Bewitching the Beast

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

 Ainsley

It’s been a week since I’ve moved in and Nathan has been avoiding me which I don’t mind. The only time we talked is when it was about the kids or would he like seconds at dinner. We have to keep our relationship professional and when he is near I get butterflies in my stomach and my brain turns into goo.

Payton’s teacher and principal were both fired and can’t work in any school in the state of Oregon. Turns out that they were sleeping together and Mr. Powell was stealing money from school funds so he is going to be prosecuted to the fullest. Payton’s new teacher is a nice middle age woman who has been every understanding and is helping Payton catch up.

Halloween is coming up this Thursday and the younger kids want to go to costume festival that is at their school. Nathan agreed that I could take the kids’ downtown to get costumes and ice-cream.  Jonah agrees to watch Sophie and I will pick her up something cute. Also I have to find a gypsy costume for myself since Alexander volunteered me to work the fortune teller booth at the festival which I’m happy to do so.

The kids wanted to take my Mustang and Shawn is sitting in the front while Emma, Alexander, and Payton argue in the back. Shawn directs me to the only store in this small town that sells costumes and luckily we find a parking space out front. The kids run in ahead of me and I feel eyes burning into the middle of my back.

Closing my eyes, I zone in on who is watching me and I find it’s the same men from my first day here. They are across the street for the costume shop and they are obviously talking about me. I quickly go into the store and hope they are gone when we leave.

Getting a cart, I look through the toddlers section and I find a cute pink and black kitten costume; it has long sleeves and a built in pink tutu. It comes with ears, a tail, and black shoes; I only have to get face makeup and tights.

Going over to the women section, I find the perfect outfit for me and I go try it on. The gypsy/fortune teller costume has a skirt that falls below my knees in shades of purples, blues, and reds. All the details are in gold and there is a red sparkly scarf that tries around the waist and has gold medallions that trims the edge. The shirt is white with lace trim at the collar and the sleeves fall off my shoulders and fans out. There is a brown corset style belt that goes over the shirt and there is a red and gold bandana scarf for my hair. I find brown high heeled boots that matches the belt perfectly and I quickly find my size.

I put my clothing in the cart and head out to find the kids. Payton gets a black and blue witches costume with a matching hat; how ironic that she settles on being a witch. We find a broom, leggings, and black flats to go with her outfit and she is happy. Emma gets a pirate costume with a black and white stripe skirt that hits at the knee. The shirt is red with a skull and cross bone on the front and there is a black vest; also there is a black and white scarf for the hair. Getting leggings and a sword, we don’t need to get her shoes since she has red converse sneakers. Alexander gets a Captain American costume and we only have get the matching shield and boots. Shawn is easy and gets a giant banana suit that goes over jeans and a t-shirt.

I pay for their costumes with the credit card Nathan gave me, but I pay for mine with my own money. The boots are a lot and I don’t feel right using his money. He is clearly rich and I have heard that he owns a number of businesses in town and even in Portland.