Most morningās he worked started with breakfast at Biscuits with Beau. Their calendar was an innate rhythm between them; second Tuesday of the month was a delivery to Roscoeās Rodeo, the 15th of every month a check in at the warehouse up north, a meeting with the Ghouls once every six weeks to assure that promises surrounding their alliance were kept.
That tiny Plymouth Road Runner their home away from home. Comedic really, both of them much too tall for itās compact space. Knox had learned to navigate the space like it was his own, the seat pushed all the way back with his feet hanging out the window. Wasnāt much, but it made sleeping with Mariah wrapped in his arms all the sweeter.
Knox had never been one for Halloween, or any holidays really. His mother would try to get him to dress up as a kid, heād comply with the promise of candy but his heart was never really in it. Felt silly to pretend to be anyone but himself, but the moment his daughter started dressing in frilly princess dresses he felt his heart melt. He took the day off, unable to face the disappointment if daddy couldnāt make it to trick-or-treating - promising Beau theyād make up for lost time tonight. Her hand was too small to fit in his, sticky from the candy sheād stuck in her mouth when she thought momma and daddy werenāt looking, Knox and Mariah sharing a wink as they looked the other way.
The cacophony of shrieks of delight and racing footsteps was welcomed change to Edenholle, a place too often hushed by the silence of discretion. In between rung bells and knocked doors, Knox pulled Mariah in against him watching as their girl ran back and forth between them and the next candy score. A part of him felt like this was never really his, like he was living someone elseās life; someone who had by some fate scored the dream and Knox was just riding in their skin for these moments.
His phone vibrated in his back pocket, Knox groaning with annoyance. He already knew it was Beau, asking where Knox was so he could swing by and pick him up.
āI think my timeās up,ā He said with an sheepish expression, scratching the back of his neck as he sent Beau a pin to his location. There was always guilt when he had to say goodbye, always leaving Mariah for long stretches of time. He wondered how she filled her time, or with who. He slid a hand to cradle her cheek, a his calloused thumb running rough across her silken skin.
āDonāt be too mad at me.ā He said, leaning in with a languid smile and low eyes, mouth seeking hers. He savored the taste of her lips between his, lingering that contact as he spoke. āPromise Iāll be back tonight.ā
He heard the hum of the approaching engine, the Green Beast approaching. Their daughter recognized the sound, running back to grab ahold of Knoxās leg - too familiar with the sound, knowing daddy was leaving.
āNoo, daddy you said youād go trick-or-treating with me,ā She whined, the wavering in her voice the first signs of a full blown temper tantrum. Knox leaned down to scoop the girl up, holding her between him and Mariah.
āI gotta get going, baby girl. Iām sorry I canāt stay all night, but now you get to have momma all to yourself.ā Knox tickled her sides as he spoke, forcing the girl to giggle - the sort of unfiltered infectious joy that only a child was capable of expressing. He could hear the sound of the car slowing to a halt between them, the low idle hum resonating with Beauās impatience.
āBe good alright, baby.ā He said, giving his girls both a kiss - leaning in to whisper in Mariahās ear, his hand snaking around her to give her ass a quick squeeze. āYou too, alright.ā
He jogged over to the passenger side of the green beast, giving them both a last look as he slid into the car. Beau didnāt even allow him time to adjust the seat before lurching forward, driving them towards the horizon.
Constance had never celebrated Halloween as a child. Her parent's had thought it a Satanic holiday, it's Pagan origins never without mention. For the Church, however, it had grown to be one of their busiest nights. She expected many would have penance to pay tonight.
"After you've replaced all the sheets, make sure all the rooms are stocked extra with the essentials - and give the surfaces a dusting." Constance dictated over Lila's shoulder, each word articulated with the kind of suppressed rage only god-fearing parents could breed. "I've got to go into town for some supplies but I'll be back within the hour, I expect this place to be sparkling by then."
"Yeah, yeah - save the whip cracking for tonight, Constance." Lila huffed under her breath, audible but still a sound of defeat. She could hear the sound of Constance's heels clicking away, followed by the sound of the door behind her.
Lila waited a beat to make sure Constance wouldn't come back, pretending to forget her keys or wallet to make sure Lila was still working. When she was certain the Mother Superior was gone for good, Lila threw herself across the freshly made bed to roll over onto her back and watch the ceiling fan. The days had been bleeding into one another lately, Lila felt the weight of the monotony.
Lila had settled in the church because it was easy, but sheād grown complacent. Never really wanted anything except tomorrow but now it was the very thing she dreaded. Lately sheād felt like she was outside her own body, watching herself as she went through the motions. Sheād save enough to leave, but - where would she go? After a few moments she got up with a huff, deciding sheād skip the grunt work and take Constanceās wrath later. Affixing her habit, Lila gave herself a quick check in the mirror before heading upstairs and joining the festival.
They hosted a festival for the families of the congregation during the day with face painting, hay rides, games. It wasn't that large of a production but the kids loved it, and the parents appreciated having somewhere to let their kids run wild that didn't cost nothin'. No, tonight would be when the church really made it's money - when the fest closed and the basement door was open.
Constance had been helping Father Friday with Halloween since heād first taken over the church. Each year the after-hour celebrations became grander and more explicit, she wondered if this was how it felt to be in the cities of Sodom and Gamorrah. To live a life of such hedonism and feel the wrath of god ready to descend on you at any moment.
Her parents still worked shifts behind the counter of their general store, the bell above the door giving a hollow ring as she entered. Her mom was stocking cigarettes when Constance walked in, looking over for only a moment then quickly away. It had been the same ever since they left the church, certain Father Friday was Lucifer himself. Constance had grown used to her parentās feigned ambivalence. That was the beauty of faith, when you let it lead you it didnāt matter what others thought about you.
āGood afternoon to ya, momma.ā Constance greeted, tipping her head graciously - because her parents might not be talking to her but they damn sure raised her well enough to respect her elders. She gave a little smile as she walked past towards the back of the store where hardware was kept, returning a moment later with her arms filled with bundles of rope. āJust these, please.ā
Her mom rang up the rope wordlessly, making sure to avoid eye contact.
āI took all that was left back there, so you might need to reorder more.ā Constance added, not because she expected her mom to acknowledge it but because she knew it was something her mom would want to know. It used to be part of her after-school job to help her parents do inventory to see what they needed to order, but now they had some grandkid of one of their friends doing that.
āThatāll be $46.23.ā Her mother said flatly, with all the warmth you reserved for a stranger. Constance pulled out a crisp hundred dollar bill from her bag, sliding it across the counter to her mother. āKeep the change, have a blessed day momma.ā
It was the only way Constance could give her parentās money. She knew they were struggling. Folks were depending on the local mom and pop shop less and less these days, evident by the expired tinned brown gravy on the shelves. Constance was gone before her mom could say anything, that bell ringing behind her.
Cradling her paper bag, she decided to take the scenic route back to the church to invite some of the families that were out trick or treating back to the church for the festival - giving those she was certain to see in the basement after a wink as she walked by.
āBrother, Sisters.ā Sheād say, because whether or not they were members of the congregation they were all brothers and sisters of the Lord and Saviour.
āBrother Gem,ā Constance called out from the end of the driveway. āHope weāll be seeing you in church tonight.ā