A Spooky Treat with Tabitha and Carter –by A.M. Willard
Please enjoy this bonus scene from Tabitha and Carter. This is done years later, so please do not read if you haven’t read Unexpected Changes. I hope you enjoy this little snippit of what is going on with all things Carter and Tabitha. Thank you again for all the love and support and Happy Halloween.
“Carter, I can’t believe you put Jade and Iris in those costumes. You knew I made them those cupcake outfits.”
“Tabby Cat, have you looked at them? I mean this is so much better than yours.”
With my hand on my hip, I glance over to our beautiful girls and back to Carter. “What are they? Did you forgot that you have girls, not boys?”
“Jade is Black Widow and Iris is Ironman,” he says with the sexiest smirk ever.
“What am I going to do with the ones I made? Why is our daughter dressed as Ironman, I understand Black Widow?”
Carter saunters over to me and wraps his arm around my waist pulling me into his chest. One hand snakes up under my chin to raise my eyes up to his. He knows this is my weakness, and that I’ll give him anything he wants. Or for this matter forgive him for dressing my two angels up as superheroes. “Tabitha, remember the deal we made when you were in labor?”
I roll my eyes before I respond, “Yes, how could I forget. You remind me daily.”
“Care to explain to me what that deal was?”
“Really, Carter? You need for me to repeat it again?”
“Yes, we need to clarify it one more time. Maybe by the time they reach the teenage years, you’ll understand it.”
“Whatever. I pinky swore that if you allowed me to name the girls what I wanted that you would get to pick costumes, and birthday gifts as you take all the fun away from me spoiling our girls.”
“Now, when you say it that way, it sounds so harsh. Now tell me why did we make this compromise?”
“It is harsh, you are depriving me of glitter, and all things princess with them. This is not fair, and I figured you would cave eventually. Five years Carter, and you won’t let me dress them.”
“Why? What was the rest of the deal?”
“Bases are closed for you mister if you keep this up. I will rip that contract up and shred it along with the copier.”
“You know you won’t, plus I’ve seen you scoping out the cute baby outfits when we take the girls out.”
“What do I get if I agree to have another child and pray to God that it’s a boy. I can’t believe you are still holding me to this after all these years? Do you really want to do this all over again?” I say as I point in the kids direction.
“Yes, I am and yes, Tabby Cat I want another child with you. For that matter I would like a few more, we can’t have Angela and Logan out doing us, now can we?”
“They can produce a football team for all I care, this base is no longer pushing another thing out of it. Do you understand me Carter Northwood? I shall stick to this silly agreement and walk around in my princess costume while you take our girls door to door for candy.”
“Mom! Come on we’re ready to go.” I hear Jade yell from the living room. They both look like me with the same vibrant red hair, but only Jade has my personality. