Page 180 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Two

Her eyes opened, dazzling and beautiful.

And he smiled.

“Happy Halloween!” he said.

She laughed. “Yes, Happy Halloween.”

Epilogue

Halloween

Angela was delighted. For a moment, shesimply closed her eyes and then reopened them.

The world was full of light.

Laughter and music surrounded her.

Best of all, she was alive and well. She was with both herfamily and her extended family. And the world, as she had always known andappreciated it, was a beautiful place.

And, remarkably, tonight they could celebrate.

The Krewe Halloween party proved a big success. Everyonefrom every floor gathered in the largest conference room and the receptionarea. They tried to have something for each of the holidays, big or small. Manyagents were away, working cases across the country and beyond, but whoever wasin town and free was always welcome to join.

That included Mary, who was there with her beloved nephew,Agent Axel Tiger.

Adam and Jackson had decided from the first days of theKrewe that the concept of family would be important to the group.

They’d ordered in a nice supply offood for tonight. Halloween, while not yet Thanksgiving, was still a good timefor a main course of turkey. For the pescatarians, there was grilled salmon,the vegans had tofurky, and for the vegetarians, a pasta dish filled withvegetables.

Everyone had been invited to bring their children, so therewere plenty of candy bowls.

Of course, Angela had also come up with treats of fruitsnacks, apples, and mini-protein bars, a little healthier than the candy, butit was Halloween.

A cake had been crafted to look like a Jack-o-lantern.

However, there were no dangling skeletons or the like to befound around the office.

They’d had a bit too much of the real thing recently.

In unusual fashion for their son, Corby had opted to be asuperhero this year rather than any kind of a ghoul or monster. Little Victoriawas delighted to run around as a mermaid.

Angela had decided to wear a Disney costume. One thatallowed her to represent her favorite storybook character: Maleficent.

Someone had teased Jackson about bringing out his father’sold ceremonial clothing, but he’d said it had just felt right.

Will, who had been an actual magician and illusionist beforejoining the Krewe, returned to his roots. As Merlin,he spent much of the night entertaining the children and adults alike with histricks.

The night came to an end, and Jackson’s last speech for theevent, as was customary, was his thank you to his team.

He told them that it didn’t mean they had to go home. Hejust had to go home—that’s what happened when you had kids in the house.

His words, as intended, were met with laughter, and thenthere were a bunch of goodbyes. In no time, they were finally out of there withthe kids and then back at home. And though it took abit—the kids had enjoyed a truly wonderful day at school, in the neighborhood,and at the party—they finally got Corby and Victoria to bed for the night.

Then, it was time to be together.

Sometimes, they talked about their cases.

But not that night.