Chapter 13
THE WEATHER HELD OFF, JUST barely, which was fine with Lori. As long as it wasn’t raining, they could keep all of the booths and activities outside. She’d chosen her black-and-purple wig and added a silk scarf to her ensemble. Some years, she painted her face, but this year, she only wore heavy eye makeup. She had painted her nails black and added several spooky rings, along with necklaces and a pair of bat earrings.
The kids lined up at her table, where she read their palms and gave them wacky predictions, earning a smile and a laugh from them. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, and parents milled on the outskirts as their kids enjoyed themselves. The other carnival booths were also busy, and Lori hadn’t realized how late it was until Marci started to pack away the leftover prizes.
“It’s already nine o’clock?” she asked. Since it was a school night, they were shutting down earlier than the previous years.
“Yeah, can you believe it?” Marci said. “It’s hard to believe Halloween is basically over.”
The other vendors who’d brought booths started to clean up. By the time everyone had packed and hauled their stuff away, Lori was feeling how tired she really was. All she wanted was something warm to drink and her kitten.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Marci said, stifling her own yawn. She’d dressed as a scarecrow and had been dropping bits of hay all night. They’d have to sweep in the light of the morning tomorrow.
“Thanks for everything.” Lori was turning to head inside, carrying the final box, when she saw someone crossing the street toward the shop. She paused. “Malcom?”
He lifted a hand in greeting. “Hey, sorry I missed the party. How did it all go?”
Lori met his gaze. The man looked tired, yet here he was, asking after her event. “It was really fun. We had a great turnout, and the kids all seemed happy.”
“Great news. Can I carry that in for you?”
“I’ve got it. Besides, looks like you’re already carrying something.”
He held up a sack she had just noticed. “I brought you some soup in case you’re hungry,” he said. “Or you can warm it up for another time.”
“Oh, thank you.”
He grabbed the door handle and pulled it open, and she slipped past him.
“Love your costume,” he said. “I thought it would be more witchy though.”
She set the box on a nearby table. She’d organize more tomorrow, but right now, she was dead on her feet. The door shut behind Malcom, leaving the two of them in the cozy yellow light of the dimmed shop.
“I’m a fortune teller,” she said, spreading her arms, “which doesn’t have to be all that witchy.”
He chuckled. “The bat earrings are a nice touch, and the purple hair.”
Lori grinned as she touched her wig. Then she reached for the sack—it was still warm. “I think I’ll eat the soup now before I collapse. What about you? Do you want to share the food?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I already ate, but enjoy.”
She tilted her head. “How did it go with your brother?”
His gaze dropped, and after a pause, he said, “Not well. I confronted him, and he denied everything. But I found out Penny’s been hacking into my emails, and that Kari is also involved. I’ve made several phone calls already, hired a lawyer, and I forwarded all of my company emails to a private account since I’m sure my company one will be disabled. Might have already happened by now. I doubt Bronson wasted any time before calling Penny.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Malcom.” Lori stepped closer to him, wishing she could erase the pain in his eyes. What must it feel like to be so thoroughly betrayed by a sibling—even if he was a stepbrother. “What can I do to help you?”
Malcom hooked a hand around the back of his neck and blew out a breath. “I don’t know what anyone can do—unless you’re a lawyer.” He gave her a half smile. “I’m leaving the company immediately. I told my brother I’d finish overseeing the condo project, but that’s only because I don’t want to let Everly Falls down. Although now I’m doubtful of that—I’d have to bill him as a freelance contractor, and that would keep me involved in his financial web.”
Lori nodded. She had a lot more questions, but Malcom looked beat. “Come say hi to Tiger at least. He’ll make you feel better.”
Malcom raised his brows, but he didn’t beg off, and in a few seconds, he was following her up the stairs to her apartment.
As soon as she opened the door, Tiger came trotting toward her, meowing.
Lori set the sack on the kitchen table, then scooped up the kitten and crooned, “Are you hungry, little guy?”
Malcom chuckled and pulled out the soup container, and another smaller sack with rolls. Next he drew out a plastic utensil set. “That cat has you wrapped around its little fingers—or claws.”
“Haven’t you heard?” Lori said. “I’m merely the butler for Tiger—here to fulfill his every command.” She put out more cat food, and Tiger settled down to eat, purring. Adorable.
She joined Malcom at the table, where he looked like he was about to wilt. “Are you sure you don’t want any?”
“I’m sure,” he said.
As she ate, she told him about the costumes she’d seen that night and how cute the kids all were. “I don’t mind the older kids coming as well. Marci thinks that trick-or-treaters should be under twelve. But I’m okay with any age.”
Malcom frowned. “I hope no one knocked on my trailer door tonight—I mean, I forgot about the candy anyway.”
Lori gasped. “You forgot to buy candy for trick-or-treaters? That’s like sacrilege.”
This earned a genuine laugh from Malcom. “Next year, I’ll be sure to make up for it. I’ll even decorate.” He hesitated. “Although I might be in another trailer somewhere, or maybe living out of my truck.”
