I try my best to keep our family traditions alive for Alex. I guess part of me hopes that it makes him feel close to Mom and our family before everything went to shit.
Things are a little different this year.
I invited Iris.
We’ve been seeing each other for a few weeks now, and maybe it’s a little early, but I’m damn serious about her, and I want Alex to get to know her, too.
I don’t normally introduce Alex to the women I date.
I haven’t even dated anyone officially since Savannah when Alex was still a kid. I’ve kept things casual since, so nothing like what happened with Savannah happens again.
But with Iris, it’s different.
I know she wouldn’t hurt us. And she’s not going anywhere if I’ve got anything to say about it.
Iris is already here when I go into the living room.
Alex is sitting on the couch beside her, guitar in his lap, strumming quietly, while talking to her about music. Not one word answers, and grumbles either, actually talking, showing her what he knows.
“Look, Nate,” Alex perks up when he sees me, damn near happy. “Iris brought Halloween cookies.”
“Hey, you came prepared, huh?” I try to play it cool in front of Alex.
“I wasn’t sure what to bring,” she says, looking up at me, and damn, she’s beautiful.
“They’re perfect.”
“So,” Alex claps his hands together, “We gonna carve some pumpkins or are you two gonna stare at each other all night?”
“Watch it, kid,” I try for stern, but it doesn’t come out right ‘cause I’m happier than I’ve been in a while.
Iris is here, and Alex is acting like himself for once.
What more could I ask for?
We’re all standing around the table set up with newspapers and big bowls for the pumpkin guts, the tops of our pumpkins off, except for Iris.
“Here, let me help you with that,” I take the knife from her and start on her pumpkin.
“I’ve never done this before,” she admits.
“You’re gonna do great, Darlin’, don’t even worry,” I say, sliding her pumpkin back over, ready to be carved.
Alex catches my eye, smirking and mouths,whipped.
Kid’s not wrong.
We eat too many cookies, throw pumpkin seeds at each otheruntil it turns into an all-out war that’s gonna be hell to clean up later, and argue about whose design is best.
Iris creates a cat instead of a classic Jack o’ lantern like us. Mine ends up looking like shit after I carved a chunk out of it, I wasn’t supposed to. Alex’s doesn’t look much better, but he’s talking it up the whole time like it’s the best thing he’s ever done.
By the time we’re done, there’s a clear winner.
Iris’ is a million times better than both of ours, with a cat face that looks even better when we set them outside in the dark.
“You cheated,” Alex complains, glaring at her pumpkin.
“How did I cheat?” she asks, leaning into my side to keep warm from the October chill.
