AUSTIN • POV
“Mister Walker! Happy Halloween! Also, I know where you live now! Ha ha ha!”
“Happy Halloween, Lacey! You said the same thing last year, but I haven’t moved house since then,” I chuckled, bending over so that the little girl, dressed in a witch’s costume with a bright green face, could shove her small fist into the large bowl of sweets and chocolates I held at my open front door.
Her mother smiled behind her, half exasperated, half fondly, as she grabbed Lacey’s hand and shook out her fist, causing the girl to drop three-quarters of the twelve confectionary items she’d greedily grabbed, back into my skeleton themed bowl.
“Not so many, Lacey! Save some for the other kids,” she reprimanded, before turning to me and smiling conversationally. “How are you, Mister Walker? Enjoying the holiday? You’re on a break from school and then one night, all of the kids you’re supposed to be getting away from, are knocking on your front door!”
She chuckled and I laughed with her good naturedly, patting Lacey’s witch’s hat when the six year old wrapped herself around my leg like a spider monkey.
“I’m loving it, honestly. Fall is my favourite season and Halloween is most definitely the highlight!” I beamed, although I’m sure the woman could already tell, since I’d made the effort to dress up as a black cat this year.
I wore pinned furry ears on top of my head, a soft, poofy, black cat onesie with a white underbelly, and a strap-on tail that curved around my hip. It wasn’t a crazy impressive costume, but it was cute, affordable, simple and so fun to wear! Plus, I was rocking my favourite seasonal pumpkin earrings, a marvellous fashion item, in my humble opinion.
“And your husband, how’s he doing?” We haven’t been to the doctor’s office in a while, not that I’m complaining, but he was always such a bright soul to talk to and very helpful!” Lacey’s mum continued, tugging her daughter back by the collar of her black and purple sequined dress, when Lacey attempted to edge around my legs and dart into my house.
I could hear clicking against the hardwood floors behind me and then a wet snout poked out from between my legs, announcing Frappé’s arrival. “Doggy!” Lacy screeched, dropping to her knees on my front step to pet my Corgi puppy, who was more than happy to receive her enthusiastic attention. I had to widen my stance so I didn’t trip over the wiggling pup and child at my feet.
“Jace is doing very well!” I finally answered Lacey’s mother, smiling wistfully at just the thought of my loving husband. He was working, and as a general practitioner, his hours were gruelling and long, but we’d created a wonderful, comfortable life for ourselves in this little, suburban community, rewarding the sacrifices we made each and every day.
Jace would be home later on in the evening and I looked forward to our annual Halloween horror fest, where we’d curl up on the couch together, drink spooky themed cocktails and eat delicious sweet treats while we indulged in a horror movie marathon. It was our thing! I couldn’t wait, excitement making me buzz and beam.
“He should be home soon,” I continued, and Lacey’s mum smiled sweetly.
As a primary school teacher and with Jace being the local GP, we were well acquainted with most of the inhabitants of this little town, which made things easier when it came to laying down roots. There were always people asking after us and neighbours we could turn to when we needed help. It was a great feeling of community and one we didn’t take for granted at all.
“We should be on our way, we’ve still got a few more houses to visit, and then it’s bedtime for this one,” Lacey’s mother tapped her daughter’s shoulders, and I stepped back, hooking my finger under Frappé’s collar so that he didn’t dart after the pair. Frappé had an adorable pumpkin hair clip positioned on top of his cute fluffy head to match my earrings.
“Goodbye puppy! Goodbye Mister Walker!” Lacey sighed with a pout when she finally parted ways with my pup and grabbed her mother’s hand. “See you at school next week!” She waved and I waved back, watching them depart down the driveway that led up to Jace and I's modest two bedroom town house.
I’d been answering the door since early on in the afternoon, handing out treats to children as small as two years old. I absolutely loved the early afternoon Halloween buzz, when parents with small children lead their toddlers up to my door, most experiencing their first or second time trick or treating. They waddled with their cute little legs, distracted by the decorations and the lights. So freaking cute.
As time progressed and the sky darkened, the children visiting the house got older in age. I’d seen most of my class children from school and their parents; happy six and seven year olds who acted as though they’d bumped into a celebrity, their little eyes sparkling when they realised that they were visiting their school teacher, who was willingly giving them unhealthy treats.
I’d been hugged, high-fived, fist-bumped. I’d been petted like an actual cat by grubby little hands and then abandoned when the kids caught sight of Frappé and decided he was their new celebrity to fawn over. It was a great time all the same and watching their little faces light up reminded me of the joys of children and why I’d chosen to be a teacher in the first place.
