Page 29 of He Falls First
Now, I know she’s my wife. I just have to put a ring on her finger and sign some paperwork. But she’s as good as mine.
eleven
Briar
I reach for Rowan’s hand.
“Are you sure you don’t mind skipping out on your usual Halloween tradition? I hate that you’re missing out on handing out all that candy.”
The brief nap we took was interrupted by a text from Esme. When she explained what she needed, my heart went out to her. Of course, I’d be there for her. And, for interrupting my time with Rowan, she added that I could bring Rowan with me to the castle.
I had fully intended to say goodbye to Rowan for the night, but he insisted on coming with me.
And now, we’re winding through the brightly colored woods in Rowan’s truck, on our way to Esme.
Rowan raises my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles sweetly. “I wouldn’t want to spend Halloween night with anyone else but you. Or any night.”
My stomach flip-flops. The man has a way of dropping anything to help me, making me feel like the only girl in the world.
I’m going to miss this when my internship is over.
When we arrive at the castle, the gate is already open for us.
Frye puffs out his chest when he sees us enter the foyer. “What is he doing here?”
From behind me, Esme’s voice responds.
“He is a guest in my house. For Halloween night. I expect you to be on your best behavior, Frye.”
He mutters something like “if you insist,” before slinking off in the direction of the kitchen.
Ironic that two days ago, he took great pains to tell me that I must dress for dinner, while today, Esme has insisted that we come exactly as we are. The kitchen staff has prepared roast chicken and pumpkin curry soup, followed by a dessert that I can’t pronounce. It sounds French, tastes concerningly like flowers, and I’m not sure how to eat it.
“You might like the dessert better in part two of Halloween night,” Esme says.
Frye, who’s been overseeing dinner service, only scowls, then, thankfully, makes himself scarce.
At Esme’s request, the three of us stay up late and have, weirdly, the best sleepover that ever was on Halloween night. After dinner, we pop popcorn, drink hot cocoa, and scarf down Reese’s pumpkins. We each choose the best not-scary Halloween-themed episodes of our favorite shows. For Rowan, it’s a Parks and Recreation deep dive into “Greg Pikitis.” For me, it’s the Office episode where at least three characters dress up as The Joker. Esme doesn’t know what to pick, since she’s not had much experience with watching television.
“I don’t mean to be offensive, but what exactly do you do with your time when you don’t leave the house?” I ask.
Esme shrugs. “Mostly read biographies. Research family histories. I do a lot of online shopping. And, of course, Frye has my schedule packed pretty tight, as you know. You pick something for me.”
Awash in sympathy for her unique situation, I stick to comedy.
“In that case, I have to introduce you to Modern Family,” I say. Esme laughs so hard at Mitchell’s attempts to hide his Spiderman suit at the law firm that she sprays lukewarm cocoa out of her nose. I consider that a win.
Midnight approaches—the real reason Esme wanted me to come over. Maybe even the entire reason she wanted an intern in the first place.
When she texted me earlier today, she said that every year on Halloween, she is awakened by ghosts.
Now, as someone who unequivocally does not believe in ghosts, I can say that’s definitely not what’s going on here.
Whatever is haunting her will remain a mystery, but I don’t mind spending time with her.
But first, the three of us have to decide on sleeping arrangements.
“You two, take my bed,” she says, spreading out a blanket on the floor.