic, it matches the scene in the movie when they are in the Fire Swamp.”
Leah looked at the floor-length dress with a high neck and long flowy sleeves laid out on the bed. It was bright red and tied at the waist with a gold sash. She felt the stiff costume fabric. It was spot on.
“Or, the second option is this . . .” He turned her and pointed to a dress hanging on the back of the door.
Leah gawked at the second dress. Also floor length but with long sheer sleeves, it was ice blue and sparkled. Leah thought it was absolutely beautiful. She stepped forward and touched it. This was not a cheap costume.
“It comes with a crown,” Cade added sheepishly.
“Which one do you pick?” Liam asked impatiently.
“Cade, this is . . . how did you . . .” She wasn’t even using full sentences. “I can’t—” Cade cut her off with a kiss and repeated Liam’s question.
“Which one do you pick?”
Leah went back and forth between the dresses. The red one
fit the scene but the blue was just so pretty. She could not decide.
“You pick!” she told Liam.
Liam looked at his father in silent communication. Cade nodded. They flashed Leah matching smiles before turning and pointing to the dress hanging on the door.
She quickly shooed them out of the room and prayed the dress fit. It did. Like a glove. Between the plunging neckline and her ample curves, Leah worried she might look indecent.
Cade slipped back in the door. His eyes went wide as he took her in, a wolfish grin spread across his face. She felt self-conscious and her cheeks burned. She looked at herself in Cade’s full-length mirror and avoided his eyes. He walked over and zipped up the back of the dress. He turned her and lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.
“Who did this to you?”
“W-what?” Caught off guard, Leah was confused.
“Who made you think there is something wrong with you? Your body is amazing. You are beautiful.”
She shrugged. It was too hard to explain.
Cade kissed her again, this time long and slowly. They probably would have kept going, but Liam was impatient.
“Dad? Are you guys ready? Come on!”
Cade snuck one more kiss before he added her crown. Leah took one more look at herself in the mirror. She had to admit, it was a beautiful dress.
“Thank you,” she whispered before kissing his cheek and heading out the door.
From behind her, she heard a quiet, “As you wish.”
♦
Cade drove them to a family neighborhood and parked along the street. They got out of the truck and joined the slew of kids and adults.
As they went from door to door, people either instantly knew who they were or stared at them blankly. Either way, Liam’s candy haul was piling up at a swift rate.
Leah was having fun. Being in the crowd and part of things was infinitely more fun than merely handing out candy. Even if it wasn’t real life. She frowned and Cade noticed.
“You okay?”
When she didn’t respond, he went on.
“We’re just gonna loop around up here and head back to the truck,” Cade pointed at the cul de sac ahead.
“Aw, Dad, really?”
“We’re still going to hit the houses on that side, bud,” Cade assured him, making the ROUS boy happy. Liam ran ahead to the next house, but Cade held Leah back.
“You didn’t answer me, Princess,” he teased yet she knew he was serious too.
“I just wish it was real,” she confessed.
“It is real. I don’t understand how, but it is, right?” Cade looked to her for confirmation and she nodded.
“Real enough, for now,” he added, giving her a chaste kiss since they were on the street surrounded by children.
“Mom, look!”
Leah’s head popped up in surprise. She was immediately attacked by two Disney princesses.
“Aunt Leah!” they both cried. Allison was oohing and aahing over her dress while Emmie stared up at Cade. Lily was eyeing him too. As Liam rushed back with his mask pushed up, Leah saw understanding dawn on her sister’s face.
“Well, Cade Emerson,” Lily looked from Cade to Leah, then back at Cade. “Haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Lily,” Cade nodded awkwardly. “Good to see you. This is my son, Liam.” He shifted his gaze to Leah and the girls.
“Cade and Liam, I’d like to introduce you to my nieces, Elsa and Anna.”
Allison and Emmie giggled.
“Your majesties,” Cade gave them a proper bow, causing even more giggles.
“I’m a ROUS!” Liam proclaimed proudly. Both girls stared at the boy for several seconds before Allison spoke.
“I dunno what that is. But a giant rat is awesome!”
Liam, clearly pleased, grinned broadly.
Emmie, however, did not look convinced. She was clearly skeptical and grabbed her mom’s hand. She was eyeing Cade though, not Liam.
Lily made their excuses and took both girls off to the house Liam had just left. Liam pulled his Dad forward and Leah stood alone for a second, watching her sister and nieces walk away. Emmie looked back at her for a brief second and smiled. It gave Leah the oddest feeling.
“Come on, Princess!”
Cade’s voice pulled her back. Dismissing any thoughts about her niece, Leah picked up the hem of her dress and rushed to catch up.
Chapter 18
Leah woke up lamenting the loss of the dress. It was gorgeous and she felt so pretty in it. Cade made her feel beautiful and being with him had made the dress extra special. What she was feeling was not just about the dress. She knew deep down she was sad because she woke up and was no longer with Cade. The truth was overwhelming.
