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Will frowned. “I’m not sure Brannigan witches will be too welcome after what we did. There have to be plenty of people on that island who still hate us.”
“Likely true, but Eileen Knight thinks that’s all the more reason for us to change their opinion of us. I agree.” Damon topped off his glass emptying the bottle of wine.
“Then we should do something lighthearted and fun,” Natalie said.
“Kay and Corinne are handing out lollipops to the kids,” he said. “They’re spelled to make you giggle, hiccup or burp uncontrollably.”
“That advertises their business, too. Clever.” Eric said. “I suppose beer is out, though.”
Will said, “I don’t know, the parents would probably love it. Come up with a clever name and it’ll be a hit.”
“What about books?” Natalie said. “Ghost stories.” Her brown eyes lit up. “I can spell them to have what appears be a hologram of you, Damon. Push both our agendas.”
He shook his head. “No, I don’t want this to be about me.”
“Whoa, where’s that coming from?” asked Will.
“He’s inlove,” teased Natalie as she held up a bite of pasta.“It makes Brannigan men do crazy things.”
“That’s the Knights for ya,” Paul groused. “You’ve been bewitched by them. There’s a reason they were banished to that island.”
“Dad,” Natalie chided before she asked, “What about a little ghost coming up from the pages? One that’s just vapor that evaporates?”
“That’s cute,” Will said. “We could do that for the kids and beer for the adults.”
“So, you’re in?” Damon asked his oldest brother.
“Of course.” Will looked at his father. “Dad, you’re going to have to find a way to be okay with this.”
Paul Brannigan waved his hand and let out a noise of disgust. “You fools are in for a disappointment. Night Meadow Island wants nothing to do with us. Wouldn’t be surprised if the cops escort you off the moment they realize you’re there.”
Thanks for the vote of support, Damon thought, but he’d expected nothing less. Actually, his father’s reaction was a toned-down version of what Damon had feared.
“We need costumes,” Natalie smirked at Damon. “You’ve already got your cape.”
Damon chuckled at her. “I knew it would come in handy.”
Eric asked, “Aren’t there a couple of trunks full of things in the attic?”
“I think you’re right.” Will stood up from the table. “Nat, let’s go look.”
While they went to find costumes, Eric and Damon got up to clear the table. Paul opened another bottle of wine and poured himself a hefty glass before walking into the living room.
After the kitchen was clean, Eric and Damon headed to the living room where Natalie and Will had just opened a large trunk. Damon noticed that his father was in his overstuffed chair but hadn’t turned on the TV like he usually did. Damon figured his dad would throw out a mean-spirited comment or two, but it pleased him that Paul seemed interested.
“Look at all these capes.” Natalie sighed as she laid another cape onto a pile. “Figures these are full of men’s stuff.”
“There has to be some of Mom’s things in there,” Damon said as he walked over to help look. Will had been taking items out one by one, and Damon reached over to slide his hand down to the bottom of the box and lift out the entire contents and flip the stack upside down before setting it on the floor. “Found them,” he said when he noticed two dresses that were now on top of the pile. He handed them to Natalie.
She held up a long one that was cut slim through the torso but had a fuller skirt. “This one is so pretty.” His sister lifted up the other dress that was shorter and had an empire waist. It was larger than the first dress.
“Your mother wore that when she was pregnant.” Paul let out a noise that could be confused with a chuckle. “Seems she was pregnant with one of you every Halloween.”
Damon was sure that felt true at one point because he and his siblings were all born in the winter. It was a Brannigan witch trait.
“Well,” Natalie said as she held the longer dress against her body. “This one is going to work fine.” She looked at Damon with a sad smile, and he assumed she was thinking about the mother she’d never really known.
He glanced over at his father and caught a wistful look on Paul’s face before the man grabbed his wine glass for a big swig. “Dad,” he said. “Will you help us with the brooms?” It was customary for the eldest member of the family to call up their brooms for use.
