“Just in case it isn’t fake at some point.”
“Brook, his candy bucket?” Virginia called.
“Yep. On my way.” Brooklyn turned back to her mother. “Mom. I need to go. We’ll talk soon?”
“I need to run, too.” She hooked her bag on her arm and kissed Brooklyn on the cheek. “I have my own candy to hand out.”
Brooklyn rushed into the front hall, where Alec already had Dallas ready, including the candy bucket. “Oh. You’re a step ahead of me,” she said to Alec.
“It’s no problem.”
“Let’s go,” Dallas said impatiently.
They followed Dallas’s plea and headed out the door just as Virginia was getting set up. The crowd on the street below had grown exponentially, so packed that you could hardly see the pavement. It was a sea of adults, kids, dogs, and strollers. Alec and Brooklyn each held one of Dallas’s scissor-hands, while Alec toted his candy bucket. Down the stairs, they followed along one side of the railing to avoid the steady stream of trick-or-treaters on their way up to Virginia.
“Hey, Dallas,” Alec said. “I need you to hold on to me and your Aunt Brooklyn, okay? And if you get separated from us, I want you to go to the top of the nearest set of steps so we can spot you.”
“Okay, Al-wec,” Dallas said.
Down on the sidewalk, Alec crouched to look Dallas right in the eye. “How do you want to do this? Do you already know who has the best candy? Or are we just going for as much as humanly possible?”
Dallas looked up at Brooklyn like he wasn’t sure how to answer.
“It’s okay, honey. Just tell Alec what you want to do.”
“I want the most candy.”
“Okay then,” Alec said.
“But Kayla’s mom has big candy bars. Like real ones.”
“Do we know where Kayla lives?” Alec asked.
“I do,” Brooklyn said. “I’ve picked Dallas up from playdates at her house several times. It’s maybe three blocks. That way.” Brooklyn nodded in the direction they needed to go.
“Perfect.” Alec straightened and surveyed the street like this had now become a military operation and he would be leading the troops into battle. “We stop at every house on this side of the street, then head immediately to Kayla’s.”
“I don’t want to say anything, but that was very dad-like,” Brooklyn said as they started off on their journey.
Alec grinned. “Gotta keep the little guy safe. And happy. Now, let’s get a move-on.” He went into hyper-fast, super-protective mode, expertly slicing through the crowd to allow for maximum candy procurement, while also watching Dallas like a hawk at every house. When they reached the end of the block and were about to head to Kayla’s, Alec got a text.
“Hold on a sec.”
The three moved aside while Alec consulted his phone. “It’s from Georgia’s assistant. She wants to know if we can go to the corner of Joralemon and Henry. A photographer will be there soon.”
“That’s not far. We can double back down Garden Place and be there in ten minutes or so.”
“Double back?” Alec asked in a tone that made it sound as if Brooklyn had suggested they dump Dallas’s candy into the storm sewer and give up on Halloween entirely.
“It’s in the opposite direction.”
Dallas seemed to figure out what exactly was going on here and he peered up at Alec and her with the most pitiful expression she’d ever seen.
“Look at that face, Brooklyn,” Alec said. “I cannot disappoint that face. Plus, this whole photographer thing is stupid.” Alec tapped away at the screen and tucked his phone back into his pocket. “I told her that he’s just going to have to find us.” He pointed down the street. “This way to Kayla’s?”
“Yes,” Dallas said.
Those two started off, leaving Brooklyn in the dust until she could catch up. “Alec. Trying to keep the network happy is not stupid. It’s the whole reason we sat in Georgia’s office for that meeting.”
