Eventually - All or Nothing #2

Halloween 2022

"You're a lifesaver!"

Aimee had gratefully greeted Lauren at the front door and taken the bag containing Hattie and Rosie's hastily sourced Halloween costumes from her. The previous day, when Hattie had arrived for her week with John, Aimee had excitedly unveiled the girls' requested Anna and Elsa costumes only for Rosie to look at her in utter disgust and whine, "No Mummy, those are the wrong ones."

How was Aimee supposed to know that they wanted the coronation dresses and not bog-standard costumes?! When the girls had first announced they wanted to be Anna and Elsa, Aimee had tried to talk them out of it, it was such a basic choice, but they would not be swayed. 'We want to be sisters.'

John had been no help. 'Let them do what they want, it'll be cute', he had shrugged disinterestedly, so reluctantly Aimee had ordered the costumes, only to discover with one day to go that they were incorrect.

"But I don't want to be Elsa in the blue dress," Hattie had promptly burst into tears as though the world was ending. John had tried to talk her round, pointing out all the pretty details on the dress and reminding her that Aimee could braid her hair for her, but the girls were determined, and, in the end, Aimee had called Lauren in a panic. "Do they even sell those?!" She had asked frantically; her first Halloween as a step-mum of sorts and she had mucked up spectacularly.

"Maybe Meggy could make me one," Hattie had looked hopefully at her daddy; last year Megan had made her a costume she had loved, maybe she could do it again this year.

"No baby," John had looked at Aimee and winced at the mention of Megan. It was fewer and further between these days, but Hattie still spoke of her father's ex-girlfriend from time to time, innocent little remarks like 'Meggy liked this' or 'do you remember when Meggy...?' Aimee didn't mind; she understood that Megan had been a big part of Hattie's life, Hattie had loved her, but John always squirmed awkwardly at the reminder there had once been someone who was not Aimee.

Miraculously Lauren had come through for them, tracking the costumes down to a store in Liverpool, that she had then collected and couriered to John's before the girls were even home from school.

"You want something to drink?" Lauren was not necessarily a stranger in their home these days, but still Aimee felt a little awkward whenever she was around, after all, this had been Lauren's place long before it was hers.

"That'd be nice," Lauren smiled. "Was hoping you'd have some Halloween treats on offer."

"Actually," Aimee said ruefully, she's trying to eat better in a show of solidarity towards John; if he can't have treats then nor should she. "I gave all the leftovers to the drivers."

Rosie's Kitchen is still mostly a solo operation, she does all the baking herself from John's kitchen, but she has recently outsourced delivery, this has meant she can expand her radius a little and doesn't have to worry about being late for school pick up, especially now that she lives further away.

"I've made these for pud tonight though," Aimee removed two of the four dirt cake cups from the fridge. "You can have John's; he's not supposed to eat it anyway."

Lauren's lips curled into a smirk, relations between she and John were very civil these days, so much so that in fact she, John and Aimee were taking the girls out Trick or Treating in the village as a group. Something like that would have been almost unthinkable a year ago. Yet as well as they get on now, it still gives Lauren a little thrill to think she'll be one upping John on something.

"Those are gorgeous," Lauren nods to the bouquet of flowers adorning the kitchen table, the mix of autumnal oranges, yellows and reds arrived this morning, just after John had left to take the girls to school. "What's he done?" Lauren raises an eyebrow; John only ever bought her flowers when he had to apologise for something.