It was the season that Cassie loved the most. The leaves turned colours, the days got shorter. Hay bales, pumpkins, skeletons, ghosts and a general sense of magic surrounded the town of Middleton and Grey House during the weeks and days that approached Halloween. It was always Grey House's busiest time of year, and Cassie always found herself at the B&B or shop in town more than her own home, just next door.

"That is the project," the teacher said to her 4th grade class at Middleton Primary School. Alexander Radford sighed heavily, while his sister Elizabeth smiled gleefully.

"What a cool project," she said excitedly as they both entered the mid-sized royal blue car belonging to their mother. Her brother said nothing.

"What project is this that has you both so excited," Cassie asked, seeing that it only actually thrilled one of her two children.

"Mama, we get to do a family tree!" Elizabeth answered. "I'm going to write about Elizabeth, Prudence, Laurel, Catherine, and all the Merriwicks! Is that ok?"

"Of course it is, Lizzie, if that's what you want," Cassie smiled. "Grace did a bit research on Elizabeth when she did this project, but also did some research about her father's side as well."

"Well, maybe Alex wants to do that…," she glanced at her brother, who still looked down and was fixed on the October colours pass by as they made their way home. Cassie glanced at him from her rear-view mirror. It was clear he was not as keen about the project as his sister.

It was just a few days from Halloween and Middleton was already beginning to show her colours. The trees surrounding the small town had changed to bright yellow, red, orange and gold. Inside Middleton shops and businesses the Halloween spirit was also abound. The Bistro, Abigail's Flowers and Chocolates, and The Bell, Book and Candle as well as many more were decorated for the season. Even Dr. Sam Radford's medical practice was decked out in the holiday spirit.

Eve Clarke, Sam's Office Manager and Assistant, finished the last touches on the decorations. Stepping back to admire her work, Dr. Radford stepped in to bring in the iPad with the information of his last patient. Pumpkins, black cats, witches, ghosts, and one skeleton (Sam had made sure it had the correct number of ribs) made the office rival many of the other businesses.

"Looks great, Eve. I am sure my wife will approve," he said, admiring the decorations as well.

"I hope so, Dr. Radford." Eve had hoped her boss and the B&B owner would get together almost from the first time she saw them together over ten years ago, of course the Middleton rumour mill hadn't helped. "I remember when we didn't even have a pumpkin on the counter."

Sam chuckled. "Yeah, I know. I can't even imagine my life before Cassie anymore. It's like I wasn't whole until I found her and I didn't even know it." Eve looked at her boss's far off gaze and couldn't help but smile.

Cassie's car pulled up in front of her home. Her children, gathering their belongings, ran to the garage and punched in the code while she unloaded groceries. The entry to the Radford-Nightingale house had also been decorated for the season. Despite Sam's dislike of arachnids, a giant one loomed over the doorway with its accompanying black web surrounded by other additions. That was the only decoration that remained a constant every year. Nick had used it to decorate the house their first Halloween as a family of six. She never wanted to forget her stepson's gesture of welcome and acceptance.

Grey House, she knew, would be decorated with equal fervour by the whole family—Merriwicks, Russells and Radfords; everyone who was most important to her would be there. Cassie saw her twins settle home. Elizabeth went straight to their room to begin research she said, and Alex sat on the couch staring blankly at the television. Cassie's heart ached for her son. Halloween was always a wonderful time for her, and it was difficult for her to see a member of her family so unhappy.

Suddenly she smiled and went to her son. "Alex, I have some work to do at Grey House. Would you like to come over with me? You can watch television…or whatever…in my sitting room, if you'd like."

"Yes," he said enthusiastically.

She let Elizabeth know they would be next door, in case anything happened, and took the quick trip next door, her son's hand firmly within hers. If Grey House still needed decorations on the outside, inside it was a different story. It could have been a haunted house itself, expertly decorated by the owner for the guests' delight. Alex ran upstairs as Cassie sat down in front of the computer, checking on the coming guests. She wasn't booked to full capacity, yet, but by Halloween Grey House was always full with the most interesting people.

Alex, like all of Cassie's children, found peace and solace in the room at the top of the third floor of Grey House. Filled with crystals, candles, and scents that made him feel at home, he scanned the bookshelves. Books on herbal remedies, eastern medicine and varying uses of flowers and plants around Middleton and the world filled them. Further on, he recognised his father's various volumes of human anatomy, diagnoses, and diseases. Not finding what he was looking for he sat on the couch, his nine-year old mind pondering the project. His sister knew exactly what bit of the family she would explore and ever since she had recounted what she had learned from their mother, she had had Elizabeth and the other Merriwicks on her mind. She was a direct descendant of her namesake, who had accomplished so much in her life, Elizabeth would state matter-of-factly to her brother. Alexander found that he too was just as in awe of their ancestors as his sister, but she had already claimed her leaving him to wonder if he might find another person or people in their family as interesting as Elizabeth, Prudence or countless others for his endeavour.

