Match Made in Valley View (Valley View Book #2)

Chapter 13

HALLOWEEN

There is nothing quite like Halloween in Harlington and Valley View. Like with most big things, the two towns come together for a celebration. Since we’re pretty close to each other and a lot of families and friends live between the two cities, it just makes sense. Every year for Halloween, the police close down Main Street in Harlington and it gets turned into a huge trick or treat street. This gives the chance for kids to have safe places to trick and treat and since most people live away from the main town limits. They get to walk around to the different groups and trick or treat safely.

Most of the businesses will close on Halloween, but I like to stay open in case anybody wants some sweets. Last year I had all Halloween style cupcakes and cookies for purchase at a special Halloween discount price and I decided to do the same thing this year. I even set up little tables in front of the store to encourage families to buy something and take a seat in front of the store.

All hands are on deck tonight. Kathy is outside with a big bowl of candy for the trick or treaters and Gio and Maddie are working the front counter. I’ve been decorating cupcakes and cookies all day to keep the case full. I’m a little over everything Halloween right now, but seeing all the happy faces going in and out of the shop make my cramped hands totally worth it.

“Hey Gio, these are the last mummy cupcakes, so if people really want mummies they have to have the cookies.” I hand off the tray to Gio and he starts to put them in the display case.

“I’ll let the customers know. They do look really cool.”

“Thanks. I saw them on Pinterest. Does that make me a bad baker?” I laugh.

“Nah, don’t reinvent the wheel. I mean, people clearly enjoy them.”

“Thanks, Gio, you do great things for my ego. You and Maddie are really working hard tonight, I hope you know how much you’re appreciated.”

“We do, Holly. This is the best job ever.”

I plan to head back to the kitchen, but the bell to the front door rings and instinctively I turn around to see who is coming in. The first thing I notice is the little girl with blonde hair who is dressed up as Elsa. She is so cute with a smile a mile wide that I I hardly even notice who she is with until my eyes look up and there is 6 foot something Wes standing there holding a huge bucket of candy.

“Hey, Holly.” He lifts his hand up and gives a small wave.

I walk around the counter and lean back against it. “Wes, what are you doing here?”

“We wanted cupcakes.” He looks over at the little girl who has her face pressed up against the display case. “Hey, Annabelle come here.” The little Elsa comes over from the table and wraps her arms around Wes’s leg. “Annabelle, sweetheart, this is my friend Holly. Can you say hi?”

She waves her hand a little bit and I smile at her and squat down to her height.

“Hmm, is your name Annabelle or Elsa? Because you sure look more like an Elsa.”

The little girl giggles and her eyes relax a bit, “I’m Elsa!”

“That’s what I thought.” I point my thumb up in Wes’s direction, “This siilly big guy doesn’t even know your name.” She starts laughing again. “So, Elsa, do you want to see the cupcakes that I have?”

“Yes!” She shouts excitedly and then looks up at Wes, “Daddy cupcake?”

“That’s why we came here. Holly makes the best cupcakes.”