Chapter 15
Katie poured yet another bag of candy into the large cauldron next to the desk while Earl muttered under his breath about the fake cobwebs Viv had given him to decorate the shop with. She smiled. As much as the decorating may have frustrated Earl, she loved the annual Downtown Halloween Parade and it was only a few short days away. Seeing the children all dressed up reminded her of so many fun walks with her mom along the same street. She’d never needed to go trick-or-treating after the parade. The downtown businesses filled her bag to bursting every year.
“Dagnabit, Katie Jean, if you didn’t clean up so well here, we wouldn’t have to put this fake stuff up,” Earl complained.
She laughed. “And if I didn’t clean up so well, our customers would talk about the mess. I’d rather have you complaining than them.” Katie blew her uncle a kiss as he glared at her.
“Ought to make you put it up,” he mumbled.
Stifling a giggle, Katie opened the next bag of candy.
The bell over the door rang. “Yoo-hoo, KitKat!”
Katie looked up to see a tall, curvy young woman walk into the shop with arms outstretched. She hopped up from her chair with a wide smile. “Mounds? Oh my gosh, I haven’t seen you in forever!”
As they hugged and laughed, Earl cleared his throat.
“Sorry Uncle Earl,” Katie said, remembering her uncle’s presence, “this is Mounds, er, Latiesha. She’s one of my sorority sisters. Latiesha, this is my uncle Earl.”
Latiesha grinned as she shook his hand. “You’re practically famous at Chi Delta.”
Earl raised an eyebrow. “Oh really?”
“In the best possible way,” Katie added with a smile. She turned back to Latiesha. “What brings you to Romance?”
“Just driving through really,” she replied. “My fiancé is headed to Denver for a job interview. It’s really promising, so I thought I’d tag along and see what there is to see out there, get a feel for the city, and find out what the shopping’s like. I told him I needed to make a quick stop to see a friend.”
“Where is this dream guy?” Katie asked.
For a split second Latiesha frowned, though it was quickly replaced with a smile. “Oh, he didn’t want to get in the way of a girly reunion. He went to the store up the road from here. So, do you have any organic products in here?”
Earl snorted. “My dear girl, we’ve been doing organic since before it was a thing.”
Katie giggled and winked at her friend. “Yes, all our products are, to the best of our ability, organic. Obviously some things are harder to do that way.”
“Oh absolutely. Let’s see, what would you recommend for a quick trip?” Latiesha asked.
“Well, I think you’d love the Midnight Garden wash,” Katie said, leading her friend to the display. “It’s a special blend of lavender, rose, and lemongrass.”
“That is heavenly. I never would have thought to combine those.”
“There’s also Spring Rain, oh! and we do have our holiday fragrances ready,” Katie added. She walked to a different display and picked up a small candle which she carried back. “Kissed by Mistletoe is my favorite.”
Latiesha sniffed the candle and sighed. “I can see why. I bet you aren’t going to tell me what’s in this one, are you?”
Winking, Katie smiled. “Nope. Trade secret.”
“All right, you’ve convinced me. I’ll get the Midnight Garden body wash and one, no, two of these candles.”
Katie took the items to the desk and grabbed a bottle of Kissed by Mistletoe lotion on her way. She rang up everything but the lotion. “That’s my gift to you.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Latiesha protested.
“But I do. You’re the first sister to come visit me, so I ought to do something special for you.” Katie placed the items in one of the Sweet Retreat paper bags. “Then the others might get jealous and work their way out here.”
Latiesha laughed. “All business to the end, huh?”
“Not quite all business,” Katie replied. “But close.”
A car horn blared outside. Latiesha frowned. “I guess Phil must be done browsing. It was great seeing you again, Katie. I’ve sure missed you.”
Katie hugged her friend. “I’ve missed you too. Good luck with the potential job and everything else.”
“You too, KitKat. Catch you around!”
“Later, Mounds!”
Latiesha left the shop and Earl turned to Katie. “Mounds?”
Katie giggled as a blush crept up her neck. “Well, yeah. All of the girls had candy nicknames. Snickers, KitKat, M&M, Skittles, Starburst, 100Grand. And Latiesha, erm, she’s got, well…”
“Mounds.” Earl shook his head and chuckled. “So, all that money put into educating you actually gave you girls opportunities to give each other crude nicknames?”
She huffed. “I resent that. That particular nickname was Latiesha’s idea and was never meant crudely. At least, not by us. Besides, other names suggested for some sisters were far more risque.”
“How can a candy name be risque? Other than Mounds, obviously.”
Katie smirked. “Imagine what would happen if your average college male heard of a girl called PayDay.”
Earl laughed aloud. “Oh, Katie Jean.”
“That was one suggestion that got nixed, among others.”
“I suppose we shouldn’t tell your aunt about that.”
“Tell me about what?” Viv asked as she walked into the shop carrying a large bag.
“Nothing important,” Katie said. “What’s this?”
“Della’s Diner was having a special and I couldn’t resist.”
“No complaints here,” Earl replied. “Della always has the best sandwiches.”
“I beg your pardon?” Viv said.
“Second best,” he corrected with a wink.
Viv smiled. “Better. Let’s eat.”
