AllFreeNovel
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It was inevitable.
We’re back in our award-winning taco and guacamole costumes.
This time, someone did us a favor and crafted crowns that look just like the ones we were wearing before, but sized for our silly costumes. My crown wobbles a bit when I walk, because apparently getting the crown size for a giant avocado is difficult.
Our last duty as King and Queen of the Fall Ball, for this year anyway, is to join the big Main Street trick or treat event.
All the big businesses of the town have gathered to give out candy to any kid who wants to come. It’s usually the younger ones, the ones you don’t really want out late at night and need their parents closely chaperoning them the entire time.
We’re at the end of the trail, on the royal throne. Nelson and I sit hand in hand, huge buckets full of candy next to us. The fancy stuff too, just to make us seem extra royal. We are giving out full-size candy bars here, and it’s a joy to watch the kids' eyes light up as we spoil them a bit before sending them home.
We see the usual assortment of witches, fairy tale princesses, zombies, vampires, superheros, and even the wolfman. The occasional kid’s cartoon character eludes me because I I don’t have much time to keep up on what shows kids watch nowadays.
“You’re an adorable couple,” one of the parents says as they pass. “With and without the costumes.”
He isn’t the first to say that to us. And every time I hear it, I’m thankful for the avocado costume because it makes me blush so damn hard. Nelson squeezes my hand.
“This tickling your ovaries?” Nelson says as that family departs us.
“Tickling my what now?”
“I don’t know. The whole... uh.. maternal instinct thing?”
“That’s called tickling my ovaries? If you felt it, would it be called tickling your balls?”
He lowers his voice to say, “Given you’ve done that many times, it has a very different context when you say it. And unless you have some really weird fetish you haven't disclosed to me yet, I don’t think tickling your ovaries is something I’ll ever do literally.”
I shake my avocado-clad head. “If you’re asking me if it makes me want a kid of my own? Yeah. But that’s nothing new. I’ve always wanted to be a mother someday. And I hope you want to be a father someday too, Nelson.”
“I do. As long as it’s with the right woman.”
Even through enormous googly eyes, I feel his comforting gaze. It’s something beyond simple sight between us. His presence alone makes the world feel right, like everything is going to be okay, and the future is going to be all rainbows and sunshine.
The last of the kids come our way, and we spoil them as much as everyone else. The parents tell us we’re adorable again, and I still feel bashful about it.
“Hey Nicole,” Nelson says, picking up the bucket he’s been handing out candy from. “Trick or treat?”
I laugh. “I think I’d like both your tricks and your treats, Nelson.”
“Pick one.”
“Treat, then.”
He presents me with the bucket. I wonder what he’s up to, because it’s not like I don’t have a massive bucket of candy of my own. I reach in and feel something that’s definitely not a plastic wrapper. It’s hard, and feels kind of velvety. I connect the dots, and when I pull it out of the bottom of the bucket, I gasp.
It’s a blue velvet ring box.
“I don’t care if it’s not even been a month, Nicole. I’ve seen all I need to see to know that I want you for the rest of my days.”
“Nelson, I...”
He pulls off the top of his costume as he drops to one knee. “It’s fate. Even with our last names pushing us apart, we still found one another. We both came back to Burly at about the same time... meeting one another like we did… and I managed to talk your father out of a century’s worth of family feuds. We’re meant to be. And now I want nothing more than to settle down with you, Nicole. Put down roots. Start a family. Marry me, Nicole. Let’s bury this feud with a wedding to bring us all together.”
I’m overwhelmed with emotion, but no answer in my life has ever been clearer.
I tear off the top of my costume too. “Yes. Of course. Yes, I’ll marry you, Nelson.”
He slides the ring on my finger, and pulls me close with a kiss, embracing me so strongly. Kissing me in a way that might not be as PG as we were trying to keep it.
