Chapter Five

Size mattered, in pumpkin craving in this case when the family craved their pumpkins days later..

Cori was finished her small jack-o-lantern that had triangle eyes, with detailed sharp fangs, three on the bottom and two on top, first. Drew's had two triangle eyes and a circle. Cori said it looked like a pumpkin who got scared by other pumpkins, like hers. Bri's had much detail, too with big eyes that actually had pupils.

Rick's?

No one knew what that was. Rick told them to use their imaginations.

"That applies to paintings, not pumpkins, dad. Nice try," Bri said.


When Cori announced she wanted to be Captain America for trick or treating, the boy's costume, not the girl's, her dads were happy to buy her costume. Bri and her friends were going as zombies. All said this was their last year for trick and treating so they wanted to be really gross. After trick or treating the girls were going to a dance at their school. Drew would pick the girls and take all of them home at 11:00pm. He didn't miss being at the ER on Halloween this year. If they had been home he would have missed his first Halloween with Cori. Both dads were nervous letting Bri and her friends go out alone even if they were just going around the neighborhood but they relented. Bri was going to bring her candy to her grandparents' and then head to the dance in case her dads and sister were still out.

"I'm glad Drew gets to enjoy Halloween this year," Jordan said before the insanity of the night shift started.

"Yeah, he deserves it. Did you get the picture of the girls in costumes?" Topher asked.

"That was nice. A zombie hugging Captain America. It doesn't surprise me Cori didn't go for the girl's version," Jordan said. "She strikes me as that kind of kid. She's a tough cookie."

"She and Bri both had to be, to get as far as they have in life. I'm so happy they met Drew and Rick."

"Me, too."


"Is that toffee?" Drew said, startling Rick as he ate another piece.

Drew had checked on their youngest for the last time that night. She was solid asleep.

"Yes. Captain America said I could have it. It's one of the few things she doesn't like," Rick said. His leg was sore for all that walking. The toffee made up for it.

"And what do I get?"

"She said you could have those sour cream and onion potato chips. They stink. Don't expect me to kiss me if you eat them."

"What happened to sharing in a marriage?" Drew asked.

"It doesn't apply to toffee," Rick grinned.

Drew pinned the other man to sofa, not to kiss him but to grab the candy in his hand."Gimme!" He said.

"Never!" Rick proclaimed.

When Drew looked a bit tussled picking up Brianna, after her friends were out of the car she said "tell me I didn't interrupt you guys."

Drew chuckled.

"No, Miss smarty pants. I had to tackle your dad for your's sister's Halloween toffee. And I got it."

"You guys are weird."

This time it was Drew who got a fright.

"Why are you looking through my treat bag?" Bri said, quietly slipping into their iiving room on the way to the kitchen for breakfast.

"Because I've already been through your sister's," Drew replied. "It's called a candy tax."

"Looking for toffee? I traded it for caramels."

"Why did you do that?"

"I don't like toffee. I didn't know you guys did, besides the candy tax can't used on me. You didn't take me out."

"I drove you home," Drew argued.

Why was he arguing over candy with a teenager, even more why was he losing?

"That was from the dance, doesn't count."

Rick snickered from the kitchen.