"Alex!"
That was the typical ring that slapped through his ears. His pace quickened down the stairs and to the kitchen as he took note of the scene.
There sat his big blue eyed eight month old dressed in the most peculiar Halloween costume he'd ever seen.
"Baby?" he questioned with an amused smirk on his face, "I thought we agreed on a unicorn."
"Yeah," she piped up humorously over her shoulder, her hands scrubbing something that likely belonged to Piper in the sudsy sink, "I thought we agreed on that too."
"So why is she dressed like a-"
"Alex." It was sharp as she shut off the sink and whipped around at him, "What do you what me to say? It's what she wanted."
He nodded and leaned in to pick her up from her high chair. "She pretty advanced, huh?"
His wife turned fully now, giving him a mocking look, "We went into that Halloween pop up store down the street. I put her in the carriage and I told her she could be whatever she wanted. I really didn't think at the ripe age of eight months she'd pick up on my lingo. I tried. I tried real hard. A bat? She cried. A unicorn? Oh she really didn't like the unicorn suit...the other parents were looking at me. And she just kept giving pick me up arms towards that there costume. When I put it front of her she was all coos and giggles. Can't say no to that."
He kissed his daughter on the cheek with another chuckle, "Piper, you are going to be the most unique baby this years fest will ever see."
"Is this thing scary? I don't want her to be afraid," she inquired, drying her hands and walking over to her huddled little family. She played with the elements of her daughters costume with a grin.
"White Pine Bay doing anything but clean cut Halloween festivities is unheard of. It'll be kind of like the Winter Fest," he said, reaching down to grab her hand. His heart palpated as his wife returned his nostalgic silly expression as a time before they declared their love.
"Okay," she mused, leaning in to kiss his lips, "I'm gonna go get dressed. Can you start -"
"Stroller and diaper bag. Got it. I have my little under the sea helper here too."
Her heart soared as he hitched their baby up with pride. She smiled and headed out of the kitchen.
"You are one of a kind, Alex Romero."
The pride that moved throughout the town Sheriff as he walked with his little family throughout the familiar venue was astonishing. His hand was clasped tightly with his wife's as she had their daughter in a baby wrap on her chest, dawning the same grey fuzzy coat as before.
The white lights from their prior experience had been replaced with typical big box store orange Halloween string lights. It was still pretty nonetheless. Around them sat booths of spiked cider, candy grab bowls, pumpkin carving contests, and everything else that was October envy.
"Wow," Norma glistened to their baby, "Look at all the lights."
She bounced her baby with glee as her eyes twinkled in reflection to the well lit walkway.
"Her costume is growing on me," Alex mused from the side, tossing a nod to her peculiar choice.
"She's definitely gonna be a different one...maybe an artist or something?" she wondered, taking her free hand to play with her baby's hand.
"The best artist then."
His wife let out a happy laugh as they approached an unexpected roadblock. There stood Rebecca Hamilton in all her glory. With a child at her side. The kid couldn't belong to her as she had to be at least 5 or 6 with brown hair.
"Mr. and Mrs. Romero! How nice to bump into the two of you..." she smiled. Her attitude was as fake as her teeth. "Or should I say three! Wow Norma ... motherhood really... well, it looks on you."
"Mhm," she nodded, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a five dollar bill. She leaned down to the girl and handed her the cash, "Sweetheart, why don't you go to that booth closest to us and get whatever you want on me."
The adults watched as the little girl happily skipped towards an eye level stand. Norma drew as close as she could to the ginger without putting her daughter in contact. She was grateful that her little ears were covered by her costume. "Well, Bec. There's no point to shedding the baby weight when he just wants to fill you with as many as he can."
She backed away with a cunning smile. "Cute niece or whatever by the way!"
Her hand latched back down to her husbands as he sat shocked at the exchange. She lead them away from the now blistering twit of a woman and towards a nearby pumpkin patch.
"If she ever looks your way or tries to talk to you when I'm not around, I'll kick her ass. I'm not kidding, Alex. That woman strikes something in me fierce," she bustled out, clutching her sweet little babe for support as she pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Before he could even open his mouth, she shot him with one of her trademark looks, "And don't go thinking we're having more. I just really like seeing her angry."
"You call the shots, Mrs. Romero," he gleamed, wrapping his hand around her waist as he moved his mouth close to her ear, "And I think when we go home tonight and tuck our little crustacean in, I'm gonna show you how much I liked the way you handled that."
Piper gurgled then causing her father to stop and let out yet another hearty laugh, "I still can't believe this is what she wanted of all baby costumes."
"It's kind of funny if you think about it," Norma grinned, playing with both other her daughters hands whimsically, "She's a baby dressed as a baby shrimp."
Her husband gasped playfully, his eyes scanning over her curled up onesie tail and dangling pink antennas, "Look at my little comedian."
"Our prawn princess."
