I was winning Halloween this year. Gran would be proud. Picking up a candy apple, I went to go sit on the front stoop and watch the street prepare for the night when my phone rang. Taking my phone from my hoodie pocket, I saw it was Griff and a smile spread across my face. He had been busy studying for an exam this week and I hadn’t heard from him in two days. He’d sent a few texts but nothing more. Tomorrow night he was coming to stay for the weekend. I couldn’t wait. His lack of communication was worth it, knowing I would get to be with him soon.
“Happy Halloween!” I said cheerfully into the phone.
“Since when do you celebrate Halloween?” he asked with an amused tone.
“Since three days ago. My Gran did it up good every year it seems, so I am doing the same. I even carved pumpkins and roasted seeds. That is not as easy as it sounds either,” I said, thinking about my first disastrous attempt at carving a jack-o-lantern.
“I take it you’re giving out candy too,” he replied.
“Oh yes! I also have candy apples to give out. My Gran’s recipe.”
He laughed and the sound made me happy. I loved his laugh. “Sounds like you have been busy.”
“Very. I’ve made apple cider and apple pie, oh, and I’m wearing a witch hat to give out candy! I found it with Gran’s Halloween things.”
“I hate I will miss all that,” Griff said.
“I’ll save you some of everything for this weekend. I can even wear the hat for you if you want,” I teased. “You are going to love this place. I had forgotten how magical Portsmouth is.”
There was a pause on the line and I wondered if I had said something wrong.
“About this weekend. Sailor, I have a paper on medical ethics due and the one I had originally written I let Chet read. He thinks it’s too weak, and he’s right. I wasn’t focused enough writing it. I need more research behind it. I just, I can’t come this weekend, babe. I am so sorry. This paper is very important.”
My festive mood was zapped just like that. All week, I had been thinking about seeing Griff and showing him Portsmouth and having him here at Gran’s. We had barely had time to talk or he had barely had time. My schedule was wide open. I was also very alone here, and I missed him.
“You can’t work on it here? There’s a second bedroom that you can lock yourself away in and work.” I just wanted him here. Didn’t matter if I saw much of him.
He sighed. “I wish I could. I need the library resources here. Besides, the travel there and back is just more time that I won’t have to work on this paper.”
It was only an hour I wanted to point out but didn’t. He was set on this. I knew that. I could hear it in his voice. I resigned myself to the fact this was going to happen. He was in medical school. “When do you think you can come?” I asked him.
“Next weekend. I promise. I’ll be sure to have it all done and I will be free to spend every minute with you.”
“Next weekend,” I agreed.
We said our I love yous and byes then hung up. I started to put the candy apple down but decided I needed it. Grabbing a fleece throw from the sofa, I headed outside to sit and try and get back in the Halloween spirit.
I had just gotten wrapped up and seated when I saw the neighbors’ front door across the street open. Six years ago, the Thompsons lived there, but I wasn’t sure if they still did. Then I watched as Margie Thompson walked down the front three steps of her Greek Revival home, similar to Gran’s in everything but color, proving that they were, indeed, still living there.
I watched Margie cross the road, carrying something in her hands, and realized then she was headed for me. Gran had been friends with the Thompsons. Their sons were about ten or more years older than me. I barely remember seeing them when I was growing up. When Margie was close enough, I could see she had a pie in her hands and a big smile on her face. I stood up as she walked down my driveway.
“It is so good to see this house lit up and alive again,” she said as she reached the bottom of my stoop.
“Hello Mrs. Thompson,” I said. It was nice to see they were still there. At least that hadn’t changed.
“It’s Margie. You’re all grown up now. Here, I made you a Marlborough Pie. Now it isn’t vegan like your Gran made, but it is delicious. I promise.”