Chapter Twenty
She started to head home half a dozen times that afternoon, but there was so much fun in the village. Most of the merchants had decked themselves out in costumes to celebrate the day. There were demons selling hardware and fairies ringing up produce.
She had a late lunch with Ripley, and an impromptu meeting with Dorcas about catering a Christmas party.
And it seemed that every second person she passed stopped her to congratulate her on her engagement.
She belonged. To the village, she thought. To Zack. And finally, finally, she belonged to herself.
She swung by the station house to make a date with Zack to hand out the goody bags she'd already made up for the ghosts and goblins expected at dusk.
"I might be a little late. Have to run herd on some of the older kids," Zack told her. "I've already dealt with a couple of teenagers who tried to convince me the twelve rolls of toilet paper they were buying were for their mothers. "
"How did you get the toilet paper for rolling houses when you were a kid?"
"I stole it out of the bathroom closet at home, like anyone with half a brain. "
Her dimples deepened. "Any more exploding pumpkins?"
"No, I think the word got out on that. " He cocked his head. "You sure look chipper today. "
"I am chipper today. " She stepped forward, wrapped her arms around his neck.
He'd just gotten his arms around her when his phone rang. "Hold that thought," he told her, and answered.
"Sheriff's office. Yeah, Mrs. Stubens. Hmm?" He stopped lowering his hip to the corner of the desk and stood straight again. "Is anybody hurt? Good. No, just stay right there, I'm on my way. Nancy Stubens," he told Nell as he strode over to the coat rack for his jacket. "Teaching her boy how to drive. He ran straight into the Bigelows' parked Honda Civic. "
"But is he all right?"
"Yeah, I'll just go sort things out for them. It might take a while. That Honda was brand-new. "
"You know where to find me. "
She walked out with him, felt a nice steady glow when he leaned down to kiss her good-bye. Then they walked in opposite directions.
She'd gone half a block when Gladys Macey hailed her.
"Nell! Hold on. " Puffing a little at the effort to catch up, Gladys patted her heart. "Let me see that ring I'm hearing so much about. "
Before Nell could offer her hand, Gladys was grabbing it, bending over close to get a good, long look. "Should have known that Todd boy would do a good job. " She gave a nod of approval, then looked up at Nell. "You got a winner there, and I don't mean the ring. "
"I know it. "
"I watched him grow up. Once he got some man on him, if you know what I mean, I used to wonder what sort of woman would catch his fancy. I like knowing it's you. I've got a fondness for you. "
"Mrs. Macey. " Undone, Nell hugged her. "Thank you. "
"You'll be good for him. " She patted Nell's back. "And he'll be good for you. I know you've had some troubles. " She simply nodded as Nell drew back. "You had something in your eyes when you came here. It's not there much anymore. "
"I left all that behind. I'm happy. "
"It shows. Have you set the date?"
"No, not yet. " Nell thought of lawyers, of conflict. Of Evan. She would deal with it, she told herself. With all of it. "As soon as we can. "
"I want a front-row seat at the wedding. "
"You'll have one. And all the champagne you can drink at our thirtieth anniversary party. "
"I'll hold you to it. Well, I've got to get on. Monsters'll come knocking at the door before long, and I don't want my windows soaped. You tell that man of yours I said he did well. "
"I will. " That man of hers, Nell thought as she began to walk again. What a wonderful phrase.
She quickened her steps. She was going to have to hurry to beat dusk.
She went to the front of the cottage, glancing around a bit self-consciously. Secure that she was alone in the lowering light, she held her arms out toward her jack-o'-lanterns, breathed in, focused.
It took some work, a hard slap of effort, and a match would certainly have been quicker. But it wouldn't have given her the same rush as watching the candles spurt flame and the pumpkins glow from the fire in her mind.
Boy! She let out her breath on a quick laugh. Boy, oh boy, that was so cool.
It wasn't just the magic, she decided. It was the knowing-who and what she was. It was finding her strength, her purpose, and her heart. Taking back control so that she could share it with a man who believed in her.
Whatever happened tomorrow, or a year from tomorrow, she was now and always Nell.
She danced up the steps and into the front door.
"Diego! I'm home. You wouldn't believe the day I've had. Absolutely the best day. "
She twirled into the kitchen, flipping on the light. She put on the kettle for tea before beginning to fill a big wicker basket with her goody bags.
"I hope we get a lot of kids. It's been years since I've done trick or treat. I can't wait. " She opened a cupboard. "Oh, for heaven's sake! I left my car at the bookstore. What was I thinking?"
"You always were absentminded. "
The mug she reached for slipped like water out of her hand, smashed on the counter, shattered on the floor. A roaring filled her ears as she turned.
"Hello, Helen. " Evan walked slowly toward her. "It's so good to see you. "
She couldn't say his name, could make no sound at all. She prayed it was another vision, a hallucination. But he reached out, and those slender fingers brushed her cheek.
She went cold to the marrow.
"I've missed you. Did you think I wouldn't come?" Those fingers slid around the back of her neck now and brought on a hideous wave of nausea. "Wouldn't find you? Haven't I told you, Helen, so many times, that nothing would ever keep us apart?"
She only closed her eyes when he bent, brushed his mouth over hers. "What have you done to your hair?" His hand fisted it, tugged viciously. "You know how I love your hair. Did you cut it off to displease me?"
A tear slithered down her cheek as she shook her head. His voice, his touch, seemed to drain everything she was away and leave her as she'd been.
She felt Nell fading away.
"It does displease me, Helen. You've caused me a great deal of trouble. A great deal. You've stolen a year of our lives. "
His fingers tightened, went biting cruel as he jerked her chin up. "Look at me, you stupid little bitch. Look at me when I speak to you. "
Her eyes opened and all she could see were his, those clear, empty pools.