Chapter 5
Nate
Alex and me, we’ve got a Halloween tradition.
It started when mom was alive, and she’d make us a homemade pumpkin pie, and we’d all compete to see who carved the best pumpkin.
Now, I’m not making any pumpkin pie, but I bought one from the store along with the pumpkins ready to carve.
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 other until 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.
“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.
The door’s half open, and Iris is there with her, laughing about something I’m too far away to hear.
I almost keep walking, but then I catch what Layla’s saying, “So come with us! Grant won’t care. He’ll love you as much as I do once he gets to know you!”
Iris responds, ducking her head, twirling a piece of hair around her finger, and I strain to hear. “I don’t want to third wheel, Layla.”
“Girl, it’s a Halloween party, not a date.”
Halloween party? That don’t sound like Iris’s style.
“Party?” I ask, strolling into the room.
Layla perks up immediately. “Wesley! Tell your girl she needs to put on a sexy costume and come to a party with Grant and me tonight. You can come too! It’ll be like a double date!”
Iris looks at me with wide eyes, practically begging me to save her.
I slide a hand up her back, “You don’t gotta go if you don’t wanna, Darlin’.”
Layla scoffs, “You guys suck,” she complains, “I’m going to find friends that are less in love, more fun.”
She stalks out of her room, her heeled boots clicking loudly down the hall.
Iris looks up at me after watching Layla leave. “It’s not that I don’t want to go with her, I do, it’s just—”
“You don’t want to hang out with Grant?”
That’s gotta be why. Guy’s a dick.
“I don’t think he likes me.” She admits, and I always knew there was something wrong with him, but now I know for sure.
I turn her toward me fully, dropping my hands to her waist. “You know, I had plans. My brother and his kids were supposed to come to my house for trick-or-treating. But they ain’t gonna make it.”
She frowns. “I’m sorry, Nate.”
“So,” I continue, “I was thinking maybe you could come over. We can hand out candy, watch a scary movie or two, make it a date night.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“I can’t think of anyone I’d rather spend Halloween with.” I only wish Ben and the kids could be there, too.
Layla comes back into the room with a bag of chips, but Iris is still looking at me, her cheeks flushed the way they always end up when we talk. “Alright,” she says, looking back at me. “I would love that.”
“Good,” relief flows through me, “I can’t wait.”
I want to kiss her real bad right now, but when I lean in, Layla makes a fake gagging noise. “Alright, break it up. You are not fucking in my classroom.”
I smile at her antics, but Iris gasps, horrified, “Layla!”
Hell, maybe she’s on to something.
I’m standing by the door, waiting for Iris, when Alex comes out of his room wearing his signature band tee and too-tight black jeans. “Where you headed?”
He doesn’t have on a costume, and that’s the first red flag of the night. Halloween is his favorite holiday. He loves handing out candy in a scary costume, freaking out the neighborhood kids.
I guess that doesn’t matter either now.
“Out. Party, maybe. I dunno.”
I squint in confusion, “A party? You don’t go to parties.”
“I do now, okay?” he responds, looking down at his black Converse instead of me.
“Fine,” I relent, obviously not getting anything else out of him. “Be home by midnight. There’ll be drunk drivers and shit, I don’t wanna be worrying about you.”
Alex rolls his eyes so hard I half expect them to fall out. “Midnight. Got it.”
“I mean it, Alex.”
When he pulls open the front door to leave, Iris is standing there looking damn sexy in an oversized white sweater. She smiles, like she’s genuinely happy to see us, and that just melts my heart all over again.
Alex gives her a nod. “Hey, Iris.”
I don’t expect much more than that, so it surprises me when his mouth quirks up into a smirk.