Her Reason to Stay (15 page)

“I
THOUGHT YOU SAID
your car was in the shop,” Daphne said as her sister climbed into her passenger seat in the college parking lot.

“It is. The alternator or the ignition—I don’t know what, but it’s broken,” Raina said.

“Isn’t that your car, right over there?” She pointed at a white Mercedes three spots down and one row over.

“No. Are you kidding?” Raina shoved her bag onto the floor. “Let’s go. I don’t want my Spanish professor to see me.”

“Why?”

“I—I don’t like her.”

“That’s not like you.” But Daphne put the car in gear and turned toward the end of the parking lot. “I still have to get candy, and I’m not sure Patrick will get home in time to put up the spiderwebs before the kids show up.”

“I told you guys to do that last week.”

“I know, but Patrick needed some help researching a case, and I owed an attorney in D.C. a prospective juror questionnaire.”

“Patrick doesn’t have a clerk?” Raina leaned forward as they reached the main road. “I’m glad we’re out of there.”

“What’s with you and the Spanish teacher?”

“Huh?”

“The one you don’t like.”

“She says I speak Spanish with a French accent.”

“Why didn’t you test through French?”

“I wanted to learn something new, Daphne.”

“You’re a funny woman. Can we stop at the grocery store?”

“Sure. I might stay and help you pass out candy.”

“Will you?” Daphne turned into the street. “Good. Let’s make Patrick hand out candy. When was the last time you trick-or-treated?”

Her sister didn’t answer. Daphne glanced at her.

“You’re kidding. Never?”

“My parents threw a party instead.”

“Oh, sister, your life changes tonight. Will’s convinced I’ll let him go to more houses, so he and I have been campaigning to have Patrick stay home.”

“Cool.” Raina checked her watch. “I thought Lisa was coming for Halloween.”

“She couldn’t get time off from her new job.” Lisa had decided California living suited her better after finishing rehab. “She’s coming for Thanksgiving instead. Why do you keep looking at your watch?”

“Lots of homework and no time. Let’s call Patrick and have him pick up candy. Or Gloria. She’ll bring back the good stuff.”

Daphne took a good look at the darkening sky. The tall pines rose around the interstate. They faced a few miles and probably some traffic getting into town. She’d hate to miss her first real Halloween with Will. Last year, they’d been so new to each other that she’d simply held his bag between houses and smiled politely at his haul. This year they’d mapped out the streets they wanted to visit. “That’s a good idea. It’s going to be dark by the time we get home. Will you call?”

Raina dialed Gloria. “Yeah, it’s Raina. You’re coming to Patrick and Daphne’s for trick or treating?” She nodded at whatever Gloria said. “We were wondering if you could get the candy.” After a few seconds, she looked at Daphne. “She’s shocked you’ve waited till the last minute.”

“I had some,” Daphne whispered, “but Patrick and Will got into it during the World Series.”

Gloria agreed and when they reached home, Raina suggested they turn into the street behind the town house to park.

“Honestly, this’ll be better,” Raina said. “People cruise up and down to get to the front doors on the other street.”

“You’re acting weird, and it’s creepy going through the alley from here. Let’s jump over the garden fence.”

“Okay,” Raina said. “I think we can do that.”

They went into the kitchen door and found Patrick bagging the candy with his mother. He looked at Raina first. “You made it. Could you go check Will’s costume?”

“Let me,” Daphne said.

“No, Raina will do it. I really need some help here.”

“Lots of help,” Gloria said. “Because you two waited till the last minute. I won’t tell you what I had to do to get this.”

“If you’re arrested, you’re in good legal hands,” Patrick said. “Come on, Daphne. I have to go check the spiderwebs out front.”

“Did you finish?”

“The wind kept grabbing them. I want to make sure everything’s okay.”

He stopped at her side. With one hand, he stroked her cheek. “And I’m glad to see you. Did you have a long drive from the college?”

“I swear I saw Raina’s car. Why would she lie about needing a ride?”

He kissed her without answering, and by the time he lifted his head, she didn’t care. Looking at him, she forgot his mother. “Halloween gets to you.”

“You do,” he said. “Okay, Mom, I’m going. Sorry for embarrassing you.”

He also disappeared.

“Like I’ve never kissed a guy. That son of mine assumes too much.” Gloria stepped down the counter and showed Daphne the piles of candy. “One of each, the whole stack into one of these bags and twist on a tie and we’re good to go.”

“Okay.” But she wondered how Will was doing with his werewolf costume.

“I have to—find a bowl.” Gloria ran from the kitchen. “I’ll check the sideboard in the living room.”

Nice. Her first family Halloween and she was stuck alone in the candy assembly line.

