I felt my face instantly flush with anger. “Oh she did? I’ll get her,” I sneered nastily.
“No, don’t. Let me,” Marcy said. She smiled maliciously.
“Look, I’m sorry for this, but it really is her fault that I’m here. You and I might be nothing alike, but I don’t go from door to door trying to steal my neighbor’s men.”
For the first time, the smile that I offered Marcy was genuine.
“I believe you. Now will you believe I’m not a manipulative man-eating bitch who’s slept with half the town?”
“Oh, I think I’ve figured out who holds that title,” she said darkly.
Marcy apologized again before driving away. We weren’t exactly friends, but when Marcy left that day, we were no longer enemies.
I went back into the kitchen feeling surprisingly good about myself for having treated Marcy fairly. I was in the middle of making French toast when Alfred walked in wearing the bottom that matched the black pajama top I had on.
“Good morning.” I smiled.
He walked over and kissed the top of my head. “Good morning.”
“I made coffee,” I said, turning back to the toast.
While Alfred looked for a cup he said, “I thought I heard voices.”
“You did. Marcy stopped by.”
He dropped the mug he’d just removed from the cabinet and managed to catch it a second before it would have hit the counter.
“Nice reflexes.” I smiled.
Alfred looked like he was going to be sick. Since he was most likely expecting to have to dispose of a body before breakfast, I decided to explain what had happened. By the time I’d finished my explanation, breakfast was done. Alfred helped me to find where he’d put all the fresh fruit.
He began to slice some peaches and commented, “Well, that explains a lot. That Lola is a really unpleasant little ...
thing.
“
I laughed. “Yeah, she always has been. But, it made me think better of Marcy to know that everything had been stirred up by Lola to start with. Don’t get me wrong, I still don’t like her. But, I don’t hate her anymore either.”
“You do know I only accepted her offer because I thought you’d left me for Elijah?”
“I do now.” I smiled.
“Even though we know she’s not a complete bitch now, Marcy’s still not my type.”
“And what exactly is your type?”
Alfred smiled seductively while he sprinkled some sugar over the peaches.
“I like redheaded wild women who tie me to the bedposts when I’m drunk.”
“Really?” I purred. “Well, I think I know just the girl.”
—
It was a week later before Kat had the nerve to stop by for breakfast.
“Good morning, Kat.” I smiled when I answered the door.
She took in with a sadistic grin the fact that I was wearing another of Alfred’s satin pajama tops. This time it was gold.
“Is it safe to come in?” she sneered.
“Oh, don’t be an ass.” I pulled her inside.
“Me
an ass? He’s the one that said to give you a few
days.
“
I just shook my head and Kat burst out eagerly, “So?”
“So, what?”
“Damn it, you know what.” She laughed. “How was it?”
“Great,” I sighed.
“That’s it? Great? I’ve waited a week to hear
great
?”
I laughed. “What do you want to hear, Kat? It was incredible, the best sex I’ve ever had and in all honesty, words fail me.”
“Wow,” she said. “So, it
was
great.”
“Would you like some breakfast?” I grinned.
Kat followed me through the foyer toward the kitchen as she commented, “Well, you still haven’t answered the one thing I’m dying to know....”
She broke off with a startled expression when we rounded the corner. Alfred was wearing the bottom to the gold pajamas and standing by the coffee pot with a smile.
“Good morning, Kathryn.” He grinned. “I see the subject hasn’t changed since I’ve been gone.”
“Good morning,” she mumbled.
Kat quickly sat down, apparently trying to pretend she wasn’t embarrassed. Alfred turned back to the stove and Kat looked at me. She pointed to Alfred and fanned herself while she mouthed, “Oh my, God.”
I’d forgotten that Kat had never seen Alfred without his shirt and had to agree, he was quite the sight. As I walked behind her chair I leaned over and whispered, “Eye candy for breakfast.”
She blushed as Alfred turned back around and asked, “So, what are you up to these days?”
“Actually, I’m planning my annual Halloween block party.
October is just around the corner, you know?”
He turned back to flip an omelet and I made a gesture behind his back. I held up both hands to indicate the answer to Kat’s obscene question and she nearly choked on the muffin she’d started to nibble.
