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The crowd laughs, and Esther bares a set of plastic fangs in a surprisingly menacing hiss. James throws me a surprised look, and I can’t help but chuckle along.

Bill is up next, wearing an Einstein wig that’s barely attached and a scowl that would make the real Albert proud.

“And now, presenting Bill, the smartest man in the room, who also happens to think the microwave is haunted!” James winks as the crowd cracks up.

Bill gives him a dismissive wave, gripping a large chalkboard with E=mc2 scrawled in wobbly chalk.

He shows off the board and does a little dance, causing his wig to fall off, but he walks away without noticing.

“Oh! A demonstration in gravity!” James quips, not missing a beat, and everyone laughs. I stand up to retrieve the wig and give it back to Bill. He just laughs, waving at the crowd again.

“Oh, looks like we have a surprise contestant. Little Red Riding Hood,” he says, shooting me a grin.

I give a small wave, probably as red as my costume by now.

“The only woman who’s brave enough to come near the big bad wolf,” he adds in a low growl, waving his claws, and I give him a pointed look.

“How can anyone resist her? She’s devastating. ”

Our gazes lock, and I’m trapped in his cobalt eyes. Until I remember we’re both standing in the middle of a nursing home runway, frozen in front of a crowd of spectators. I quickly return to my spot, blushing even harder than before.

James clears his throat loudly. “All right, let’s move on to our next contestant.”

Janice struts onto the runway dressed as a classic film star, complete with a black-and-white feathered dress, long satin gloves, and still not a wrinkle in sight. I sneak a glance at Grandma, who’s up next, and her eyes narrow at Janice.

“And now, Janice as . . . Hollywood Glamour! Or perhaps an undercover agent?” James raises an eyebrow, as if he, too, senses something fishy. “We’ll have to check her ID later to see if she’s old enough to be here.”

A sea of chuckles washes over the room while Grandma straightens herself, adjusting her long black gown.

“Everyone beware!” James bellows dramatically. “Here comes Lois, the wickedest witch in the West—who may or may not turn you i nto a toad if you don’t clap loud enough.”

She raises her arms like she’s about to cast a spell, and I join the whole room in cheering for her with a little added fervor.

Five more participants shuffle on stage in a parade of costumes, each more realistic than the last—especially that terrifying mummy costume. When the runway stands empty, James walks forward.

“This is it, the moment you’ve all been waiting for,” he announces gravely. “The results are in, everyone.” He walks to the judges’ table, and Carlos hands him a folded piece of paper, which I’m assuming holds the winner’s name.

“And the winner of the Golden Age Halloween Spectacular is . . . Madame Martha!”

Eager applause fills the room as Martha joins James on the runway, her shawls and scarves floating around her. “Congratulations,” James says before drawing a beaming Martha into a warm hug. “Anything you’d like to say to the crowd or the judges?”

He holds the microphone in front of her, and she says, “Thank you, but this is hardly a surprise.” She points to the crystal ball. “I saw it coming.”

Everyone, including James, burst into laughter, and the two of them exit the runway under a roaring round of applause.

After we move the furniture back into place, we all dig into the sprawling buffet and chat with everyone.

“I’m with you, kid,” Grandma tells James in a secretive voice when it’s only the three of us. “Janice is definitely up to something. We should check her ID.”

“Grandma!” I scold. “You’re not going to rummage through Janice’s stuff. That’s insane.”

“I was only kidding, Lois,” James says, and I’m glad he’s on my side. “I’m sure they checked everything before she moved here.”

“Fine, I’ll just have to continue my investigation on my own,” she harrumphs, popping a baby carrot in her mouth.

“Hold on. I’ll be right back,” James says when he notices Martha beckoning him at the other end of the room.

“Even if he won’t be my partner in crime, I like this kid,” Grandma says, watching James as he jogs up to Martha. “A lot better than that moron you used to date.”

“Right, but James and I aren’t dating. I told you that.”

She frowns, her hand trembling slightly. “Well, why on earth not? I don’t understand it. If a handsome gentleman in his prime was looking at me the w ay he looks at you, I would be in his arms in a heartbeat.”

“Grandma!” Laughter bubbles out of me. “We’re just friends. Besides, he looks at me the way he looks at everyone else. It’s just the way he is.”

She pins me with a stare. “Darling, I’m old, but I’m not blind. I recognize a man in love when I see one.”

My heart skips a beat. Love? Does she really think he’s in love with me?

Then again, how much can I trust my grandma when she’s dead set on the idea that Janice is an actual spy?

I glance at James, and my cheeks burn when our eyes meet.

He’s leaning against a wall talking to Martha and Bill, but his gaze is fixed on me, carrying the same intensity I saw earlier on the runway, and this afternoon when we were getting ready.

It stirs something inside me, and a flock of butterflies take flight in my belly.

Darn it. This is going to be a problem.