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I offered a tight smile. “Can I help you with anything else?”
“No. I’ll just look around some.”
I nodded. So much for scooting to the back for more of the wrapped books. I didn’t leave the front counter, usually, when Reuben was in the store. If I did, it was only to straighten shelves. It just felt like I needed to be able to keep an eye on him.
The bell jingled as the door opened and I shot a grateful glance in that direction. I felt everything lift when I saw it was Cody. “Hey there, stranger.”
Cody chuckled. “I’m not sure I count as a stranger when we had dinner together last night.”
I grinned and, after a quick glance to be sure Reuben wasn’t staring, rose to my tiptoes to give Cody a quick kiss. “Stranger to the store, then. You’re off work early today.”
“Mr. Ballentine stopped by to let me know the invitations looked great—I guess he received his already—and he was positive he hadn’t seen me doing all the work for them during the workday. So I explained how you and I had done the stuffing and so forth in the evenings, and he said I should leave early to make up a little of the time.” Cody shrugged. “I wasn’t going to argue.”
“That was nice of him. Have the replies started to come in?”
He nodded. “Dribs and drabs so far, but I guess that’s not unreasonable. I mailed them a week ago. If you figure two days, maybe three, for them to be delivered, it works. Most people probably have to think a day or two—or more—before they commit and send in their card. I guess we’ll start getting more in another week or two. Or right before the deadline.”
I laughed. “Probably that last one. I thought about sending mine in, but I keep forgetting. Right now, it’s pinned to the corkboard in the kitchen.”
“You’re coming, right?”
“Of course. Wouldn’t miss it. Especially now that I know how good the food’s going to be.”
Cody grinned. “My plan is coming together.”
He paused and looked around the store. His gaze landed on Reuben, and I stiffened. I didn’t want a big confrontation. Or a small one. Mostly, Reuben was harmless.
Although…could I still say that after the candy thing? There’d been an implied threat—maybe not even implied—that had caused my stomach to knot.
“That’s the guy?” Cody glanced over his shoulder at Reuben again before holding my gaze.
I forgot how well Cody could read me. I nodded once.
“Nice costume. Dracula?”
I couldn’t stop the laugh, but my hand flew up to cover my mouth. The last thing I needed was for Reuben to look up from his book and see Cody and me laughing at him. “Phantom of the Opera.”
Cody pursed his lips. “Dracula would be better. Then you don’t have to leave a mask perched on the top of your head.”
“Are you dressing up this year? We didn’t really talk about it. I’m sorry I have to work.”
“It’s not a big deal. I’m not a fan of costumes. I figure Halloween is a way for kids to grub candy. If you’re not escorting kids around, but you still dress up? I don’t get that.” Cody tucked his hands in his pockets. “While my parents weren’t on the super strict side of it being a holiday believers shouldn’t celebrate, it was also very clearly relegated to a fun way for young kids to get candy. And by the time I turned eleven, it was expected that I’d be done with it. Which I was.”
I could see that. I didn’t usually jump on the train of Halloween as a gateway drug to witchcraft or demon worship, but I also didn’t discount that for some people that was exactly what it was. Because it was a holiday that could easily take a turn away from harmless fun and candy into the darker side of occult practices. If people didn’t approach it with prayer and discernment? Well, they could end up in a world of hurt.
“I had a few older teens in right after the high schools let out looking for books on Wicca that, in my opinion, they had no business seeking out. They seemed annoyed that I didn’t stock them and wouldn’t order for them. To me it’s no different than the men—generally—who come in looking for certain kinds of magazines. I have a choice on what I carry. They have a choice to find it elsewhere.”
“Do you get pushback on that?”
I waggled a hand back and forth. “Sometimes. Not usually too much. It’s not like it’s hard to find someplace else to get their fix.”
Cody frowned. “That’s sad.”
“It is.” I cleared my throat. I wouldn’t mind a change of subject. “How long can you stay?”
“As long as you want.”
I smiled as everything in me warmed.
