Happy Halloween from The Scotts

Chapter 2 (Hardin)

I walk through the door and see Auden sitting quietly at the table with his markers. I stroll over to him and look down at his drawing. "What are you drawing, buddy?"

"Emery's costume."

"What's this?" I ask as I point to a huge scribble of black and orange on the unicorn's stomach.

"Cupcakes!"

"Cupcakes?" I chuckle. "Why are there cupcakes on your sister's costume?"

"Addy put them there," he says as he continues to focus on his drawing.

This doesn't sound good. I ruffle his already messy, shaggy hair before leaving him to his drawing and walking into the bedroom to find Tessa. "Tess?" I call out softly.

She turns around and shrieks, "Hardin!" before immediately rushing over to me and turning me away from the bed.

"Hello, my beautiful wife," I say with a smile as I kiss her cheek. "Are you alright? You seem a little jumpy."

"Mmm-hmm," she hums and nods furiously with a smile on her face.

"What's this I hear about Addy putting cupcakes on Emery's unicorn costume?"

"Oh, the kids got into a little bit of a fight over both of them dressing as unicorns tonight. Addy pushed Emery and her cupcake fell on her costume, which has sort of ruined the evening."

"She doesn't want to go trick-or-treating tonight?" I ask with concern.

"She didn't... and then Auden got all upset, too. But I got her to change her mind."

"Ah, good. Does that mean you were able to clean the costume?"

Tessa begins to fidget with her hands. "Not exactly..."

"Okay..." I chuckle. "How about you tell me what's going on and why you're acting so weird?"

"Well, Emery said she would only go out tonight if we all dressed up."

"All? As in you and me?" I ask with a raised eyebrow and Tessa nods. "As what? Don't tell me I have to dress up as a unicorn." I chuckle, but Tessa's face stays serious. "Tess?"

"Well..."

"I love my daughter, but I'm not dressing up as a damn unicorn."

"Good news, then! Your costume for the evening is right over there." She gestures toward the bed.

I turn around and walk toward the bed, which has two colourful and strange looking costumes thrown on top of it. "What the hell are these?"

"Have you ever heard of the Teletubbies?" she asks with a huge grin.

"What the fuck is a Teletubby?"

"You haven't heard of it? It's from the UK."

"No..." I pick up one of the costumes and examine it.

"Emery found these at the costume shop and she'll only go out tonight if we dress up as a family."

"So, you want me to wear this?"

"Well, your daughter does." Tessa smiles.

"Sorry, Tessa, but Emery will just have to wear her Teletummy thing alone."

"Teletubby."

"Whatever."

"Okay, Hardin."

"Good."

"But you can be the one to tell your daughter her father isn't willing to wear a silly little costume for one night to make her happy."