“Grandma?”

Daphne turned toward the door, expecting to see a walking pile of hair, but she caught a glimpse of black and white before a hand snatched Will out of sight.

“Will?”

“I’m okay,” he said.

“Come show me your costume. Where’s the hair, buddy?”

“I’m—I’m not through yet.”

“How are those candies coming?” Raina asked from the next room. “I’m looking for a bowl. Gloria went upstairs to see if she could find one.”

“Upstairs? We have bowls in every cupboard. What’s Will wearing?”

“That hairy thing.”

Why should Raina sound confused?

The house went quiet again except for an occasional thump and then the front door opened and shut.

“Patrick? How are the spiderwebs?”

“Come look.”

“I’ll bring the candy.” She filled a wooden salad bowl with a stack of the bags and hurried down the narrow hall. “Patrick?”

Music started, but it wasn’t scary Halloween music. “This family has no clue about Halloween,” she said, opening the front door. “You’ve got the wrong CD on. That’s the wedding—”

She saw flowers instead of spiderwebs, Will in a tux and Raina holding a beautiful, white satin gown.

“Patrick?”

He looked even better than Will in his tux. It hugged his broad shoulders and reminded her how tall he was. His eyes were nervous.

“This seemed like a good idea,” he said, “but I’m thinking I should have asked you first.”

“No.”

“No?” he asked to a chorus of gasps.

“I’m glad you surprised me.”

In his tux, he knelt on the flower-strewn porch and took her hand. Behind him, Miriam and Gloria and Raina and Will all cheered.

“Will you marry me?” Patrick asked. He glanced at the others over his shoulder. “Will you belong to all of us?”

She couldn’t speak. She managed to fall to her knees and hold him, trembling. He turned his head against hers.

“Is that yes?”

She nodded, and he kissed the parts of her face he could reach. Over his shoulder, Gloria produced a prayer book from behind her back.

“I borrowed this from Reverend Brown.”

“What for?” Daphne asked, and this time her nearest and dearest laughed as one.

“I’m marrying you,” Gloria said.

Daphne turned to Patrick. “I’d rather we were legal.”

“Absolutely.” Gloria said. “I got my license over the Internet just for tonight. Get dressed, young lady. I want you good and married before the first ghouls arrive.”

“I made sure,” Patrick said as an aside.

As Daphne nodded, bewildered, Raina brought the dress. “I hope you like it. It seemed right.” She draped it over her arms, from beaded bodice to long narrow skirt.

“It’s perfect.”

They climbed the stairs together and Daphne dressed. Raina swept Daphne’s hair into a loose bun that she held in place with a jeweled clip.

“Something borrowed,” she said with a hug. “Are you sure?”

“Positive. He and Will are everything to me.” She hugged Raina tight. “Along with you. You know that.”

“You’re going to be blissful.”

She ran down the stairs ahead of Daphne. Patrick was waiting at the bottom.

“It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding,” Daphne said. “And we’re going to have a Halloween anniversary.”

“This is one of the luckiest days of my life,” he said. “But you haven’t had time to think about it. Do you want more time?”

“I can’t wait, Patrick.” She looped her arms around him. He held her with shaking hands.

“You make me forget how to think.” He kissed her cheek and her chin and the lines of her collarbone, bared by the dress. “The honeymoon,” he said. “Just tell me where, and I’ll arrange it.”

“Sometime, when Will is used to all this, we could do something special.” She pressed her lips to his jaw. “But for now, could we rent one of those cabins on the lake? We could take Will with us. That would be wonderful.”

“Perfect,” Patrick said.

“Daddy, Grandma says it’s time.” Will came to them, dragging his feet. “Now I don’t get this. Are we really getting married tonight?” He tugged at his collar. “I don’t like this costume.”

“We’re getting married.” Daphne knelt beside him. “Do you like the idea?”

“Sure.” He hugged her tight and she saw stars. “I love you, Daphne, but can I put on my werewolf costume when we’re done getting married?”

Laughing, she lifted him, and Patrick took him from her arms. “I say we all go trick-or-treating after we’re married,” Patrick said. “I want everyone in Honesty to see my family.”

“I want some candy.” Will patted Daphne’s shoulder. “But since you’re going to be my second mommy at last, I’ll probably share some of it with you.”

“Probably.” Patrick kissed Daphne, briefly but well. “And how lucky are you, that he’s my best wedding present?”

She didn’t have to answer. She just laughed and they hugged each other, all three. Together tonight. Together for always.

ISBN: 978-1-4268-1843-1

HER REASON TO STAY

Copyright © 2008 by Anna Adams.

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