Incandescent

Thankfully, we heard the gate open and firmly close as Grant walked his bike to the garage. He was wearing jeans, a black vest over a white T-shirt, and a newsboy cap as if he’d just returned from selling newspapers on the street in the early 1900s.

“Hey, Grant!” I waved. “Nice hat. Were you hanging out with friends?”

“No, I, uh…” His eyes flashed to Delaney as if he would disapprove of what he was about to tell me. “I went to this vintage clothing shop on Coventry.”

“Did you find anything?” Delaney asked, and Grant shook his head.

“You’ve still got time,” he said, then looked at me. “Grant is trying to put together his Halloween costume.”

“Ooh, will you be trick-or-treating with friends?” I asked as he parked his bike in the garage.

“Nah, I’m a little too old for that,” he muttered, red dotting his cheeks, and I felt stupid because I should’ve known that. But I remembered trying to make the tradition last as long as possible as a kid. I still wanted all the candy and hoped the neighbors didn’t notice my age.

“Grant is going to pass out Halloween candy this year, in costume.”

“Ah, that makes sense,” I replied, and why wouldn’t it? Grant loved to dress up, and I’d bet Halloween felt like the perfect opportunity to showcase some of his looks. “Do you get a lot of trick-or-treaters on your street?”

“Tons,” Delaney said, reaching down for the ball as Ruby’s tail wagged excitedly. “How about you?”

I shrugged. “To be honest, the last few years, Carmen and I kept the porch lights off and hid inside the house with our own stash of candy. Guess we’d become old and bitter.”

Grant and Delaney chuckled at my confession. I supposed we would’ve kept it up if we’d had children. Though you wouldn’t have known my sister and I were adults given how much candy our mom stocked up on, including full-size Hershey bars, but she loved handing them out every Halloween. Even tried getting us to help her, and I finally relented last year, just for something to pass the time.

“No pressure, but you can come hang with us on our porch that night,” Delaney said, and of course, the idea immediately appealed to me because of how much I already enjoyed the cool night air, along with a cold beer. The company too.

Grant’s eyes lit up. “You totally should.”

My chest felt tight as I met Grant’s gaze. “Only if I can help with your costume. What are you gonna be?”

“I was thinking of dressing as King George.” He kicked the tennis ball in Ruby’s direction. She was panting openly but still going strong.

“That’s a cool idea.” I could picture him answering the door in his opulent clothing, playing the part with a patronizing gaze.

“Thanks, but…” He frowned. “I haven’t been able to find the right kind of crown or scepter, which is why I tried the place on Coventry.”

“Wouldn’t a costume shop—” I began, but Grant winced as if I’d said a horrible word.

“Grant likes his pieces to be more authentic,” Delaney said with an edge to his voice. “So finding them can be challenging.”

“Ah, I see.” They both looked away. “That’s what makes all your looks unique.”

I could feel the tension between Delaney and Grant tightening like a screw, and I was going to guess that this had been a point of contention between them before. Grant was picky, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing unless that meant Delaney had to constantly field his disappointment or disapproval.

Delaney steered Ruby toward a water bowl he’d filled near the garage while Grant pulled out his phone. I made myself busy setting up the sander and drop cloths.

“How did the Vikings secretly communicate?” Delaney asked, obviously trying to cut through the tension in his own corny way.

Grant shrugged grumpily at the same time as I said, “How?”

“By Norse code.”

I snorted and shook my head.

“That was a better one, at least,” Grant said, trying hard not to smile.

“Only because it has a historical spin,” Delaney replied.

“True.” Their silent feud seemingly ended, Grant asked, “Is it okay if Ellie and Jeremy hang out here tonight?”

“Of course,” Delaney said. “Let me know if you want me to order pizza or anything.”

“Okay, I will.”

We watched him and Ruby walk inside through the back door, Ruby still trying to catch her breath.

“You all right?” I asked after another silent beat.

He nodded. “Grant and Rebecca always had so much fun with Halloween. This is the first time since she…that he wanted to participate again.”

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “That’s good news. And I’ll keep an eye out for any King George memorabilia.”

“He’ll figure it out, don’t worry.” He grimaced. “But thanks. I can tell Grant likes when you ask him about his costumes. You would’ve probably fit right in with them.”