“You’re a freakin’ art teacher,” he grumbles, “You should’ve given us a head start at least.”
“True,” I agree, still grinning like an idiot because I get to have her here with me, tucked up under my arm.
“You two would need, like, a week’s head start,” she fires back, her face lit up with amusement.
“Hey now,” I protest while Alex scoffs, pretending to be offended. She laughs at us both, not feeling bad at all.
The night’s a bit more windy than I expected, and Iris shivers. “You cold?” I ask, wrapping my arm around her tighter when she nods.
Alex stands next to us, hands shoved in his hoodie pocket.
For a moment, the three of us watch the pumpkins glow, Iris leaning her head against my shoulder, Alex saying nothing, but he doesn’t move away. It feels comfortable in a way it hasn’t in a long time.
I’m halfway to work when my phone lights up on the dash, Ben’s name popping up.
“Morning,” I say, way too cheerful for this early, but hell, I love Halloween. Any excuse to see my family makes it a good day. My younger brother Ben and his wife, Gracie, always bring the kids to my house to trick or treat.
They love coming over to Uncle Nate’s.
Alex loves seeing ‘em too. They follow him everywhere he goes, thinking he’s so cool. That’s how you know he’s their uncle, ‘cause they’re the only ones.
“Hey, Nate,” Ben answers, already sounding way too nice.
“Uh-huh,” I grunt, bracing myself for whatever he’s got to say. “What’d I do now?”
“It’s not you. It’s Gracie’s parents. They’ve been bugging her about bringing the kids trick or treating at their place this year, and, well, you know how they get if we don’t bring the kids by often enough.”
My heart sinks. “So y’all aren’t coming to the house this year?”
“Maybe later in the evening if the kids aren’t too tired. Sammy had a fit over it this morning, said you’re the only one who knows how to trick or treat right,” he adds with a chuckle.
“Damn right,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Y’know, I’m sure Gracie’s parents wouldn’t mind if you and Alex wanted to tag along.”
“Nah, don’t worry about it, Gotta hold down the fort here, hand out candy and all that. Kids are expecting the good candy bars here, can’t let ‘em down.”
“You sure you’re okay, man?” Ben asks. He knows I look forward to this all year, he’s probably feeling bad. But he’s got family obligations and all that.
I get it.
“I’m good,” I lie, not wanting to make him feel worse. “Hug the kids for me, alright? And send me a picture of ‘em in their costumes.”
“I will, and hey, y’all should come by this weekend. Kids’ll wanna see you, and there’ll be plenty of candy for Alex to steal.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “See you then.”
Once we hang up, I let out a sigh.
I’m not mad. Gracie’s parents are good people, and I don’t blame them for wanting to see the kids.
But why do I gotta get demoted to see you next weekend? I try to keep this family together, do what Mom would want, but it feels like everybody’s moving on except me.
When lunch rolls around, I’m still thinking about that call with Ben.
I keep picturing the kids trick-or-treating, baby Margot in her first Halloween costume, everybody having fun, being a family, without me.
I’m heading down the hall, deep in thought, sulking, when I hear familiar voices coming from Layla’s classroom.
