Page 21

TREVOR

Hand in hand, Bram and I stroll down Garnet Drive with our dogs on leash leading the way.

Hades and Bandit bark at dogs farther up the block. Every time I look at Hades dressed in his devil costume, and Bandit as a bee, I grin. Getting them into the costumes was easier than I anticipated, but I don’t know how long we’ll have until they’ll want the items off.

Music echoes from Maplewood City Park, and brightly painted signs point the way to the Fun and Fright Fest. So many people are out here, crowding the sidewalk, hurrying past us to get to the event.

Pets, kids, and some adults in costumes, vendors carrying boxes, musicians hefting instruments, everyone is excited and ready for another Maplewood festival.

Bram lets out a low whistle. “So many people. Hades won’t know where to look first.”

“If he gets overwhelmed, we can duck out for a bit and take him for a walk in a quieter area of town or head back home.”

The air is crisp, bordering on cold, and I use the excuse to burrow closer to him.

He’s stolen another of my plaid shirts in what’s become almost a daily occurrence.

The tails of the blue plaid shirt stick out from the hem of his leather jacket.

Seeing him in my clothes warms my insides and makes me want to puff out my chest. It’s like he’s announcing to the world he’s mine.

I like seeing him in my clothes almost as much as I like waking up with him in my bed. Which is to say, a lot.

We reach the corner of Garnet Drive and Morgan Street. Dozens of balloons in orange, purple, and black arch over the park’s entrance. Beyond it, vendors and activity stations spread across the park’s green spaces.

A big smile stretching across his face, Bram bumps his shoulder into mine. “I wish they’d held this when we were kids.”

“It’s my favorite festival.” Guiding Bandit around two teens admiring each other’s zombie costumes, I walk under the balloon arch and onto the paved path decorated with colorful chalk drawings. “Maybe we should’ve worn costumes.”

Bram draws Hades away from a toddler dropping pieces of her donut on the grass. “We will, for the adult trick-or-treat. For now… I see booths selling witch and wizard hats and headbands with sparkly pumpkins and bats on antennas. Want any of those?”

I like that we can be silly with each other. “We have to go with the sparkles so we match Hades and Bandit. I like the pumpkins.”

Hades’s costume is a red velour cape with webbed collar, and sparkly red curved devil horns, and Bandit in his yellow and black striped bee costume, has sparkly silver wings and a yellow cap sporting iridescent tinsel balls for antennas.

Bram presses his hand to my lower back, guiding me in the direction of the booth. “Sparkling headbands, coming right up.”

I hold the dogs while he buys a headband with sparkly purple bats for himself, and one with orange pumpkins for me. After donning his headband, he turns to me and smiles. His blue eyes shining, he slides my pumpkin headband into place with care, and ends his act with a kiss on my lips.

This tiny moment is one memory I’ll cherish forever. Something so simple and ordinary, yet shakes my world with the tenderness of it.

The pumpkins bob with my every step as we visit the vendors. The warring diners, Sparky’s and Red’s are here, along with Harmonic Circus, the gardening club, local artisans, a vendor selling all things maple, and a specialty pie shop serving up slices of maple, apple, pecan, and pumpkin.

At the booth for the specialty pet boutique, we buy treats for the dogs. Hades tugs on the leash, his head turning right and left at all the people passing and possible new friends. Bandit is more interested in the little kids dressed as baseball players tossing a ball back and forth.

Bram points to a row of vendors by one of the paths. “Ever’s booth is over there.”

We wind our way in that direction, and at the Honey Spot’s booth, find Ever and Dmitri, and Jake and Alaric. Alaric is also sporting a bat antenna headband, with black bats.

As soon as Ever sees Bandit, he grins. “Now, there’s a costume.”

Bandit smiles his doggy smile at me like he knows he’s the center of attention. I bend and pat his head. “I thought you’d like it.”

“You could use him as a store mascot.” Jake squats down and lets the dogs climb on him.

Dmitri pets Bandit’s head, and brushes his fingers over one of the bee wings. “We already have our costumes for the adult trick-or-treat, but now I know what next year’s costume will be for me.”

I drop Bandit’s leash so he can climb onto Jake's lap better. “What are your costumes?”

Ever holds up a box of dog treats, his eyebrows raised in question. “You’ll have to come by the store that night so you can see.”

“Oh, we’ll be there,” I assure him, and nod that Bandit can have a treat. “Since we were busy setting up the haunted house this past week, Bram and I haven’t picked costumes yet, but we have time.”

