Esa started in alarm when several ear-piercing shrieks of terror penetrated the kitchen windows. She relaxed a little when the combined screams were followed by children’s hysterical laughter. Mary Kate and Molly exchanged a knowing glance.
“Cory and Alex must have talked Finn into playing Wolf Man,” Mary Kate said.
“Finn is playing Wolf Man? Let’s go!” Ellen told Anna Jean before both girls rushed out of the kitchen.
When Mary Kate saw Esa’s confused expression she explained, “You’ll think we’re barbarians no doubt—my husband did the first time he attended one of Glory’s Halloween parties—but the Madigans have a tradition whereby we—”
“Scare our children half to death,” a voice behind Esa said.
She spun around to face a tall, incredibly striking w
oman dressed as Cleopatra. Cleopatra herself would have killed to look as gorgeous as this woman did when she was in her seventies.
“Glory Madigan,” the woman said with a smile as she held out her bejeweled hand.
“Esa Ormond,” Esa replied as she shook Glory’s hand and studied her with open fascination. “That costume is amazing. And you look fantastic in it.”
“Thanks,” Glory said with a cheeky grin. She batted her false eyelashes flirtatiously. “I’ve been working out regularly at the senior center for the past three months. I’ve lost twelve pounds, but mostly just turned all the fat to muscle,” Glory added as an intimate aside to Esa.
“Low-impact aerobics?” Esa asked.
“In addition to water aerobics on Sundays and meditation on Tuesdays.”
“I don’t suppose your referring to the new senior center on 95th and Ashland?”
Glory looked surprised. “Yes, the facility is wonderful. I’m surprised you know about it. Do you live in the area?”
“No, I just heard about it through the grapevine,” Esa responded in a vague fashion.
“Mom’s been bound and determined to get into shape in order to wear that costume,” Molly explained with a grin.
“Mom and Grandma Glory made it,” Mary Kate added.
“Another Madigan tradition,” Molly said with a laugh. “We make Glory a different costume every year.”
“I’m going to get you into one next year, Molly,” Glory said with a determined frown.
From the doubtful expression on Molly’s face, Esa guessed that Molly was nowhere near as fond of dressing up as her mother-in-law was.
“Oh…but we never finished telling Esa about the Wolf Man tradition,” Molly said.
“It all started with my husband Sean and his six brothers,” Glory began. “I had five children and there were hoards of Madigan cousins. One Halloween Sean bought a Wolf Man mask and whipped the kids into a frenzy by hiding in the backyard and making growling noises—”
“I was one of the kids,” Molly piped up. “I was in the seventh grade and invited to the party by my best friend Mary Madigan. When we heard those noises in that pitch-black backyard we were scared, I can tell you. But when Dad Madigan came bursting out of the bushes wearing that Wolf Man mask we were petrified. I’ve never screamed so hard in my life.”
Esa laughed when she registered the expression of excitement and incredulous fear that the memory still had the power to bring to Molly’s face.
“How many masks have we gone through over the years?” Mary Kate asked before she took a sip of beer.
“At least a dozen,” Glory replied.
“It was the best part of Halloween,” Mary Kate admitted as mirth gleamed in her blue eyes. “Running around out there in the pitch dark, both wanting to find one of the Uncle Wolves and practically peeing our pants we were so scared he was going to jump out from behind a tree and tickle us until we couldn’t breathe.”
“Sounds like a blast,” Esa agreed, grinning.
“Oh, it was. I was just telling Finn this evening that I kind of wish it was me out there instead of my kids,” Mary Kate said wistfully.
They all paused when they heard a wolf howl and more shrieks of terror emanating from the backyard, followed by hysterical shouts and laughter.