Katie saw people outside on the streets and knew the lunch rush would hit them soon. “If we’re going to have grace, we better do it quick. I don’t mind eating at the desk so we can take care of people on their lunch break.”
Frowning, Earl said, “I still don’t see why we can’t close at lunchtime, Katie. That worked out fine when Viv and I were first starting.”
“And for some things that’s still great,” Katie replied. “But if you want to catch customers who are on their break, someone has to man the desk. We get quite a few lunchtime shoppers, so it’s worth it to keep the store open.”
Earl opened his mouth, but Viv interrupted him, “It’ll be fine, Earl. Times change. You and I have been around long enough to know that. Let’s say grace so we can start eating. My potato soup isn’t going to stay warm forever.”
After a brief prayer, the three began eating. Katie was glad for the warm potato soup and ham sandwich. A chill wind blew through town, reminding them that winter wasn’t far away. She looked up when the bell rang and blinked. “Mike? Shouldn’t you be at school?”
“Normally, yes, but the water heater suddenly went out. The custodial staff hasn’t been able to figure out why or get it fixed, so no hot water for the kitchens, no school.”
“Weird. We never got that lucky.”
“No indeed,” Mike said with a smile. “I thought I’d come see if you’d gotten lunch yet. Della’s is having a special.”
Katie grinned and lifted her bowl. “Yeah, Viv saw that.” When Mike looked crestfallen she added, “Why don’t you go get something and bring it here? We’d welcome the company.”
Earl nodded as Viv said, “Yes, we’d enjoy that, Mike.”
He smiled. “All right, I’ll do that. Be back soon.”
Katie felt Viv watching her and focused on her soup while the room seemed to grow warmer. She heard Earl chuckling and glared at him. “Something amusing?”
“Nope, guess not,” he replied, hazel eyes twinkling merrily.
“What’s the weather supposed to be like on Halloween, Earl?” Viv asked. “I hate to think of all those little darlings out walking in the cold.”
“How should I know?” Earl asked.
“Didn’t Katie help you put that weather app on your phone?”
Earl scoffed. “Just because it’s on there doesn’t mean I care to use it.”
Viv rolled her eyes. “Good grief, Earl, you are so backwards sometimes.”
“I’m too old to be messing around with that mumbo jumbo. Besides, as soon as I figure one thing out they change it on me,” Earl complained.
Katie laughed and pulled out her phone. “Forecast for now is somewhat cool, but overall fairly comfortable. I don’t think we’ll have to worry about any snow-covered princesses.”
“Have you figured out your costume yet?” Viv asked.
“Yes.”
Viv waited for more information. When none came she pressed, “And it is?”
Katie grinned. “A surprise.”
“How are we supposed to match you if it’s a surprise?” Viv asked.
“I thought you and Earl already had your costumes planned out,” Katie said.
Earl rolled his eyes. “We do. Viv insists on being farmers this year.”
“Then I’ll fit just fine,” Katie replied.
Viv eyed her. “You’re not even going to give me a hint?”
“Nope.”
Mike returned and Katie smiled. “We were just discussing Halloween costumes. Any ideas for yours?”
He shrugged. “I haven’t really given it much thought. Honestly, I didn’t even plan on dressing up at all.”
“Aw, you’re not so old you can’t get all dressed up,” Katie teased. “Surely if Aunt Viv and Uncle Earl can do it, so can you.”
“I might consider it,” Mike mused, “if the price is right.”
Katie met his gaze. “How about an invitation to my birthday party?”
Mike chuckled. “You still have parties for your birthday?”
“Small ones, with only my very closest friends invited,” Katie replied.
“Meaning just Viv and I,” Earl teased.
“Now, last year for the trail ride we had Marshall and Cheryl, oh and Marshall’s little girl Savannah. Have you met her yet?” Katie asked Mike.
He nodded. “I was out there a few days ago. Busy little thing, isn’t she?”
Katie laughed. “Oh yes. Anyway, this year I haven’t got much planned yet.”
“Better get to it,” Mike said. “Your birthday is only fourteen days away.”
She glanced at him, surprised he remembered after their time apart. “Well, yes, that is true.”
Mike considered for a moment. “I’ll do you one better, Katie. How about I plan the party?”
“How is that supposed to bribe you into dressing up for Halloween?” Katie asked.
Ignoring Earl and Viv watching him, Mike leaned close to Katie and whispered, “You’ll just have to owe me one.” She blushed and he continued, “Any ideas for my costume?”
“Maybe something with a Spanish flair,” Viv suggested. “Something dashing and romantic. Then you can have all the moms taking their kids trick-or-treating swoon at your feet.”
Everyone laughed as Mike said, “I’m not sure I want a bunch of passed-out women on my porch. But, I could maybe come up with something in that general theme.”
“Isn’t the word for fox ‘zorro’?” Katie asked, suddenly remembering one of the movies she and Mike had enjoyed together.
Mike looked at her for a moment. “Yes, that’s right.”
“And that’s why ‘zorrita’ is little fox.”
“Yes, but only in the feminine. You would greatly offend a male fox cub if you called him zorrita,” Mike said.
“Katie, when did you start learning Spanish?” Viv asked.
Her cheeks burned as she replied, “I haven’t been. Just remembering things I’ve heard before.”
Mike smiled. “I think you’ve given me the idea I needed.”