Chapter Seven

Bethany

Halloween had always been my favorite holiday, but this year was different. There was something in the air, a mix of excitement and nervous energy, as if the universe was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. Maybe it was the fact that I was technically undead now, which threw a fun twist on the whole costume idea, or maybe it was because so much was riding on this blood drive. Either way, I was jittery in a way that had nothing to do with the three cups of coffee I'd downed before heading to Sugar Rush.

I tugged at my angel costume for what felt like the hundredth time, adjusting the halo on my head, which, no surprise, had tilted to the side again. The white dress I'd worn to the Halloween party a few days ago still bore the faint remnants of the drink I'd spilled on it, but it was the only thing I had that fit the theme. A stained angel—how fitting for someone who had technically fallen from grace.

"Not perfect, but it'll do," I muttered to myself, giving the halo one last tweak before turning to the mirror. It was still off-kilter. Figures.

I sighed, then shrugged. "Let's get the show on the road."

The blood drive was in full swing by the time I arrived at the shop. The community had shown up in droves—people of all ages lined up to donate blood and tour the newly revamped Sugar Rush. It seemed like the whole town had come out to support the cause, and the energy was electric. Parents and kids milled around in adorable costumes, from tiny pirates and princesses to superheroes and even a few miniature zombies. The air was filled with laughter and the sweet, sugary smell of candy.

I stood back for a moment, taking it all in. The shop looked incredible, transformed from the tired, peeling-paint candy store I'd walked into not too long ago into something magical. The decorations we'd painstakingly put together—cobwebs, jack-o'-lanterns, flickering electric candles—set the perfect mood. The windows were draped in glowing orange lights, and the candy displays were nothing short of spectacular. Noah's hard work was paying off, and even Alice, who had been so stressed in the beginning, was dressed in a Mrs. Claus outfit, beaming from ear to ear as she handed out treats. The counter was lined with Noah's creations—chocolates shaped like ghosts, bats, and pumpkins. He'd even made a series of "vampire bites," little chocolates with a surprise red raspberry filling.

"Bethany, these are flying off the shelves!" He called to me from behind the counter, his voice barely audible over the excited chatter of customers. He was dressed as Miss Scrumptious again, this time with a huge orange feathered boa wrapped around his neck and a bejeweled crown perched on his head. His partner, Gary, was there too, dressed this time as Robin, Batman's sidekick, complete with shiny red costume, yellow cape, and green tights. The two of them made quite the pair, as always.

I smiled, waving at him before turning my attention back to the crowd. The decorations, the costumes, the candy—it all blended together in a kaleidoscope of Halloween magic.

"Looks amazing, doesn't it?" Drake's voice sounded from behind me, smooth and low, and I turned to find him standing next to me, his eyes scanning the crowd.

He was back in his Dracula costume from the party, and even though I knew he didn't need the fake fangs or the black cape, he somehow managed to make the whole thing look effortlessly cool. The dark velvet of his cloak seemed to blend into the shadows of the shop, his black eyes gleaming as he watched the bustle around us.

"It really does," I said, a little breathless. "I think we actually pulled this off."

Drake smirked, his eyes flicking to me. "You sound surprised."

"I mean, considering where we started? Yeah, I'm a little surprised." I grinned back at him. "It's a miracle we're even still standing."

Drake chuckled, and for a moment, everything felt...easy. Normal, even. The tension that had been hanging between us ever since our futile attempts to break the curse seemed to dissipate, replaced by the shared triumph of what we'd managed to accomplish together.

And honestly, for the first time in a while, I wasn't thinking about how to get into heaven. I wasn't thinking about the fact that I was now technically undead or that I hadn't figured out a way out to free us from this mess. I was just... happy. Here, in this moment, surrounded by the smiling faces of my small-town community that had welcomed me back with open arms, it felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

People continued to stream in and out of Sugar Rush all day, donating blood, grabbing treats, and marveling at the new look of the shop.

By the time evening rolled around, the event was winding down, but the excitement in the air hadn't faded. I watched as the last few families left, their kids bouncing with energy, clutching bags of candy and plastic fangs. Halloween was officially a success.

"Think we can finally call it a night?" I asked Drake as the last customer waved goodbye.

"Almost," he replied, glancing around the shop. "Just a little cleanup left."

I sighed, leaning against the counter. "I'm so tired I could pass out. Literally."

He gave me a sideways smile. "You can't pass out, remember? Undead and all that."

"Oh, right," I said with a laugh, giving him a playful shove. "I forgot."

