Epilogue
Ten Years Later
Caleb put a hand to the baby currently laid across his chest. He had on a baby carrier that allowed him to walk with his hands free, and he couldn’t help but stroke her back. Amelia was only six months old, but he didn’t want her or any of his children to miss the Halloween celebrations.
Mae was currently at the shop with Emily, finishing up with the last of the customers, and she had Alfie with her.
His eldest son, along with Emily’s youngest, were both nine years old, and both book lovers. He already saw a future where their children married. Alfie and Jennifer were inseparable. They were the best of friends.
He and Pete, along with Kasey and Leah, were enjoying what Halloween Point had to offer.
Currently, he was enjoying a pumpkin-flavored ice cream, with a hint of cinnamon chocolate sauce. It was so good.
Kasey and Leah held his other daughter’s hand.
Where Emily and Pete had given birth to a daughter, his and Mae’s first had been twins.
Alfie and Louise were their twins, and were nothing alike.
Alfie was quiet, Louise was loud. Alfie liked to read, while Louise liked to go in the garden and adventure.
Yep, even he had an issue with her attempting to gain a live spider collection.
He had banned her from bringing them into the house.
After Alfie and Louise, three years later, they had given birth to Selma, who he was holding hands with right now, and enjoying an ice cream of her own.
Pete had his other son, Mitchell, on his shoulders, and he carried Amelia on his chest.
Ten years of marriage, five children, and he was one of the happiest men alive.
Growing up, he had hated Halloween Point. All he could think about was getting out of it. Now, as a married man, he had five children and two thriving businesses, as Mae had insisted on putting him on the deed to the shop as well.
His life was so different. He was not the playboy anymore.
He knew women stared at him as he walked down the street with his kids, or was seen at the grocery store, filling a cart, taking them to school in a minivan.
He had changed, for the love of one woman—his wife.
Mae, the girl he’d fallen for in high school, but the one girl he never thought he could have.
Until she walked into a bar, and he’d known she was ready.
They came to a stop outside their mother’s shop, and Mae, dressed in a princess costume this year, came out, with Alfie and Jennifer as ghouls. They had a bag he just knew had a couple of books inside. Emily was there as well, looking mighty happy with herself.
Each year he and Mae thrived, she believed it was down to her awesome matchmaking skills, and he couldn’t argue with her. Without Emily, his proposal wouldn’t have gotten the punch it needed.
Mae walked right into his arms, kissed him, and then leaned down to kiss their daughter.
“Happy Halloween, baby,” he said.
“Happy Halloween to you.”
“Remember, we promised to take all the kids tonight for you guys,” Emily said.
“I know,” Caleb said, and he looked into his wife’s eye and saw the glint. “You hear that, kids, that means Auntie Emily wants you to eat every single piece of candy you can find. Go and eat.”
“Wait? What?” Emily asked.
It was too late. The kids were already diving into their bags of goodies, complete with chocolate on their cute little faces.
“You didn’t think there would be payback, did you?” he asked.
After all, it was Emily and Pete who had decided to do exactly the same with Kasey and Leah ten years ago.
Revenge was a dish best served cold, but also a nice joke between friends.
The End
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