Ghastly and Good by Debby Caruso

Author:Debby Caruso [Caruso, Debby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Debby Caruso
Published: 2020-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“It’s starting already!” I announce with disgust as Dez bounds into my office Thursday morning.

“What? The rain?” We both pause and look out the window, watching the tree nearby shaking in the wind as the first round of droplets hit the glass.

“Yes,” I let out a long breath. “I just hate this for the kids,” I know I’ve said this at least a million times already but I simply can’t get past it. I think back on all the Halloweens of my childhood and I can still vividly recall watching the extended forecast like a potential meteorologist each and every night leading up to The Big Day. Praying for dry weather, hoping that it wouldn’t be too cold, I did everything but a séance in order to curry favor back then. I remember the year that it snowed, and how devastated we all were. It seemed unbearably cruel that the weather couldn’t cooperate that year, especially because my costume entailed me trick-or-treating in roller blades, which then most certainly had to be nixed.

“I cannot imagine what level of lunacy you’ll get to if and when you guys decide to have your own kids,” Dez looks at me and laughs. “I can see you now: making a deal with the devil just so your little one can have the perfect Halloween.”

“Meh. I probably already made a deal with the devil the last time I promised Vivian something,” I say this with my wry grin in place and then we both start to laugh. Vivian is my impossible mother-in-law.

“Changing topics: did you guys try on your costumes?” Dez asks.

“Yes, we tried them on last night. You?”

“We did too, and Jack’s pants have a big rip in them. It’s too late to return or exchange them—”

“Did you try to priority order them?” I’m already looking on my phone.

“Yes, don’t worry. Stop typing. I ran over to Amalia’s last night and gave them to her because she knows how to sew, and after berating me for several minutes about not knowing how to sew, she told me she’d have them done by tonight.” Amalia is Dez’s impossible mother.

“Amalia for the win!” I’m glad she figured it out. “By the way, did you invite her?”

“Not really. I mentioned what we were doing, and where I would be, and kind of casually tossed in that she’s more than welcome, but I sort of hope she doesn’t take me up on it,” Dez confesses.

I get this. Amalia and Dez have a difficult relationship and I think Amalia feels particularly put out by the fact that Dez has spent many holidays volunteering at the shelter instead of spending them with her. The good news is that things seem to be changing now that she’s married Jack and although I applaud all her various efforts at the shelter, I love having her around.

Which is kind of why I’m so invested in helping her out for this holiday; it seems like the right thing to do—the whole crew there is somewhat of an extended family for Dez.

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