Lori winced. “You really don’t have your own place?”
“I don’t,” Malcom confirmed. “I need to change that though—eventually. The trailer belongs to the company, so that might not last too long.”
“Maybe you can move into your own condominium complex when it’s finished?” It was surprising when just as she said it, she was suddenly filled with hope that he’d stick around and live in Everly Falls.
He smiled. “Maybe.”
Lori’s phone rang, and while it wasn’t exactly late at night, it was Halloween. So it was kind of strange. She pulled the phone from her pocket. “Sorry, it’s my mom.”
Malcom lifted a hand. “Go ahead.”
“Hi, Mom,” Lori answered, moving to her feet. “What’s up?”
“Happy Halloween!”
She exhaled in relief. This was a chatty call, not a “your dad is sick” or “I’m in a crisis” call. “Happy Halloween. Did you have a lot of trick-or-treaters?”
“Not as many as last year, but still a fair number,” her mom said. “How did your night go? Did it rain like you’d worried about?”
“No rain,” Lori said. “The event went well—kids loved it.”
Tiger jumped up on the chair, then the table, meowing. He must have decided the soup smelled better than the cat food. “Tiger, get down,” she whispered.
Malcom moved to pick up the cat. Instead of setting him on the ground, he held the kitten to his chest and scratched its ears.
“You’re going to spoil him,” Lori told him.
“Lori? Who are you with?”
Oh . . . too late to take back the fact that she just revealed she wasn’t alone in her apartment.
“Well . . .” she hedged. Malcom had walked over to the couch with the cat still in his arms. Lori moved toward the hallway, not really wanting to share too much with her mom because she’d make a huge deal out of nothing. “I got another cat—a kitten.”
“A kitten? Since when?”
“Uh, yesterday. He showed up at my friend’s place, all wet and muddy and starving.”
“Oh, poor thing,” her mom said. “Where were you? Brandy’s? How did a kitten get to a place like her cabin?”
“No . . .” Lori sighed and stepped into her bedroom. Malcom could still overhear if he really wanted to. She had to find a way to get out of this conversation, and fast. “I was at my friend Malcom’s place for just a few minutes, and we heard the kitten meowing outside. So I brought it home, and he’s a busybody but adorable.”
“I’m so glad you’re okay with getting another cat now,” her mom said. “I know how much you miss Silver.”
“Yeah, I mean, I didn’t have much of a choice. Tiger sort of found me.”
“That’s a cute name. But tell me about your friend Malcom. Did he go to high school with you?”
Her mom wasn’t fooling anyone—she was totally digging for information. “No, he’s here on a construction job, working on the condominium complex going up across the street from my shop.”
“Lydia Kane told me about that. It sounds terrible.”
“It’s not terrible—it’s needed to sustain the growth in our town,” Lori countered. “You had to move away to find a great retirement community, and the kids going off to college aren’t coming back.”
Her mom went silent at that. But not for long. “So . . . this Malcom. Is he a nice man? Nice enough to date?”
“Yes, but we’re friends, that’s all. Look, Mom, I really need to go. We’ll talk later.”
Her mom’s voice came through like she was grinning. “I can’t wait, honey. Call me first thing tomorrow.”
Lori hung up, feeling like she wanted to laugh and groan at the same time. Why did she have to bring up Malcom? There was no way her mom was going to let any of this slide. In fact, her mother now knew things her best friends didn’t know. Lori wouldn’t put it past her to say something to Lydia and other friends she still had around Everly Falls.
She pulled up the chat group really quick and fired off a short text. Letting you know I have a new kitten named Tiger. I was hanging out with Malcom last night and we found him. Now you’re caught up in case my mom calls one of your moms.
Julie immediately replied with a laughing emoji. Brandy texted back, What? You’re hanging out with Malcom? Tell us more.
Lori put her phone on silent. She’d answer in more detail after Malcom left. She’d wanted to call Brandy about the stuff going on with his business, but Lori had been swamped. Besides, she’d leave it to Malcom to share any updates with Brandy.
Sure enough, a solo text arrived from Brandy: Did Malcom talk to you about our meeting?
Yeah, Lori replied. It’s terrible what his brother has done. She left it at that and set her phone on the bedside table, then went to find Malcom and Tiger.
But when she walked into the living room, she found him sound asleep on her couch, with Tiger curled next to him. She stood there for a long moment, debating what to do. Wake him and send him on his way? Let him sleep? Maybe the cat would wake him soon anyway? But what should she do? Go to bed?
She glanced at the kitchen to see that he’d cleaned everything up. It was kind of hard to stay just friends with this man. He looked absolutely charming asleep on her couch. And the addition of the sleeping cat didn’t hurt the image at all.
Finally, she decided to turn off the lights save for the one over the stove. She draped a light blanket over Malcom, and Tiger stayed asleep. Then she headed to her room. After leaving her door ajar in case the cat decided to come into her bedroom, Lori changed into her PJs and climbed into bed. She closed her eyes, willing sleep to come, but it wasn’t until it started raining softly outside that she finally drifted off.