Back in town, Sam Radford finished stitching up the deep cut that had brought an unexpected patient to his office, just as he was preparing to go home for the day.

"I guess I am lucky that a trauma surgeon doubles as a general practitioner in a small town. Thank you, Dr. Radford."

"That's what I am here for Ms…"

"Hurt."

"Hurt," he repeated. "Do you have a place to stay? I would like to follow up with you."

"Oh, not yet. I will find a hotel or something."

"Nonsense. My wife owns a wonderful Bed and Breakfast called Grey House. I think there is still a room or two available," he said finishing up the last stitch. "Besides, we live right next door, so I can make a house call to check on your cut to be sure there is no infection."

"Dr. Radford that's not…"

"No, no. Not a problem. Let me phone my wife and have her book you a room."

He left the room to make the call. Alice Hurt looked at her arm. "Thank you Dr. Radford. Staying at the Merriwick home is just perfect. Once I find Leland Merriwick's journal, all will be set right."

He re-entered the room. "You're in luck. Cassie, my wife, said there is one room left and it is yours. I called you a cab and it should be here any minute to take you to Grey House. Cassie will be waiting for you."

"I am sure she will," Alice said under her breath as Sam left the room.

The autumn rain had begun to fall when a yellow cab pulled up outside Grey House and Sam's patient stepped out grabbing her belongings from the driver. The dark-haired, hazel-eyed woman looked at Grey House and her surroundings.

"Well, well, Leland you certainly built a beautiful house for your family and descendants," she said making her way to the entrance of the B&B.

Next door, Elizabeth had been glued to her computer screen and trying to find as much as she could on Elizabeth Merriwick and any others that came up when, all of the sudden, a chill ran from the back of her neck all the way down her back. Feeling a strong urge to go to her window, she looked out towards Grey House. An uneasy feeling overcame her as she looked at the woman getting out of the cab heading towards the front steps of her mother's beloved B&B. She had had general feelings of distress before, but nothing like this. She didn't know what to make of it. The feeling eventually faded and she soon felt better. If it came along again, she decided, she would tell her parents.

"Welcome to Grey House," Cassie greeted the stranger just as she was about to knock. The surprise on the visitor evident, she explained that Sam had told her he would call a cab and that she would be on her way.

"Right. That was very kind of Dr. Radford. Thank you, Mrs. Radford."

"Please, call me Cassie. All the guests do."

"Alright. Cassie."

She entered and Cassie went to work checking her in. Alice surveyed her surroundings, very carefully. "This is very beautiful."

"Thank you. It's been in my family for generations."

"Indeed."

With Alice checked-in to her system, Cassie gave her the keys and pointed her in the direction of the room. Something about this woman was…different. Cassie couldn't place it yet, she felt she soon would. Grace would be home and Abigail was going to visit therefore, perhaps one of them would get them same feeling she had—that she should know her even though she didn't.

Alice thanked Cassie telling her she could make her way to the room without help and went up the stairs. She passed a room and looked in to see a small boy, looking…unhappy.

"Excuse me," she asked the boy, "Do you know where the 'Rosemary Suite' is?"

"Oh, that's just up one level," the boy answered.

"Thank you," Alice said. There was something about the boy. "Are you a guest here too?"

"Oh, no, my mother owns the house. It's been in our family for generations."

"You're Cassie and Sam Radford's son," she said making the familial connection and her interest piquing more in the boy.

"Yeah," the boy asked. "How do you know that?"

"Well, your father kindly stitched me up," she said showing him Sam's handy work. "He also told me about Grey House and made sure I got a room. The last one. I just checked-in with you mother."

Hoping to get more information as well as the young Merriwick-Radford's trust, a grin grew on her face. Sure, there had been male descendants, but none had been born or even lived in Middleton for decades. Merriwick's who had 'made their way back to Middleton' were who her grandmother had described; Cassie Nightingale, or Sue Ellen Brock as she once was known (how they liked to change their names, Alice thought), had made her way back to Middleton and was the first Merriwick to live there in quite a long time. Now, here she was standing in front of the first male Merriwick in Leland's line to be born in Middleton, and to top it, he was also a descendant of the Radford line.

"So why are you sulking inside instead of running about outside like boys your age should be?"

"I am not sulking," he retorted and Alice put up her hands in retreat. "I'm…I was just hoping I might find some information about my relatives for a school project. My sister's already got an idea. I've got nothing."

Alexander's last few words had been lost on the visitor. Her interest had peeked when he mentioned his sister. She wished him luck and continued to her room. Things had come full circle, Alice thought. A female and male Merriwick from the same parents—parents from the Merriwick and Radford lines. She now knew she had to find the journal especially if what her grandmother said would indeed come to pass.