A New Chapter

Chapter 22

"What about this one baby girl?" I ask, holding up a small pink fairy costume for Amelia to inspect.

"Nope." She smacks her lips together, and goes towards the 'boys' costume section of the store.

"I wanna be Spider-Man!" She squeals after a moment, holding up a red, blue and black outfit,
excitement radiating off of her.

"You can be whatever you want sweetheart." I pinch her chubby cheek and smile as she giggles and swats my hand away with her small one.

"I love seeing siblings out Halloween shopping! You two seem so close." A middle aged woman coos, holding a stack of costumes in her arms.

"Oh, she's actually my daughter." I pick up Amelia and smile at the woman who doesn't seem shocked or hides it well.

"Oh! My apologies. She's a beautiful little thing!" She smiles brightly at Amelia in my arms who sends her a shy smile. "My eldest son refuses to shop for costumes for my twins. He said it was 'traumatic'." She continues with a chuckle.

"It can be." I breathe out with a laugh.

"I'm Natalie by the way." She struggles to free an arm and balance all the costumes, but manages to quickly shake my hand.

"Ashley." I smile at her. "And this is Amelia." I wiggle her in my arms as she giggles and waves at Natalie before nuzzling into the crook of my neck.

"Mom! Can I get this one instead!" A young boys voice calls from behind Natalie and I recognise it immediately as Evan, Ethan's brother. Wait.. that means I just met Ethan's mom!

"Yes darling, I'm bringing the lot to the changing rooms for you and Elena to try on." Natalie huffs, throwing a smile my way. Evans gaze follows his mothers and lands on Amelia and I.

"Ashley?" He questions with a cute smile.

"You know my son?" Natalie queries with a furrow in her brow.

Before I can reply Evan cuts in; "This is the girl Ethan is always blabbing on about mom." He gives me a cheeky smirk as realisation comes over Natalie.

"Oh my!" She squeals excitedly, dropping all the costumes and giving me a tight hug, Amelia squished in the middle of us.

"It's so lovely to meet you Ms Spencer." I smile at her as we pull apart, feeling the need to be more formal.

"Oh please! Natalie will do just fine. Would you like to come for dinner tonight? I'm sure Ethan would love it! And I'd adore the chance to get to know the girl behind my sons doe eyed rambles." She brightly smiles, showing small dimples in each cheek.

"I wouldn't want to intrude." I awkwardly reply.

"You wouldn't be! Besides I even made an apple pie last night." She states in a finalised way. I guess I'm going for dinner at the Spencer's.

~~

After exchanging numbers with Natalia and leaving the Halloween costume store with a Spider-Man costume, a matching tutu and an invite to Ethan's house, I go home and see mom in the living room sipping on a glass of wine.

"Hey mom." I kiss her cheek and set down Amelia to play with her dolls on the carpet.

"Hey sweetie." She yawns, sleep lining her words.

"Long day?" I question as I take a seat beside her, propping her feet onto my lap and start messaging them.

"Like you wouldn't believe." She mumbles, messaging her head with three fingers.

"Would it be okay if I went to Ethan's house for dinner with his family?" I ask after a moment of silence, the only sound filling the room besides the crackling from the fire and Amelia's faint whispers.