We moved around the shop, tidying up the displays and sweeping the floors, both of us too worn out to even banter much. The shop had a cozy, warm glow about it now that the crowds had gone, and we said goodnight to Noah, Gary, and Alice as they left for home. After they had gone, and it was just the two of us, I paused for a moment, appreciating the peace and quiet.

"Hey, Bethany," Drake called suddenly from the front door. "I think we've got one last customer."

I frowned, glancing up from where I was wiping down the counter. "What do you mean?"

Drake motioned for me to come over, and as I approached, my eyes widened in shock.

There, just outside the front door, was a small bassinet. And inside it, wrapped in a fluffy blanket, was a baby.

"A baby?" I gasped, hurrying over to get a closer look. "What the…"

Drake bent down, carefully lifting the bundle from the bassinet, and I could see the tiny face peeking out from the layers of fabric. The baby was dressed in a little yellow chick costume, complete with a soft yellow onesie and tiny wings. She blinked up at us with wide eyes, her tiny hands clutching the edge of the blanket.

"She's adorable," I whispered, my heart clenching in my chest as I reached out to touch her tiny fingers. The baby grasped onto my finger, her grip surprisingly strong for someone so small.

"A girl," Drake murmured, his voice soft as he looked down at the baby in his arms. "And look, her blanket's monogrammed."

I squinted at the edge of the blanket, where a name had been stitched into the fabric in delicate script. Lily.

"Lily," I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. "But...where are her parents? Who would leave a baby out here like this?"

We both glanced around, but the street was completely deserted. The families that had been milling around earlier had all gone home, and the town square was eerily quiet now, the only sound the rustle of leaves in the cool evening breeze.

"There's no one," Drake said, his voice tight with concern. "What do we do?"

I bit my lip, my mind racing. We couldn't just leave her here, and it didn't look like anyone was coming back for her anytime soon.

"I guess we take her home with us," I said, already reaching for my phone. "I'll call the police, and...Gran. Gran will know what to do."

Drake nodded, cradling the baby gently in his arms as I dialed the station. I explained the situation, but there wasn't much they could do at the moment. Social services wouldn't be available until the next day, and in the meantime, someone had to take care of Lily. That someone was apparently going to be me and Drake.

After calling on Gran and getting her advice (which mostly consisted of her cooing over the baby and telling me to stock up on formula), we bundled Lily up and headed back to my apartment. The streets were quiet, the lamp posts casting orbs of golden light along the square.

Back at my apartment, I laid a blanket out on the couch and set Lily down while Drake headed out to the store to pick up everything we'd need for the night—formula, diapers, bottles, and anything else that might come in handy when caring for a baby. I watched as Lily wriggled in her sleep, her tiny hands curling and uncurling as she let out a soft sigh.

My heart ached as I sat, staring down at this tiny, innocent life. Who would leave a baby like this? What kind of person could walk away from something so precious? I didn't understand it. I didn't think I ever could.

Drake returned a short while later, bags in hand, and we spent the next hour fumbling our way through feeding Lily, changing her diaper, and trying to figure out how to make her comfortable. It was a learning experience for both of us—neither of us had ever taken care of a baby before, and our fumbling made it obvious.

But despite the chaos, there was something...comforting about it. Something that felt right. Like this was exactly where we were meant to be.

As the night wore on, and Lily finally settled into a peaceful sleep, I found myself sitting on the couch with her cradled in my arms, her soft breaths warm against my chest.

Drake sat beside me, his arm resting on the back of the couch as he watched us with a look I couldn't quite place.

I glanced up at him, my heart swelling with something I couldn't quite name. "What do you think is going to happen to her?"

Drake shook his head slowly. "I don't know. But we'll figure it out."

I looked down at Lily, brushing a lock of soft hair away from her face. She was so small, so vulnerable. And yet, as I held her, I felt a strange sense of peace wash over me. For the first time in a long time, I wasn't thinking about the future, about how to undo the curse that had been placed on me, or even about how to get back into heaven.

Right now, in this moment, with Lily in my arms and Drake by my side, everything felt... perfect.

Maybe this was what life was supposed to be about. Not grand gestures or eternal quests for redemption. But the small, quiet moments. The moments of connection, of love, of finding family in the most unexpected places.

I looked up at Drake again, and for the first time, I realized that I was falling for him. For both of them. This tiny, unexpected life in my arms, and the man sitting beside me, who had somehow become the one thing I hadn't seen coming.

"Drake," I whispered, my voice soft. "I think I'm falling in love."

He didn't respond right away, but when he did, his voice was just as soft, just as sure.

"Me too."