Chapter 29

"So, what do you think?" Delilah weaves her fingers in mine as we stand in front of the sliding glass door.

A jagged breath becomes trapped in my throat as my vision locks on the long pitch-fork shaped tree on the other side of the glass. It still looks as ominous as it did that night, when its strange branches caught my attention, making it a landmark to return to so my crime could be concealed. Though now, it stands, surrounded by the flickering glow of the dozens of carved pumpkins spread about its exposed roots.

"It's perfect," I breathe.

Squeezing my hand, Delilah grabs my attention. "He's been working like a mad man to make this happen," she pauses, giggling. "Pun intended."

I turn to her, bringing my hand to her cheek. "Thank you, D for everything," I wink.

She shrugs, "What can I say, it"s not every day that you get to eat your best friend's pussy and officiate her wedding all in the same day."

The moment she finishes her sentence, the two of us burst out into laughter because I don't think there are many people, if any at all, who can say such a thing.

"We're crazy, aren't we?" I ask, my cheeks still sore from laughing.

"Yes. Extremely, but," she lifts her finger, tapping it against the glass. "So is love. It's probably one of the craziest things anyone can feel. It's scary, it's vulnerable, and has the very real capability of crushing you," she pauses, shaking her head. "And I can't believe what I'm about to say but, he," she pauses once more, tapping her finger in the direction of where Maddox is standing on the other side of the window, "loves you. I'll admit, maybe a little too much. No offense, Blair, I'm your girl, but you're a lot to handle and, given the unconventional start you two had, it's a fucking wonder the two of you are alive and free to share this moment. But either way, I'm not here to judge your love. I'm here because I love you and I love that he loves you for who you are, nothing more and nothing less."

"Aww thanks, D, that was beautiful," I laugh, even though the sentiment of her words traveled straight to my heart.

"I mean it, hopefully now that you two are about to be officially married, you two can retire from the, you know," she tilts her head to side, gliding her hand across her neck, with her tongue sticking out.

"Stick to your day job, D, acting ain't it," I grin. "I can't make any promises," I add.

"Why am I not surprised," she teases.

I look ahead at Maddox, who is standing beneath the pergola in front of the pitch-fork tree. He really is crazy, like Delilah pointed out, but he's my kind of crazy and I'm never letting him go.

My hand moves to the handle of the door, about to slide it open when I feel Delilah press her phone against my cheek.

"Earth to Blair," her voice drags. "Jesus girl, you'll be stuck with him for the rest of your life. Snap out of it," she jokes.

I turn my head to see where she has her phone grazing my ear.

"It's your parents. Take it," she lets go, transferring the phone into my grip. "I'll meet you out there."

I nod as she walks through the door.

"Hello?"

"There's my Blair Bear," my dad exclaims though his voice sounds like it's being swallowed by the lively background noise of wherever he is. "Can you hear me?" he asks, shouting.

"Yeah, kind of," I respond just as my mom interjects.

"Blair, honey, it's me and dad" she announces as if I don't already know. "Listen, we are so sorry that we aren't able to make it tonight. With the Halloween Gala in the city and needing to make sure everything runs smoothly for Carmine, I'm afraid we won't be able to make it back to Sleepy Hollow in time."

"Lorraine, I think she can gather that since we are telling her this when their ceremony is about to begin," my dad quips.

"William Roy Van Tassel," my mom begins to reprimand, before they both break out into laughter.

"Since when do you call me William?" my dad laughs.

"Ok, then Bill, whatever," my mom playfully scoffs.

I look up to where Delilah is standing next to Maddox, who looks insanely hot, dressed in all black, as usual, with a new harness draped around his broad shoulders that tapers down to each of his thighs. Delilah motions her hand for me to join them.

"Guys, I have to go," I interrupt their banter.

"Of course, honey, we love you" my dad says.

"And Blair, please, try to not do your usual," Mom interjects.

"What might that be, mother," I chide.

"Oh, I don't know, kill someone? Behead them? Break the law?"

The three of us all begin to laugh. "Rich coming from you mom, don't act like you haven't gotten into some trouble on Halloween. Need I remind you of when you helped Glinda with her ex?"

"Yeah, yeah. That was then, I'm a changed woman now," she says, still laughing.

"Totally, that's why you're at the Moretti's Gala," I tease.

"Listen, Blair Bear, we'll let you go, but we will see you guys tomorrow. Oh! Be sure to leave the stairs where I left them," dad says.

"Huh?" I ask, obviously confused.

"To the grave plot silly, Maddox called me earlier this week and wanted help digging it."

No wonder, I'm so screwed up. Here I am about to marry my killer husband, all puns intended, and my dad is telling me to be careful in a dug out grave plot? Fucking Christ.

"Got it," I nod about to say goodbye, when I see a sliver of gray hair sneak in front of my vision. Shit.

"Uhhh, I really have to go," I say, my eyes locked on Maddox who looks increasingly agitated with the guest who just strolled in.

"Ok, honey. I can't wait to see the ring. Maddox made sure that Cam–" My mother is cut off by a painfully intentional cough from my dad.

"No, not Cam. Remember what Glinda said," my dad cryptically says.

"Ok guys I have to go," I say, hanging up the phone so I can head to where Maddox looks like he's about to kill someone.