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The evening was actually more fun than Oliver thought it would be. The girls fawned over every kid’s costume, and the kids especially loved Skylar and Franky dressed as The Incredibles. Most of the kids were from the neighborhood, so they walked from house to house in the cul-de-sac while their parents stood in the street visiting.
One mom approached with her child, who was dressed as Link from The Legend of Zelda game. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I saw you take your mask off and readjust it before we walked up, and I have to ask … are you Adelia Allen?”
Adelia’s mouth fell open a little before she replied, “I am. And you have the cutest little Link I’ve ever seen.” She crouched down in front of him. “Are you going to rescue Princess Zelda?”
The little boy nodded and held out his candy bag.
“What do you say?” his mom asked him.
“Trick-oh-treat.”
Adelia held her hand to her heart. “You get extra candy for all that cuteness,” she whispered to the little boy, “but don’t tell the other kids.”
The smile on his face was priceless as he showed his mom. Just seeing Adelia with the kids made Oliver’s heart ache. He could tell she was enjoying herself and that she was wonderful with children.
“Thank you,” the woman said. “And I hope this isn’t out of line to ask, but would you mind signing this for me?” She pulled a piece of paper and a pen from her purse. “I am a huge fan of yours, and I would really appreciate it.”
“Of course.” She looked around the neighborhood. “But only if you don’t mention that you saw me here.”
“I won’t,” the woman replied.
“Thank you.” Adelia took the paper and used the porch railing as a surface to sign it. “Here ya go.”
“Thank you so much. And I’m praying for you and your parents. I hope they can work things out.”
Oliver noticed Adelia tense up at that.
“Happy Halloween,” the woman said.
“You too.”
Adelia stood still for a moment, then handed the plastic pumpkin-shaped bucket filled with candy to Skylar and walked into the house.
Oliver followed, and she stopped between the living room and kitchen and took her mask off.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine.”
She didn’t look fine.
“I think that woman was actually being sincere when she said she was praying for my family. Most people just want all the dirt.”
“There are good people in the world, Addy.”
“I guess I haven’t encountered many lately. And I don’t think prayer is going to help my parents. I don’t know how they could work things out after what my mother did.” Tears formed in her eyes. “It was really nice of her to say that, though.” Her lower lip quivered a little as she spoke.
He knew he shouldn’t, but he gave in to the overwhelming urge to comfort her and wrapped her up in a hug. She melted into him and buried her face in his neck, gripping the back of his shirt tightly in her hands. He held her like that for a few minutes, until the mood slowly shifted, and he knew he was in trouble.
“You smell good,” she breathed against his neck.
“So do you,” he whispered in reply.
“I love your hugs.”
“Me too.”
She lifted her head to look at him. “I know I said I’d behave, and I know I agreed to just be friends, but it’s not what I want.”