Jake stands, brushing dog hair from his pants and hands Bandit’s leash to me. “Are you ready for opening night? A few guys I work with have tickets and plan to be at the haunted house when the doors open tonight.”

“We’re ready. I’ll be there at the start, before going to see Jo at the carving competition.

” I lean into Bram. We worked so hard getting everything ready, and I did a final walk through today while Bram did podcast promo on social media.

“Don’t forget, Bram’s podcast episode about the cryptid investigation airs tonight too. ”

“Our on-screen debut.” Dmitri kisses Ever’s cheek. “We have the premiere video bookmarked.”

Someone with a bullhorn announces that the kids’ costume parade is about to begin. We line the side of the park’s pathway with the other attendees and clap as the kids come by on their way to the fountain at the park’s center.

On the other side of the path, I spy Hayworth and Felix Spring, dressed in costume. Felix rocks a cowboy look and Hayworth’s an astronaut. Hayworth catches my gaze and we wave at each other.

“Who’s that?” Bram slides his arm around my shoulders.

“Hayworth. He and I go to the same gym. The cowboy next to him is his partner Felix.” I lean into Bram, scanning the parade of costumes. “See the cowgirl walking beside Little Bo Peep? They’re Felix’s kids, Elsa and Aria. ”

The girls light up and wave at Felix and Hayworth, and Bram turns to me. “Toy Story, right? That’s a good group costume.”

“It is. The T-Rex was my favorite character. Maybe Bandit will go as a dinosaur next year.”

Farther down the path, Jason Zervudachi from Moon Meadows Maple Farm stands with his older sister's family. They cheer louder when the next wave of kids comes by, and one of the kids waves back at them. Seeing him reminds me that we need to put in another order for more maple syrup for the inn. I add a note to my phone and am relieved there aren’t any messages from Peter, our other assistant manager, who’s at the helm there today.

My staff is extremely competent, but the worry for things to be well never really goes away.

Bram clasps my shoulder. “It’s time for us to line up.”

“We’ll see you guys later.” I nod at Ever and Dmitri then follow Bram toward the opposite side of the park. Alaric and Jake flank me, promising to take pictures and cheer us on. We leave them to find spots in the crowd lining the parade route. As the kids did, we’ll walk toward the fountain.

We line up behind a Dalmatian dressed as an angel. Bram steps closer to me to allow a golden retriever dressed as a pumpkin, complete with a little stem beret, to pass. Bandit is busy sniffing the Dalmatian, but the large spotted dog is more interested in Hades.

Alex MacDougall approaches us, camera in hand, and captures the angel and devil getting acquainted. “This is going in the photo carousel for sure.”

Laughing, I guide Bandit away from the duo so he’s not in the shot.

Then Alex turns his camera on Bram and me, with Bandit standing between us.

Bram wraps his arm around my waist and leans in, his temple resting against mine.

My heartbeat stutters at how natural this feels.

Like we’re a couple, not two best friends trying to figure out if these last few weeks have been a fling or something more.

“That’s a nice one.” Alex lowers his camera. “I’ll send it to you.”

“Thanks.” Bram keeps his arm around me, like it belongs there, and all I can manage is a nod and a murmured thanks of my own.

Alex walks away, taking more photos as he heads toward the fountain. An announcement comes from the bullhorn that the pet parade is ready to begin.

I crouch beside Bandit and stroke his back. “Good boy. We’ll walk in this, and then get you and Hades a present. Then we’ll go home and you can watch that farm show you like so much.”

Above me, Bram chuckles and holds out his hand to pull me to my feet. “You’re adorable.”

Heat flares into my cheeks. I flick one of my headband antenna and send a pumpkin dancing. “Especially in these pumpkins.”

He links our hands together, then draws them to his lips and presses a kiss to my knuckles. “Even without them.”

Overwhelmed, I don’t know what to say.

The Dalmatian and her owner move forward. Hand in hand, we follow with our dogs. I love the cheers and the smiles, and this town so much. Sharing it with Bram feels right. Holding their phones up, Jake and Alaric let out whoops, calling our names as we pass.

When we reach the fountain, one of the festival volunteers hands us a small bag with various pet treats, toys, and coupons inside. There are so many people and pets roaming around, our dogs are overwhelmed.

Bram points out an empty bench away from the vendors and we hustle to claim it. There are bushes on both sides, secluding us from the bustling activity. We calm the dogs with soft words and pets, and the way Bram interacts with Hades is so sweet, my heart sighs.