Can't Love Christmas

Three

After scrolling her socials and seeing nothing but Halloween party photos, Ash decided it was time she started going out more and looking like she had a life again. There was a Halloween Party being hosted by Willow & Fern Pub and she planned to attend.

Costumes were mandatory so Ash dove deep into her clothes storage. The first complete costume she found was a pirate, which suited her just fine.

She dressed herself in the burgundy high-low ruffled skirt, a white off-the-shoulder blouse, and a brown leather corset. She topped her long, curled blonde hair with a brown tricorn hat, and pulled on her heeled, knee-high boots. All that was missing was a sword. She found a plastic cutlass buried in the chest of knick-knack items she hadn't yet unpacked, and admired herself in the mirror.

The doorbell rang, indicating her first trick-or-treaters of the night. She opened the door to face a pair of inflatable dinosaurs.

"Trick or treat!"

She laughed while she tossed the candy into their bags, wishing them a Happy Halloween while watching them navigate themselves safely back down the stairs.

"Ahoy there matey!" Mrs. Rawson called out to her, dressed in a classic witch costume.

"Hi Mrs. Rawson. Happy Halloween!"

"Same to you my dear. Are you going out tonight?"

"Yeah, I was thinking I might head to Willow & Fern for a while. It'll be good to get out."

"It's about time you went out too. I worry about you staying cooped up in there all the time. You need to get out there and meet people."

"That's the plan tonight. Or at the very least, see some good costumes and have a laugh."

"The pub is always fun on Halloween. They make sure of it. But it's been a few years since I dragged these old bones to it."

Another group of trick or treaters arrived, and both ladies handed out their treats. The phone rang inside Mrs. Rawson's apartment, and she shuffled in to get it. Ash turned and headed back inside and watched Ghostbusters, with regular interruptions, until nine o'clock. At which point, she called a cab and headed to the pub.

Upon arrival, she was greeted with a door prize ticket and mini aero bar, her ID was checked and her hand stamped with a purple pumpkin. The place was packed with people in all sorts of costumes, and the crowd was divided into groups playing games, dancers, and those just hanging out together in the pub.

She worked her way to the bar and ordered a specialty 'Witch's Brew' cocktail, which was purple but tasted like lime. Sadiq spotted her and pulled her in to join his friends in a game of wink murder. It was a motley crew of Sadiq, his wife, his twenty year old son Devin, his niece and nephew Laura and Scott, and Margaret, who worked the main cash register in the pharmacy. After four rounds of poor winking, Ash's glass was nearly empty, and Sadiq ordered another round of drinks for everyone. Laura pulled Ash onto the dancefloor while they waited for their drinks, and they joined the surprisingly well coordinated rendition of Thriller.

Miss Charlene appeared with a limbo stick, which proved to be a sloppy but fun interlude. The winner took home a special sash emblazoned with "Miska Limbo Champion". At 10:30, the door prizes were announced. All supplied by local businesses, the winners were happy and grinning as they collected their spoils. As the crowd shifted, many of the older residents headed home to their beds, and the music picked up in both beat and volume. Nearly paralyzed by indecision, Ash stayed seated near the corner and scanned the crowd for anyone else she knew.

It was then Ash spotted Rowan behind the bar, looking devilishly handsome as a fighter pilot. She downed the rest of her drink and approached the bar. The only standing room was right at the end, near the entrance to the kitchen. She held her ground and patiently waited for his attention. Finally, he turned to her.