Eventually, I ran out of candy and chocolates, but it was getting late into the evening, and the crowd was turning into a much more exhilarating and mature night time buzz as the teens and young adults came out for their chance at a good time. I turned off the porch lights to dissuade any more trick or treaters and wandered deeper inside my home, with Frappé on my heels.
As if it was planned, my phone buzzed on the kitchen counter when I entered the room and I grabbed it, smiling when Jace’s name lit up the screen. Putting it to my ear after answering, I was cheesing like a creep, unable to hold in the happiness in my expression when I spoke. “Hey baby, I missed you today! Are you on your way home?”
“Hey sweetie, yes I am,” Jace chuckled, his low, familiar voice like music to my ears.
I could just picture his bright blue eyes, his handsome face, the stubble on his jaw and the dark blonde hairs of his goatee. I could just imagine his long, blonde hair, usually tied in a ponytail at the base of his neck, though strands would fall free throughout his stressful days at work, framing his gorgeous face by the time he got home.
Jace did wear piercings; a ring through his bottom lip and a bell through one eyebrow. I personally thought they were hot as hell, though he also removed them during the day because of his job. It was like a special treat to see him in his usual attire outside of his doctor’s office and my husband was one good looking man.
“Are you having a good time? I know it’s your favourite day of the season. I’m sorry I couldn't be there,” he hummed, and I could hear the muffled sounds of traffic in the background of his call, making me panic just a little bit. I didn’t want to distract him if he was driving.
“I’m having a good time! Just finished handing out candy for the day. Am I on speaker?” I asked to make sure he wasn’t holding his phone and had both hands on the wheel. Talking to Jace while I knew he was driving, always made me anxious.
I bit my lip, crouching on the tiled floor to stroke Frappé who was clawing at my leg. He was still in his excitable, clingy phase of puppyhood.
“Hands free,” Jace replied to my concerned question and we both snorted with laughter at the innuendo of his words. I was sure he’d said it on purpose to calm me down. My hubby was perceptive to my feelings that way. “I’m only a few minutes away, I just wanted to hear your voice. It's been a long day.” His laugh tapered off into a tired softness towards the end of his words.
“Oh Jace, I’m sorry baby,” I sighed wistfully, wanting to reach through the phone and hold him. Both our careers were quite demanding, but that just made the time we spent together even more precious.
Jace was a great doctor, he was kind and gentle and patient, but he also had an empathetic personality, so when his patients weren’t doing so great, the stress and worry took a mental and physical toll on him. I couldn’t wait to hold him on the couch while we watched movies - perhaps I’d give him a massage to loosen any tension he felt.
“It’s alright,” Jace hummed, trying to settle the worry that had crept its way into my voice. “Tonight, I’m just looking forward to winding down with you. Ugh, I need some food. Did you eat my leftovers? If you dare to say ‘yes’, you’re in for it when I get home.”
I let out a scandalised gasp, back to feeling the playful energy that always zapped between us. “Me? Eat your leftovers? I would never,” I lied… because I had indeed eaten his pizza leftovers for lunch while I was carving pumpkins at the kitchen table.
However, I’d only eaten them because I knew that I was going to make spicy pumpkin soup with my pumpkin guts and homemade sourdough bread, so I was sure that would make up for things. I’d never eat his food and then let him starve.
“Guilty!” Jace yelled with mock outrage and I couldn't help but giggle. Frappé’s tail started wagging harder as he became excitable with the sound. We all played off one another’s emotions and it was brilliant to watch.
“Sorry, my love! But I promise I’ll have food on the table for you when you get in!”
“Mmm, can’t wait. Kiss Dug for me,”Jace teased shamelessly, using our puppy's other name.
We couldn’t agree on a name for our dog - probably the only time in our entire relationship where we couldn’t come to a compromised conclusion. I liked Frappé because our Corgi pup was adorably sweet and coloured with cream and beige fur, like a coffee Frappé. Genius.
Jace liked Dug because he was obsessed with Dug the dog from the movie ‘UP’. Personally, I found the movie traumatising, but Jace, although he broke down each time he watched it, had decided that it was one of his favourite films and pledged to name his first pup after Dug the dog.
Luckily, our pup answered to both names and wasn’t as confused as he probably should’ve been by his dads’ indecisiveness. Honestly, you could call him ‘Pea’ and he’d come running. He really didn’t care.
"Will do! Frappé will be waiting when you walk through the door!"
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