Her brain wouldn’t let it go. Her thoughts bounced from her insecurities, to how Cade made her feel, and what she really wanted from her life. She felt unsettled and distracted for most of the day.
By the time Leah got home from work though, she had a new worry on her mind. She had not realized she would need a costume to take her nieces trick-or-treating. She would have to improvise. Leah quickly flipped through her closet, threw a few things together, and headed out the door.
On the way to Lily’s house, Leah used the car’s bluetooth feature to phone Eric. The call went straight to voicemail, so she left him a message.
“Hey, it’s me. You didn’t answer so you’re probably at the gym. Just wanted to remind you I’m headed to my sister’s to help with the girls tonight. You know, for trick-or- treating. There’s leftover chicken in the fridge if you get hungry,” she realized she was rambling but couldn’t seem to stop herself. “I’ll be home later. If I don’t see you, have fun at your party tomorrow. So, yeah, um . . .”
Unsure how to end the message, she quickly added, “Happy Halloween,” and pushed the button on the steering wheel to end the call. She groaned, wishing she’d waited and texted Eric instead. Too late now. She put it from her mind, focusing on the road.
Leah liked driving, especially larger vehicles. Eric, however, insisted they only needed one car. Something small and efficient since they both lived and worked downtown. It did make sense but Leah missed the freedom of having her own vehicle, of being able to just get out and go.
Part of her wanted to just keep driving. Instead, she pulled into her sister’s driveway. She double-checked her makeup before getting out of the car. Leah shook her head at the little hybrid she had just exited. It was all Eric. She shook her head again and headed up the walk.
“She’s here! She’s here! She’s here!”
Leah laughed. Even through a closed door, her niece’s excitement could not be contained. It was typical Allison with her outgoing personality.
As the door opened, it was the quieter little Emmie on the other side. Leah was taken aback but smiled at the wholehearted greeting.
“Oh,” Emmie’s bright smile faded. “Hi, Aunt Leah.”
Leah was so surprised at the abrupt change in Emmie that she knelt down right in the doorway. She spoke quietly to her niece.
“What’s the matter, Em?” When Emmie’s eyes filled with tears, Leah opened her arms and the girl melted into her. Leah picked her up, used her foot to close the door, and took them over to the couch. After the worst of the tears had passed, she tried again. “Want to talk about it?” Leah felt Emmie shrug, so she just continued to cuddle her.
After a few long moments and several gulps of breath, Emmie regained her composure. She looked up at her aunt. “It’s dumb,” she said shaking her head.
“Hmm. If it upset you this much, maybe it’s not so dumb,” Leah suggested. “I bet it would help to talk about it.”
“You’re dressed as a cat,” the little girl confessed.
“Yes, I am,” Leah confirmed, even more confused. Dressing in all black was easy, as was adding a headband with ears and drawing on a nose and whiskers with eyeliner. She hadn’t bothered with a tail.
Emmie looked bewildered. She whis
pered so quietly, Leah almost missed it.
“I thought you’d be a princess like me.” She toyed with the gold colored trim on her Anna dress.
“W-why would you think that, sweety?” Leah felt a moment of panic, afraid of her niece’s answer. Emmie shrugged. She looked up at Leah and opened her mouth to answer when Allison flew into the room.
“Aunt Leah!” she yelled. “MOM! She’s here! Can we go?”
Allison’s voice carried through the whole house and Lily appeared almost instantly. Lily was also dressed as a princess. Leah wished her sister had given her a heads up. She was a black cat in a sea of princesses. Was that why Emmie expected her to be a princess too? Leah hoped it was that simple.
“Are you girls ready? Got your buckets?” Lily reminded them.
Emmie slipped off Leah’s lap and both girls rushed out of the room. Trick-or-treat was serious business. When they returned, both had their pumpkin buckets and were eager for candy.
Leah let her nieces pull her out the door and down the street. Lily followed behind, closing the door and laughing. As a foursome they went from house-to-house. The girl’s buckets filled quickly.
As they neared the dead end part of the street, Leah scanned the crowd. Again. The girls were busy collecting candy and seeing their friends. Lily, apparently, had been watching her sister.
“You’re doing it again.”
Lily had gotten so close that her voice startled Leah.
“What?” Leah blinked at her sister.
“You’re looking for him again,” Lily whispered, “aren’t you?”
Leah shrugged. She wanted to talk about it and she also didn’t. It was too confusing.
“Who is it?” Lily was close and still whispering. “Please?”
“No,” her voice was firm. “It’s just dreams. It’s not real.” Oh, but it was. And it also wasn’t. It was both real and unreal. A tear slipped down her face and Leah swiped at, hoping she didn’t smear her whiskers.
“Why is Aunt Leah crying?” Allison wanted to know.