“You’re kidding,” she said out loud and I laughed.
“What?” Alfred looked back at me suspiciously. His eyes narrowed and he raised one eyebrow at the crimson color Kat’s face was turning, but said nothing.
“So, what’s your costume going to be?” I asked Kat.
“I haven’t decided yet. What about you?” she asked Alfred.
“I’m afraid I won’t be able to go this year.”
“What?” Kat and I both asked.
“There’s been a meeting called of all the Hunters.” He sighed. “It’s to discuss the possible changes. They’ve asked that one person from every partnership attend. Since I know how you hate politics, I volunteered.”
“How long will you be gone?” I couldn’t keep the disappointment from my voice. I wasn’t upset that he wouldn’t be at the party. I was upset that he wouldn’t be with me.
“Just Halloween day. I’ll be back the next morning.”
I moved closer to Alfred, and he touched my cheek lightly with his last words. The gesture was not lost on Kat.
“That’s not so bad,” I said as I turned back to see her evil grin. “Shut up,” I mouthed at her.
Halfway through breakfast Kat informed me that she was thinking of hiring the band from The Oasis. I looked surprised and she said, “What? They were pretty good.”
Yes, they were. But they were also werewolves. Kat didn’t know, and I’d have to tell her later. If I’d let on that I knew the band was all werewolves, I would have had some explaining to do.
—
The next few months passed by like the autumn breeze.
Fall was just beginning, and you could smell it in the air. For the first time in years, I was truly happy. I woke up every morning excited to see the man beside me, and unafraid of what loving him might bring. I was still capable of trust after all, and it eased my mind.
I’d helped Kat plan her party like I’d done every year since we’d met. This year’s theme was fairy tales. Kat’s Halloween bash was always a big deal. Everyone in the surrounding area was invited and paid a fee upon arrival to contribute to next year’s party.
Kat had inherited a huge chunk of property smack in the middle of nowhere. There was an enormous field just beside her house, and this was where the party was. I’d gone over early that crisp October morning to help her get set up. We roped off an area on one side of the field and designated it for parking. Long tables with colorful decorations and orange tablecloths were set up in front of her house for refreshments.
Just in the edge of the field was a platform we’d moved from inside Kat’s large barn. This was for the band from The Oasis that she’d insisted on hiring anyway. The rest of the field would be used as a dance floor. Kat had also rented a couple of port-a-potties for the event, but slipped me a key to her house before I left.
“Just go in the back if you need to go,” she said, “and don’t let anyone see you.”
She locked everyone out of the house, and I couldn’t say I blamed her. Kat’s house had started life as a three room farm house in the early nineteen hundreds. She’d restored it wonderfully and added on quite a bit. It looked like a big log cabin. She’d even restored the original plank floors and the huge beams that ran across the ceiling. Of all the things Kat had decorated, that house was her masterpiece.
—
A few hours later I was nearly ready to make the thirty minute drive back to Kat’s house. I put on my platform shoes, tightened my black corset, and straightened the ruffles on my little frilly dress. After slipping on my red velvet cloak, I had to admit, I made a damn good Red Riding Hood.
It had taken us all day to set up, and by the time I made it back it was dusk. Several dozen people were already there and the band was warming up. They were dressed as medieval style minstrels and it went with the theme. A large banner was strung across the front of the platform that read, ‘Creature Comforts’.
I smiled as I saw Kat walking toward me in a frilly white dress and carrying a shepherd’s hook. She curtsied expertly and chuckled. “What do you think?”
“Nice.” I smiled. “So, Little Bo Peep, where’s your sheep?”
Charles had offered to dress to match her, though at the time I’m sure he didn’t know what he was getting into.
“He’s by the chips,” she pointed.
There, I saw a nice looking redheaded man who stood out clearly. He was the only six foot sheep.
“You’re so bad,” I teased.
I decided I would meet Charles later and went over to speak to the band. I introduced myself to the drummer who’d reported my whereabouts to Marco several months ago. To my surprise, they were a nice bunch of guys. They also didn’t seem the lease bit interested in causing any trouble, which was why I’d gone over in the first place. I had no doubt of their talent, I just wanted to make sure the ‘Creature Comforts’ weren’t going to wolf out at my friend’s party.
