The smell of fireplaces coming to life, seeing Halloween decorations in storefronts, and people starting to bundle up. I find the guys outside of Tiffany’s and arch an eyebrow. “This is where you four ran off to?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Gunner says without making eye contact. As if I don’t know my men after our years together.
They’re going to go all out for Christmas, I can tell already.
“Mommy, I gotta get a costume.” Link reminds me, eying a little Halloween shop ahead.
“You heard the boy. Let’s go before all the good ones are taken,” Holden says. “Want to race?”
My heart goes to mush seeing my family so happy together. Especially knowing we’re about to add even more to the mix.
3
NICK
Once we get to the Halloween store, I know it’s going to take all five of us adults to control the kids. Luckily, Cora hasn’t learned how to escape the stroller yet. Sophie looks at costumes for her while Roman and Gunner hurry off with Link. Holden looks around.
“What are we going to put Sophie in this year?”
I chuckle. “Something hot.”
“Little ears.” Sophie reminds us.
“Mommy, I wanna look!” Cora says.
Holden winks at Sophie and goes to look in the adult section. She sighs and fumbles with the clasp on the stroller. I try to let her handle it, but I can see her getting more frustrated. I pop it quickly and she nods her thanks.
“What would I do without you, gorgeous?”
I kiss her gently. Cora giggles. I poke her chubby cheek. “What doyouwant to be?”
“A princess!” She squeals.
But as we look, she pulls out a skeleton costume that she’s definitely too big for. Sophie shows her a princess costume and Cora gasps at the glitter. Glitter is her weakness, I’ve learned that about our daughter.
“Both!”
“Honey ...” Sophie hesitates.
“You will be the cutest skeleton princess yet,” I tell her, scooping her up in my arms. “But we have to find a skeleton that will fit.”
She nods. Sophie’s face softens and she rubs my back. “Thank you.”
“You have a lot on your mind today. That’s okay.”
She nods. As we look through the costumes, a woman with her daughter comes up. She smiles. “Hi.”
“Hey.” Sophie greets.
“Your little one wants to be a princess too?” The woman asks.
I bounce Cora in my arms. “A skeleton princess of course.”
I see the woman look at me, look at Cora’s curls, then at Sophie. “How nice.”
“Where Link?” Cora asks.
“With Daddies.” Sophie answers. “We’re going to try on soon, okay?”