Chapter 14 #2
“You can eat with us.” Allie sounded absolutely sure. “You can have mashed potatoes and gravy.”
“Can I? What if I want dressing, too?”
Allie pondered that. Ichabod could almost hear her brain ticking. “I might share half of mine.”
“Oh, now that’s love. I’m honored, baby girl.”
Zane snorted and shook his head. “Maybe you can…ask Granny to make more?”
“The pan is only this big,” she argued.
“So, ask her to make it in a bigger pan.”
That confused the hell out of her, Ichabod could tell.
“Maybe in two pans,” Michael agreed. “That way there’s some for you and for Ellis.”
“Oh. Oh, she could do that!” Allie applauded. “Good job, Michael!”
He did not roll his eyes. Nope.
Ellis’s warm chuckle told him he wasn’t alone. They sang the rest of the way into town, but Zane shushed them when they pulled up to drop him off.
“No ‘Monster Mash’ while I get out of the car, okay?”
“Fair enough. You hooligans don’t embarrass your brother, okay?” He didn’t get out or wave or do anything to make his eldest growl. “Have a good one. Holler if you need me.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Zane popped the door closed, and Chrissy let out a long ghost noise that was so loud it made them all jump and laugh.
“Oooooooooohhhhooooarrrr.”
Zane rolled his eyes. “She’s howling again, Dad.”
“She is.” He waited until the door was closed before saying, “Good job, little bit.”
“Tank ooooooooooooooooo.” Chrissy giggled madly.
“Who’s ready to trunk or treat?” Ellis called.
“Meeeee.” The girls both shouted.
Michael just said, “Eh.”
“Can I have all your candy, if you don’t want to—”
“Da-a-ad! No!”
He didn’t think so.
“Nope. If Michael goes around with a bag, he gets candy. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t, but no one gets extra.”
“Harsh. How do I get some?” Ellis murmured.
“I have spare in the pantry. For scary movie night.”
“Oh cool. I love chocolate with my popcorn.”
Ichabod grinned, because he’d learned that while Ellis didn’t have much of a sweet tooth, he did like sweet and salty together. M&Ms and popcorn. Salted caramel on his vanilla ice cream. Sea salt and almond dark chocolate.
It was a lovely thing.
“Exactly.”
“I like popcorn,” Michael put in, his voice hopeful.
“Me too!” squealed Allie.
“Well, good thing there’s enough for everyone, isn’t it?” Ichabod didn’t have a problem with the kids noshing popcorn. It was crunchy and good for them.
“Yep. I might gobble it up when I get scared watching Allie’s movie choice.” Ellis did love to tease the kids, and they all laughed for him when he did, even Zane.
“I’ll make more.” He pulled in at the trunk or treat a few minutes later, surprised at the crowd already there.
“Wow, I’m glad we brought enough candy to pass out. This is full.”
Allie was bouncing, but little Chrissy’s face crumpled as she saw all the costumes.
“Daddy?”
“It’s fine, baby girl. I’ll be with you both the entire time.”
“Just remember, sissy, it’s not real. It’s like me and Michael aren’t Glenda and a pirate.” Allie took her little sister’s hand, so kind. She could be mean like all sibs, but right now she was a hero.
“I’s a cornicorn!”
God, he loved them all, so goddamn much.
“You are. Wanna hold my hand?” Michael asked.
“Uh-huh. And Ewis.” She was still a little unsure, because she was mispronouncing Ellis for the first time in weeks. Normally she called him Bell.
“I would be honored, Miss Cornicorn.”
“We’ll make a round, and then we’ll all settle in to give out candy, okay?”
“Can I make a second round on my own, Dad? Or… Dad! Dad, look! It’s Micah and Jeff! Dude! Guys!” Michael rolled down the window and waved hysterically.
“If Micah and Jeff’s folks say it’s okay, you can do a second round with them after you do one with your sisters.”
“Cool. Thanks, Dad.”
