But Zane’s eyes caught mine—burning with the same fire in my chest. Minutes later, we were gone. Not home, not defeated—but at the downtown Halloween festival.
Fog machines, carnival games, haunted houses, bouncy castles, and candy that made my kids’ eyes sparkle. Rory won a giant stuffed bat at the ring toss. Kael bobbed three apples in a row.
We laughed until our cheeks hurt, snapped photos in our costumes, and toasted hot chocolate with extra marshmallows. “This is way better than Aunt Celeste’s boring party,” Kael declared proudly, chocolate smeared across his chin. And he was right.
The next morning, though, my phone rang. And when I saw who was calling, I couldn’t help but smile—because I knew Celeste had no idea what kind of payback was coming her way. (continue reading in the 1st comment)
