Save Me

Chapter Eighty-seven

Halloween at the Gigots’ was a houseful of witches, Iron Men, and vampires. Tables were stocked with sandwiches, ginger snaps, and candy bars that kept the boys chasing each other on a sugar high, while the girls bobbed for apples. Rose was dressed as a lawyer in a three-piece suit and a striped tie, Leo was her prisoner in an orange jumpsuit, and John had on a black onesie, as their resident baby judge.

She raised her plastic glass of cider and clicked it to Leo’s. “You know what we’re toasting, right?”

Leo smiled, his glass raised. “Senator Martin’s indictment?”

“No. Guess again.”

“That you look so hot as a redhead. Put me in jail and have your way with me. Got handcuffs?”

Rose leaned over. “This is the first Halloween that Melly hasn’t worn a mask.”

“Whoa, I didn’t realize that.” Leo looked around for Melly, who had dressed as a horseback rider in fringed chaps, paddock boots, and a sweatshirt that read THE BUCK STOPS HERE. At the moment, however, she was with Amanda, Emily, Danielle, and the other girls, her face stuck in a galvanized washtub of apples. They hadn’t become best friends, but the worst of the bullying had stopped, and Amanda had shown a new empathy, after her injury.

“Now drink, felon.” Rose raised her glass, Leo clicked it, and they sipped, then kissed over John’s head.

“Get a room, you two.” Eileen waltzed over, a beaming princess in a rhinestone tiara.

“Hey, girl.” Rose smiled. They’d grown closer, with Melly bringing Amanda her homework in the hospital. “Love the costume. Every mom deserves a tiara.”

“True, except I’m Paris Hilton.” Eileen laughed, then Wanda came over dressed as a witch, followed by some other class parents, Rachel and Jacob Witmer as Barack and Michelle Obama, Susan and Abe Kramer as Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Elida and Ross Kahari as Sarah and Todd Palin. Rose regarded them all as new friends, regardless of political affiliation.

Wanda looked at Rose. “Honey, you know, I have to say it again, I’m so sorry for the way I treated you.”

“That’s okay,” Rose said, meaning it. Lots of people had apologized, and her new email and Facebook page were flooded with virtual love.

“The new CEO at Homestead even mentioned you in his speech. He said the new broom’s gonna sweep clean.”

Jacob added, “I’m so happy that Martin got his.”

“Nobody’s happier than I am!” said a voice behind them, and they all turned around.

“Kristen!” Rose gave her a hug, and the young teacher looked pretty, even dressed as Humpty Dumpty.

“Rose, Leo, everybody, let me introduce you.” Kristen gestured at the white knight beside her, dressed in tinfoil armor. “This is Erik, my boyfriend. Or should I say, my fiancé.”

“Woohoo!” Rose hooted, and all the women clustered around Kristen, who showed off her engagement ring to the sound of much clucking.

“Mom!” a child shouted, and the women looked up, because they all answered to the same name.

“Yes, honey?” Eileen asked. It was Amanda standing there, her face wet from bobbing for apples.

“Can you fix my lightning bolt? It’s coming off, from the water.”

Rose smiled at the sight.

Amanda was dressed as Harry Potter.