Chapter One
“It’s been two years Sarah, they locked Hank up and threw away the key. Asald and I love you and we want to see you happy. Even Alex is starting to question your lackluster love life.”
Sarah scowled at her friend Penny, how dare she insinuate her little boy was thinking about her dating life.
“All we’re saying is you could use a weekend of adult time. My parents are going to keep Christian for us and they’ve offered to keep Alex too. Come with us to Black Hollow, Asald promises his friends are awesome and we’re going to have a lot of fun.”
Sarah’s nails tapping in rhythm on the table seemed way more interesting than making eye contact with her best friend. She knew she was right, she had lived like a nun for so long now she didn’t know how to break out of the prison she had built around herself.
“You trust Asald and me, believe me when I say Alex will be safe and you will have fun. Besides you know you’re as curious as I am to meet his friends. We’ve talked to them so many times on the phone, they’ll be offended if you snub them and don’t come.”
“Well, that’s not fair, playing the guilt card on me.” Sarah sighed as Penny wiggled her eyebrows, smiling like a loon. “Fine, if I agree to go with you this weekend can we agree that I don’t have to be forced into another dating situation for at least six months?”
“Six months! That’s crazy.” Penny exclaimed as Sarah quirked her eyebrow and leveled a hard stare that froze Penny in her place, before finally relenting. “Fine, six months free from our intervention into your sex life.”
Satisfied with her agreement she gave in. “So, tell me about this grand weekend you have planned? What do I need to pack? Where do I call for a hotel room? And where the hell is Black Hollow, Massachusetts, I’ve never heard of it.”
“I haven’t been there before either but I can’t wait to go. It’s a small coastal town just North of Salem. From what he’s told me they are even more eccentric than Salem and celebrate all kinds of paranormals not just witches. They throw this huge Halloween party every year that is by invitation only.” Sarah grabbed a towel and started drying the dishes Penny was washing. “We are staying at an Inn and I already booked you a room next to ours.”
“Someone was confident I was going to cave.”
“More like determined to hound you till you let me have my way. We’re also picking up costumes in town so don’t worry about packing anything special. All you have to do is meet me at my parents Thursday after work and we’ll drive up.”
Childish laughter filled the room as Asald came into the kitchen with their son Christian on his shoulders and Alex wrapped around his leg being dragged.
“Good news babe, she’s going with us this weekend.” Asald’s look of surprise meant he hadn’t expected his wife to be successful either.
Asald pulled his leg forward so he could see Alex’s face. “I guess that means you are playing big brother to Christian this weekend. Grandma and Grandpa have lots of fun things planned and really want to you stay with them. What do you think?”
Alex popped up off the ground and melted his mother’s heart with a huge smile. Two years ago they’d been living in a shelter, abused and alone. Now they had Asald and Penny and their entire family had adopted them. She would be forever grateful to Penny’s parents for treating him like any of their other grandchildren. Tears burned her eyes; she swallowed hard around the lump in her throat.
“Can I stay with them, mom?”
“Of course, you can. Now grab your backpack and let’s get home.”
“Bye Birdman!”
Sarah shook her head at Alex’s nickname for Asald and hugged everyone goodbye.
***
As soon as the front door closed Asald gave Penny a look of concern. “Are you really sure you want to do this? Are you ready for her to know all about me and my world?”
“For two years Alex has sworn you can fly and saved him on that roof. She has never believed him before so I don’t think she will suddenly figure things out after one party. However, I hate keeping this one huge part of our life a secret from her so I’m hoping to break it to her this weekend.”
“I trust you so if you are ready for her to know the real me than so am I. Now, let’s get Christian in bed and go work on making him a little sister or brother.”