17.

H e couldn't believe it was happening. In fact, it couldn't be happening. There was no way that any of this was real, only it was.

"We don't have enough time," he said, realizing they couldn't do it. "We'd have to find a pastor, and we'd need a marriage license, and we'd..."

"I've got all of that," Jack said, and she smiled at Zeke. He realized in that moment that she'd spent the last year preparing for this, for all of it. She'd been making sure they were able to live the life of their dreams together. She hadn't just been waiting.

"What do you mean?"

"Your father is now ordained," she said. "And I have a marriage license right here."

Eleanor dropped to the ground. She was screaming and hissing, but with each proclamation of love, her curse grew weaker, and her spell grew less powerful. She was draining herself trying to stay this close to Zeke on his annual holiday. She was going to fade away.

They were doing it.

The curse was breaking.

"I always thought that when a curse broke, it was a clean break," he said.

"That's now how curses work," Jack told him. She stepped toward him, and she reached for him. She tugged him close, hugging him, and then she did something he didn't expect.

She kissed him.

Right on his pumpkin face.

Right on his mouth.

Jacqueline kissed Zeke, and in that moment, his heart was full.

"Yes," he said, "I will marry you."

Alex made a happy noise.

"Let's get to it," he said. He grabbed a Bible from a nearby end table, and he began to read. Then he began to talk about love, and finally, he got to the vows. Hearing Jacqueline praise him filled Zeke with a joy he hadn't known he could feel. She promised to love him forever, and he promised her the same damn thing, and when they slipped their rings on each other's fingers, Zeke felt the pumpkin grow looser.

And looser.

And looser.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife," said Alex, and as Eleanor screamed in the background, the pumpkin finally came loose, and it fell to the floor.

The curse had been lifted, and Zeke was free.

He stared at his bride, and for the very first time, she could see him, too.

"I love you forever," he said, and then he kissed Jack.

And kissed her.

And kissed her.

And then he kissed her just a little bit more.