at least we have letters we can send to our kids.” Diana managed a weak smile. “God, I miss Halloween at home. Decorating the porch and sitting in the rocking chair giving the little kids candy.”
“Me, too.” Carmen nodded, and then she and Joanie left the room and headed down to the kitchen.
Diana opened her notebook, intending to start a letter to Rebecca and tell her how much she missed Halloween. But before she wrote a word, she had another idea. She wrote:
Dear Luke,
We’ll all get handwritten letters every day or two during the rest of our time here. Doesn’t seem fair that you don’t get any at all, so I’m writing to you. This little trip has meant so much to all of us, and I can’t thank you enough for all you do for us . . .
She went on to fill up a page about how she missed her daughter but wanted to be strong for Carmen and Joanie, just like Rebecca was strong for her friends in basic training. Then she folded it, put the address on it, and tucked it under the dresser scarf to be mailed with the letters she would write to Rebecca.
Luke was messing around on his computer when he found that the little church only ten miles down the road was having what they called “Trunk or Treat” that night. He loved giving out candy to the kids in his neighborhood and immediately decided that he was going to participate in the fun in the church parking lot. He made a phone call to the number given for information, and when he mentioned that he was Tootsie Colbert’s nephew, the lady invited him to participate.
“I won’t be here for supper,” he announced at the dinner table and then went on to tell them what he was going to do. “Anyone want to join me?”
“Too chilly out there for me,” Tootsie answered. “But you go on and have fun. What are you going to give out?”
“Don’t know yet. I’m making a trip to the Walmart store in Paris to buy stuff.”
“Not me,” Joanie said. “I’m watching scary movies, like Zoe and I do every Halloween, though I’ll be pretending that she’s sitting on the sofa with me.”
“I’m with you,” Carmen said.
Tootsie raised a hand. “Count me in, too.”
Luke glanced over at Diana. “How about you?”
“I’d love to go,” she said. “What time are we leaving?”
“The event starts at five, so maybe three. That would give us time to drive down to Paris, load up on goodies, and get there when it kicks off.” Luke was so happy about getting to spend the evening alone with Diana, even if it was just on the drive to the store and home from the festivities, that he could have done a little jig.
“That will give me time to finish up my last little bit of work on the computer.” Diana passed around the plate of corn bread. “This is such a good day for vegetable soup.”
“And apple crisp for dessert,” Tootsie added.
When dinner was finished, Luke went out to the motor home and put in a call to his financial adviser. “I want to put my house on the market,” he said. “I’ll be out of town until the middle of December, but get it appraised, pick out a good real estate agent, and give them a key.”
“Are you sure about that? The market isn’t up much right now,” the man said.
“I’m very sure. I’m moving up around San Antonio to be near my aunt. My uncle died a few weeks ago, and I want to be a help to her.”
“Okay, then, I’ll get the ball rolling. Anything else?”
“Not today, but if I think of something, I’ll call. And thanks,” Luke answered.
“I’m here to serve,” he said. “I’ll keep you posted on how things go.”
At five minutes to three, he crossed the yard to the garage and had good intentions of warming up the truck before he went inside the house for Diana. But she was already in the truck with the engine running and the garage door raised. He slid behind the wheel and put the vehicle in reverse.
“Thank you for getting the chill out of the truck. I had planned to do it myself,” he said.
“I got finished with my work a little early, and to tell the truth, I’m excited to get away for the evening. I don’t like scary movies,” she said.
“But you watch them because everyone else likes them, right?”
A