Page 58 of Fangs and First Aid

He cocks an eyebrow at me, clearly not believing the line I’m selling. Graciously, he doesn’t press and instead changes the topic.

“So I thought once we finished breakfast and got all the animal babies squared away, we could head over to the festival grounds. Minna should come with us. The daytime festival is like the market. Animals are welcome, and there'll be loads of vendor stalls giving out goodies again.”

My heart pinches as yet again Auggie doesn’t just think about the two of us. He knows my animals mean everything to me and makes sure that they’re taken care of as well.

“You’re doing it again,” he says.

Before I make the decision to move, I’m up and sliding into his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. Auggie's hands wrap around my waist, nudging me closer. I press my forehead against his and just breathe him in.

“Doing what?”

“Looking at me like you’re trying to diagnose me.”

“Was I?”

“You were. Is everything okay?”

I sigh happily. “Everything is wonderful. Finally wonderful.”

He squeezes me and presses a kiss to my forehead. “I’m glad.”

Auggie reaches across the table and drags my coffee and plate over. We finish eating just like that, me sitting in Auggie’s lap with his arms wrapped around me. When I’ve eaten two turnovers and drunk my coffee and half of Auggie’s, I finally stand up.

“Give me about twenty minutes, and I’ll be ready to go.”

Cleo and Jesse appear, meowing as they curl their way around my legs before moving on to Auggie.

“Well, hello there,” he purrs, reaching down to stroke along each of the cats’ sleek fur. “This is a treat.”

Cleo continues to meow, arching her back and seeking more pets, while Jesse jumps up into Auggie’s lap.

Both of us freeze.

Jesse butts his head into his chest, arching his back insistently.

“Wow,” I say, completely shocked. “He barely ever even does that to me.”

“I’m kind of afraid to move,” he chuckles.

“If you say the magic word, as in the thing in the container in the pantry, they’ll let you up.”

He laughs again, still petting both cats while Minna plops down on his other side. “Good to know.”

I leave him there and head for my room to get ready.

It’s not overly cold today, but the temperatures will drop later, so I opt for my favorite soft-as-butter teal sweater and pair it with my plaid leggings and comfortable boots. I wear my hair the same as the night before, with some of it pulled back, and a light dusting of makeup.

When I rejoin Auggie in the kitchen, his jaw goes slack.

“Is this okay?” I ask suddenly self-conscious.

He sets Jesse on the floor and walks slowly to me. He cups my face and brushes a thumb along my cheek.

“It’s perfect.”

The Halloween Festival in Ravens Hollow is unlike any festival I’ve ever been to.

Auggie explained, on the drive over, that I needed to brace myself. The Halloween Festival was the event of the year for the town.