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“Alice, it’s—” He paused. “Maybe they put it in my jacket pocket.”

“What is it?”

“You have to see it.”

He left the wine cellar with Alice closely behind. She steadied herself against the wall as they ascended the creaky wooden steps.

They entered the hallway and moved to the coatrack by the front door. Alice had placed his leather jacket there after cleaning up. Hugo took the jacket and sunk his hand into the pocket. He moved on to the next pocket.

“It’s here,” Hugo said.

Alice held her breath with anticipation.

He withdrew the gift held within andhanded it to Alice.

Alice gasped. Distress clouded her eyes as she concentrated on the sight of the red knit hat. She recognized the hat immediately. It washerhat.

She took it from Hugo. Her fingers clutched it tighter the longer she held it.

Alice sniffed it. The fresh notes of strawberries confirmed her signature perfume. Alice’s breath shortened. Her heart raced as it thumped against her chest. She gulped.

“Is that what I think it is?”

Alice clutched the hat to her chest with tears in her eyes. Hugo hugged Alice. She laid her head on his chest, finding comfort in his arms. She wanted to speak. She wanted to audibly confirm his suspicion, but couldn’t. She was frozen in silence. It was Sam’s red knit hat. Her mind slipped back to the night with Sam.

“My head is cold.Buy me a hat,” Sam commanded Alice. She stopped in the middle of the crowded shopping area on Essex Street.

Alice took a few steps before turning to face her girlfriend. Her hands were on her hips, her head to the side. “I told you to bring a hat. Why didn’t you bring your witch’s hat?” Alice tugged the brim of her curved pointy hat.

“Unlike you, I prefer not to broadcast what I am, thank you very much,” Sam replied.

“Look around you.” Alice motioned to the throngs of people overwhelming the street as they continued by in their Halloween costumes. “It’s Halloween in Salem. I think you’d fit in.”

The sky was dark, and the October air was crisp. Street lamps illuminated Essex Street as it filled with revelers partaking in the Halloween activities. The shops were filled to the brim. Street performers struggled to maintain their space as waves of costumed people moved past. Witch costumes of all varieties. Skeletons.Classic monsters. Vampires. A couple with carved pumpkins on their heads. It was heaven to Alice.

Sam pouted her lips and drooped her shoulders. “Buy me a hat. Please.”

“Why don’t you buy it?”

“Because then it wouldn’t be special. It would be from you,” Sam replied.

Alice blushed and smiled. She rocked back and forth, looking around at the various shops. “Do you really want me to buy you a hat?”

Sam moved closer and held Alice’s hands. She leaned in and whispered in a long, drawn-out answer, “Yesssss.”

As the melodic word washed over Alice’s ear, a symphony of emotions danced inside her soul. The solitary sound warmed Alice’s heart in the crisp, cold night. In one word, Alice was transported back to their private evenings, where their expression of love transcended everything. Alice was a sucker, and Sam was playing right into her, toying with her emotions. Alice lowered her head, biting her lip.

There was a pause.

Alice locked eyes with Sam, losing herself in Sam’s steel-blue eyes. Alice smiled.

Sam smirked.

“I don’t know how you do it, but I can’t say no to you.”

“Thank you,” Sam said with glee. She let go of Alice’s hands and headed toward the nearest store. “I want a red one.”

Three knocksat the door interrupted Alice’s memory. Her head swirled from the rush of emotions. The hallway spun. Alice took a step back to catch herself.