“Good man, Michael.” Ellis clapped him on the back. “That’s the cowboy way.”
Michael seemed to grow two or three inches. “Can I go ask if it’s cool, please?”
“Go on. We’ll wait right here.” He had to trust his son would come right back.
“Okay!” Michael pelted off, hook on the end of his hand as he hollered, “Arrrrr.”
Ellis snorted, picking up Chrissy when she held up her arms. “He’s a good kid, Ichabod.”
“He is.”
“Me too, Daddy?”
“You too, Allie-girl. You both are my amazing, smart, brave, fierce girls.”
“Rar!” She swung her pumpkin gently, waiting for Michael to come back, staring around her with obvious glee. “So. Much. Candy.”
“And what are you going to say?”
“Thank you!”
He chuckled. “Yes, but first you say trick or treat, right?”
“Twikytwee!” Chrissy hollered.
“Very nice.” He winked at Ellis, who looked at his mouth as if he wanted to take a kiss.
He wouldn’t say no, at least he didn’t think so.
“Okay, Dad! We’re all set. They’ll do a round with their sibs and then come get me.”
“Sounds perfect. Allie, hold Michael’s hand, please.”
“Uh-huh. Tricking and treating! Tricking and treating! La la la!” She skipped and laughed, about as excited as she could be.
They headed out, making a half round before Ellis had to pick Chrissy back up. Bless her, she was drooping already.
Little Allie, though? She was on fire — chatting with the adults, singing and laughing and loving life. It was the sweetest thing he’d ever seen.
Michael did the one round with them, then rushed off, waving when he was with his friends and their folks. “Time to set up, huh?”
Ellis nodded easily, putting Chrissy down in her car seat with a blanket before setting up their drape and decorations with him. “Candy hand-out achievement unlocked.”
“What do I do, Daddy?” Allie asked.
“You want to give the other kids candy? You can, or you can cuddle in a blanket in the car with sissy.”
“I’ll give out candy long as it’s not mine.” She beamed. “And when I gets tired, I’ll sleep with Chrissy.”
“Sounds perfect. You can do that.” He handed over her coat and mitts. “It’s a little chilly, huh?”
“Uh-huh. It’s cold, Daddy. Bell, can I sit in your lap?”
“You sure can, baby girl.” Ellis stuffed her into her warm gear. “You can hang with me.”
“Are you Daddy’s best friend now?” she asked Ellis. “Uncle Brian lives in Mylanta.”
“Does he?” Ellis glanced at him, eyebrow up as if to say, “what do I tell her?”
Ichabod sort of stopped, because Ellis wasn’t his best friend.
Ellis was his lover, his partner, his boyfriend.
He stopped and blinked. God, he had a boyfriend?
Did people have boyfriends when they had four children?
He wasn’t sure that he could have a boyfriend. Although he knew that, to be honest, Ellis was his boyfriend.
“He’s my boyfriend.”
Then he looked at Ellis, hoping that Ellis didn’t want to hit him in the face.
He rolled his eyes mentally.
Like Ellis was going to hit him in the face. In the worst-case scenario, Ellis would tell him that he thought telling a six-year-old they were in a relationship was hysterically inappropriate.
“I am that.” The “among other things” was implied. Ellis’s grin was wry as hell, inviting him to share the humor.
God, he’d missed this since Chris had passed. He’s missed having someone to be an adult with, to know what he was going through.
“Oh. ‘Kay. That’s good, right?”
“It’s totally good!” Ichabod grinned at her. “Now, let’s pass out candy.”
He’d had about enough questions for one evening.
Thank goodness Michael wasn’t here.
He didn’t think Michael would care, but maybe the other boys would.
He knew it would be more of a concern for them than with the girls. The girls didn’t remember Chris. Michael had been eight, and Zane had been going on twelve. Those boys, they knew their dad.
He wasn’t going to stress this right now. Right now it was Halloween—popcorn, candy, scary movies, trick-or-treating. He wouldn’t be going to bed alone. Right now that worked for him.