When I turned around I was greeted by Mark, the tall dark bouncer from The Oasis. He was positively dashing, all decked out in black and gold. He looked just like a fairy tale prince.
The costume was something in between a musketeer and an eighteenth century courtier. His tattoos were all hidden from sight. His long black hair was swept back into a low pony tail and tied with a gold ribbon.
He made a sweeping bow and removed his hat with its long black feather. “A pleasure to see you m’lady.” He smiled and kissed my hand. “I am Prince Charming.”
I laughed and he winked. “What do you think?”
“Oh, I love it.” I beamed.
“Would you care to dance?” He made another melodramatic bow and I nodded my agreement.
Mark placed his large hands around my waist and lifted me from the band’s platform. Although it was difficult with our height difference, Mark and I had fun attempting to dance together for the next hour. The band was breaking into a chorus of
Werewolves of London
, just as I rounded the corner. I was stopped in my tracks by the sight of a very large black werewolf standing by the punch bowl. He was at least as big as Bade and frightening wasn’t an accurate word.
There were now over a hundred people present and I heard murmurs throughout the crowd about an incredible makeup job. But that was no makeup. As I looked closer I could see that he was wearing a pair of ripped jeans. It looked like he’d put on a pair of pants way too big for him and then transformed. Shreds of the material still covered all the important parts.
Someone bumped into me. It was Marcy, and she was drunk. “Hi,” she hiccupped.
I looked at her costume and couldn’t help laughing. It wasn’t bad, just funny. She looked like a bratty school girl in a goofy little dress, complete with a bonnet and piggy tails.
“Who are you supposed to be?” I asked.
“Little Miss Muffett. But I still don’t know what a tuffett is.”
It was then that the wolf’s deep laughter reached my ears, and I recognized him.
“Have you seen The Big Bad Wolf?” Marcy asked eagerly.
“Yes,” I said, looking back toward him. “We’ve met.”
I left Marcy to find her tuffett and made my way to the punch bowl. As I navigated through the sea of people I bumped into Elijah. He and two of his fellow police officers had dressed as The Three Little Pigs.
“How are you?” he yelled above the music.
“I’m good.”
I hadn’t heard much from Elijah since Alfred’s return. I think he’d been afraid to call, but we’d spoken a few times in town. Mostly we’d kept in touch through Kat. It was good to see him and as he smiled around his piggy nose, I chuckled.
The three of them were wearing full body pig suits with prosthetic snouts.
“You guys are hilarious,” I told him.
“A sense of humor should never be wasted.” He smiled.
“I couldn’t agree more,” said another familiar voice.
I looked over my shoulder and saw Luther. I had known Luther since junior high school, though we hadn’t seen each other in years until recently. As it turned out, in the years we’d been apart, my old classmate had been turned into a werewolf. His ex-wife had attacked him and in the struggle she was accidentally killed. Yes, Luther was all grown up now, but his sense of humor had not changed. He was wearing a short blue dress, complete with petticoat and white fishnet stockings. His long white blond hair hung in ringlets with little red ribbons.
I doubled over laughing. “What are you supposed to be?”
One of the other pigs with Elijah snorted when he laughed, and my eyes watered as I practically howled.
“I’m Goldilocks.” He smiled broadly.
Just as I was beginning to catch my breath John, the DJ from club Red, walked up. He was one of The Three Bears. I introduced Elijah to Luther and quickly excused myself in another attempt to reach The Big Bad Wolf.
When I finally got close enough to talk, I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to be there. He was bigger than Bade, though only slightly. His muscular physique was nearly as impressive as it was in his human form. One of his monstrous hands was wrapped precariously around a punch glass he was lapping from when he thought no one was looking. I steeled my courage and stepped up to him.
“Hello, Red,” the deep rumble of his voice vibrated along my skin. It had been too long since I had heard that voice.
Even deepened as it was from the change, I would have known it anywhere.
“Marco, what are you doing here?”
“Your friend invited me,” he said, lapping at the punch.
“Like this?” I gestured toward him.