I
smoothed down the front of my dress as I looked at myself in the mirror. What woman doesn’t enjoy dressing up as a princess.
“Knock, knock.”
“Come in.”
Gran walked in, smiling.
She clapped her hands together. “Don’t you look lovely.”
I smiled back. “I don’t know how workable this is going to be at the bookstore, but it is Halloween, and the kids will like it.” I watched her through the mirror. “You did a fantastic job on the dress. You are incredibly talented.” I fluffed out the bottom of the dress.
She came over and stood beside me, and we both looked into the mirror. The long, sky-blue off-the-shoulder dress accented my small waist. The bottom of the dress, shaped like a bell, boasted countless layers of tulle which covered the petticoat underneath.
“It was nothing. You know how I love to sew. And you make a beautiful Cinderella.” She patted my arm. “Now sit down and let me work on your hair.”
I sat down at the vanity while Gran brushed my strawberry-blonde hair, pulling it away from my face and bringing it up to settle on the top of my head, securing it with hairpins. Then she took my curling iron and curled the rest so it curled down my back. She picked up the fake tiara and placed it atop my head, securing the combs in my hair.
I smiled at her in the mirror. “It looks great, Gran. Thank you.”
I stood up and smoothed my hands down the satin. I had to admit; the dress made me feel special. The two of us left and walked into the living room.
Luna, my fourteen-month-old Australian Retriever, came up and sniffed the bottom of the dress. I laughed. “Not my usual jeans and boots, is it, girl?” I smiled.
Gran held out a finger to me. “Wait. I have a surprise for you.” She ran toward her bedroom, located opposite of mine, in the back of the house.
I looked at Luna, but she’d become uninterested in me and was now in her bed, chewing on a bone.
I stood there, waiting. A few seconds later, she returned, carrying a large piece of dark blue material.
“What’s that?” I nodded toward her arms.
“I figured you wouldn’t be able to wear your coat with that beautiful dress, so I made this for you.”
She held it up, and my eyes widened in disbelief. “It’s gorgeous, Gran.” I ran my hand over the soft, blue wool of the long cape, taking in the intricate stitching. I turned it over and put the fluffy light blue fleece against my skin. It even came with a hood. She’d thought of everything. I lifted it up to my face, the fleece soft against my skin.
I could feel tears in my eyes as she laid it upon my shoulders. She then moved in front of me and tied the strings into a bow. Once she’d finished, I lifted the hood and walked over to the small mirror hanging on the wall near the front door. I could only see from my shoulders up, but the hood was large enough you could view the light blue lining surrounding my face. It set off the dark blue wool beautifully.
“Do you like it?” She asked.
I twirled around, a huge grin on my face. “Like it? I love it.” I turned and enveloped her in a hug. “You are the most amazing woman, Gran. Making me the costume was generous enough, but adding the cape? I’m going to be the envy of all the merchants in downtown Dooley.” I twirled around. “I feel like a combination of Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. It’s wonderful.” And warm. I took it off and laid it on the couch.
Luna went to the couch and sniffed.
I pointed my finger at her. “Luna. Don’t you dare. The last thing I need is your yellow hair all over that cape.” I eyed her warily as she left and laid back down, and I walked into the kitchen.
I sniffed the air. There was a faint smell of grease in the air, with the sweet aroma of… “Do I smell bacon?”
I watched as Gran placed an oven mitt over her hand and, with the other one, opened the oven door and took out a plate of bacon and set it on the stove, then reached in again and pulled out a plate of pancakes.
“You didn’t have to do this too! What time did you get up this morning?” I pulled out plates and cutlery and set them on the counter where Gran had placed the butter and syrup. We both made up our plates and sat down at the breakfast nook where a pot of tea and two cups sat.
“You know how much I love to cook.” She handed me a napkin. “Besides, I’m a little nervous about the Harvest Festival, so I woke up a little early.”
I wrinkled my brow. “Worried as in something bad is going to happen, or worried because you hope everything runs smoothly?”
She laughed.
I tilted my head. “You know what I mean.” I stuffed a piece of pancake into my mouth. I found out a few months ago that Gran and I are descendants of a woman accused of magic during the last witch trail in 1710. We both sometimes have sensations of, well, things happening, and not always good.
She took a sip of her tea. “Both. I have a bad feeling, which is going to put a wrench into things, but I’m hoping I’m wrong and everything goes smoothly. How about you? Any bad feelings?”
I thought about earlier. “Yes, but I was hoping I was wrong.” I laughed. “Maybe the fact I’m not going to be able to breathe in this dress after this huge breakfast?” I smiled as I picked up a piece of bacon and stuck it in my mouth.
She laughed. “I think you’re still too skinny. Is Ciara working today?”
I nodded, as my mouth was full. I swallowed before continuing. “She’s leaving early, though. She wants to take the kids to the castle. It was a wonderful idea you and the committee came up with having three different times for the different age groups. That way the little ones get to still enjoy the haunted castle experience without, well, haunting them.” I smiled.
“That was actually Henry Pierce’s idea. Moore Plastics is the sponsor, you know. He told us how his son wandered into a haunted castle when he was young and it scared the heck out of him. Had to sleep with the light on for six months.” She refilled our teacups as she continued. “So, we thought it would be a good idea to have a room for five to ten-year-old’s, which is mainly games and face painting. The second room is for ages eleven to fifteen, and the third is sixteen and above. That’s the scary room. We all went through it last night and I wasn’t sure I was going to fall asleep.” She laughed. “Did you know the castle is supposed to be haunted?
My eyes widened. “I’d forgotten that. I used to visit the castle regularly, and even with an annual Heritage Sight pass, I haven’t been there lately. I’m looking forward to going though. Liam and I are planning to go together. He’s supposed to meet me here at six.” I looked down at my dress. “I was going to change costumes because I thought I’d be too cold in this, but with the cape you made me, I should be plenty warm.”
“Well, don’t feel obliged, dear. I saw your other costume. It’s very fitting for your life these days,” she said, her eyes twinkling.
I smiled back. “It is, isn’t it?” I glanced at her tablet setting next to her. “On top of all this, you had time to read the newspaper too?”
She laughed. “Not the whole thing. There was an interesting story about the mayor though.”
I took a sip of tea. “About his reelection campaign?”
“More like a human-interest story. He has an older brother named Ian, who disappeared when he was ten. Every year on the anniversary of his disappearance, he visits his parents and they spend a few days together.”
“How old was the brother?”
“Quite a bit older. I think it said fifteen years.”
“Wow. She must have had him really young, or maybe the mayor was an ‘oops’ baby.” I smiled. “It’s interesting that it just so happens to coincide with his re-election. I don’t think it’s a coincidence we’re just hearing about this now.”
Gran refilled her teacup. “That Celia Meyer wrote it. I don’t know how much of her you’ve read, but she writes the more sensationalized stories. There’s a rumor she’s headed to Dublin and the big time. I wonder what her husband thinks about that?”
“I didn’t realize she was married. I thought journalists stayed young and free for just that reason.”
“Maybe, but not her. There was a note under the story announcing she just had a baby boy yesterday.”
“Good for her.” I looked at the clock. “I have to run or I’ll be late.”
“Be home by midnight, Cinderella!”