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EMMA
Ivolunteered to help the sitters with the kids’ party, since I know Isla was nervous about them being out of sight with all the stalker mess going on. Little does she know, I slipped the party planner a huge chunk of money to make sure everything was just right not just for their party, but also for the kids.
She used to love Halloween as a child and I wanted it to be perfect as it’s the first holiday since she’s been home. Isla brought the kids in from trick-or-treating about ten minutes ago and now we are getting a steady trickle of parents dropping off their kids so they can head through the maze.
The room is set up to be spooky, but not bad enough to actually scare any of the kids. We have silly string spiderwebs with fake spiders, caution tape, balloon ghosts, and paper bats. Bodie really went crazy with the food for the kids. He didn’t have to cook for the adult party, but he wanted to make sure the food for the kids was free of their allergens.
He made mummy hot dogs by cleverly wrapping dough around them, popcorn hands using clear gloves, oreo spiders with pretzel stick legs, snake shaped bread sticks with homemade ‘blood’ sauce, and about twenty other things. I don’t know how he found the time, but he made sure that it would be perfect for the kids.
I’ve got games for the kids set up, like a witches ring toss, eyeball dig, bobbing for apples, and a bunch of other silly games for the ones that want to participate. For the ones who don’t want to play, we have Hotel Transylvania set up on the TV.
Arden is showing Vivian how to bob for apples, and Lochlan is eating snacks with some of his new friends from school. I love seeing them come out of their shell and get to be kids, but I hate how long Isla suffered without me knowing. I never thought when she moved down here that she would find five men and fall in love with them, but the way they love her and the kids warms my heart.
“Maw-Maw! Can we start the movie?” Arden asks running over.
“Yeah baby, I’ll get it started!” I grab my phone and push play on the Roku app to get their movie started.
I walk around, showing kids how to play the various games, fixing plates and drinks for the younger ones. The two sitters I hired are actually the granddaughters of one of my estate lawyers who were looking to make some extra money. I have to admit they have been pretty great with all the kids, too.
“Hey Mrs. Emma, these two need to go to the potty,” Stephanie informs me, walking over holding two of Arden’s classmates' hands.
“Okay, thanks hun. Why don’t we ask all the kids who needs to go so we can take them in groups? I have two bathrooms in this hall,” I tell her, pausing the movie.
“Hey kids! Can you please stop what you’re doing and look at me?” I give them a chance to listen, though of course some are still running around playing.
“EVERYBODY HUSH! I said stop for just a minute. So listen up!” I raise my voice just a tad bit more this time, making all the kids stop and look.
“Thank you. Now who all needs to use the bathroom? Raise your hands if you do.” I look around and seven of the fifteen kids have their hands raised.
“Okay, here is what we are going to do. Girls will go with Miss Stephanie to the bathroom down the hall on the right, I’ll take the boys to the one that’s on the left. The rest of you will stay here with Miss Jessica. We will be right back, and if you behave I'll get out the cake.” They all cheer at that.
I take my line of kids, and Stephanie takes her group. The guard we hired is standing at the corner of the hall next to the bathroom. He’s a hunk of a man that could be Shemar Moore’s twin, and if I was thirty years younger… let’s just say I could give Isla’s author Nikita Parmenter a few ideas for steamy scenes.
“Good afternoon Mrs. Emma, how’s the party going?” He asks in his smoky voice. It would be better if I could get you in bed, I think to myself.
Out loud I say, “It’s going great so far, the kids are having a blast! Would you like me to send you a piece of cake?” I’m trying not to stare, but sweet Jesus he’s fine.
“If you’ll just put some up for me, I’ll grab it on the way out. I like to keep focused on my job,” he chuckles at my obvious ogling.
Arden is the last kid in line waiting for the bathroom, since I had the other boys go back to the playroom when they were finished.
“How are you enjoying the party, baby?” I ask, ruffling his hair.
“It’s so much fun! Will we get to have real birthday parties now?” he asks worriedly.
I’m taken aback by his question. “What do you mean? Mommy said she threw you birthday parties.”
He looks down at his feet nervously. “Well, my old daddy and Noni and Popi had parties at their house but we didn’t get to have any games or treats. We had to sit in the dining room and color. I couldn’t invite any friends or anything.”
I kneel down so I’m looking him in the eye, “Sweetheart, I am so sorry for everything your old daddy put you through. I promise me and your mommy will never let anyone ever treat y’all like that again. We love you so much.”
“Maw-Maw can you just make sure mommy is actually happy? Old daddy didn’t care about me and Lochlan, but he ‘specially mean to mommy and sissy and he hurt mommy a lot,” Arden sighs, walking into the now vacant bathroom.
I swear that horrible excuse for a man and his piece of shit father had better be glad they are already dead, or I would have hired someone to kill them slowly and painfully.
* * *
ODIN
