Playing for Keeps by Karen Templeton

Author:Karen Templeton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silhouette
Published: 2013-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Karleen showed up on Halloween night in a black fright wig, green skin, purple lipstick and a witch’s costume that practically revealed her drawers. And not from the hemline, either.

“Honestly, Kar,” Joanna said, “what are you? An extra in Haunted ’Hos.”

“Nah, they were all redheads,” Karleen said, snitching a bite-size Special Dark from Joanna’s trick-or-treat bowl. “So where’s the kids?”

After Joanna hopped back on Karleen’s train of thought, she said, “Bobby came over to take them out trick-or-treating, so I’m on door duty. And why are you dressed like that anyway?”

“Going to a party later.” She eyed Joanna, whose orange-and-black sweatshirt announced, This is my costume. “A grown-up party.”

Joanna poked through the candy, selecting a Hershey’s kiss. “I think I remember those.”

Eyebrows twitching, Chester mournfully guarded the bowl. Karleen took pity on him and gave him her candy wrapper. He ate the paper but spit out the foil. “So why don’t you come, too?” she said. “Bobby’s taking the kids back to his place after they go trick-or-treating, right?”

“Oh, no, Kar. My party days are over.”

The doorbell rang. Karleen opened the door. Six little boys of assorted ages and sizes opened their mouths to scream “Trick or Treat,” but nothing came out except the eyes from their heads. Especially when Karleen bent over to drop three pieces of candy into each bag.

“They were so cute!” she said after they’d gone.

“Which is probably about what they’re saying right about now, too,” Joanna said. “Here.” She handed Karleen a sweater. “Put this on before you launch half the neighborhood kids into premature puberty.”

Karleen slipped on the sweater, leaving it unbuttoned. “Oh, come on! It’ll be fun!”

“The party, you mean? Right. I’ll have one glass of wine and fall asleep in the corner somewhere. Besides, what on earth would I wear?”

That got another appraisal. “That’s it?”

“Well, there is Ryder’s Brussels Sprout costume from the school play, but that’s probably not what you had in mind.”

“Which is why it’s lucky for you that I’m not only your friend, but that I share—”

This did not sound good.

“—and that we’re the same size.”

“I’m not going to this party.” Joanna looked at Karleen’s chest. “And we are so not the same size.”

Karleen looked at Joanna’s. “You may have a point there. But whatever.” She thrust a Macy’s shopping bag into Joanna’s hands. “Go. Transform yourself. I’ll man the door.”

“With those boobs, you won’t man anything.” She shoved the bag back at Karleen. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

The doorbell rang again. Only when she opened it, her own kids screamed, “Trick or treat!” loud enough to deafen people three states over. Then, giggling hysterically—as if they didn’t do this every single Halloween—they all scrambled inside, the boys taking off for various bathrooms while Dulcy went to dump out her loot on the kitchen table.

“Potty break,” Bobby said, his baseball jacket reeking of woodsmoke and Tori’s too sweet perfume. “Hey, Kar,” he said, taking in her outfit. “Nice…costume. Don’t think I’ve ever seen green ones before. But your

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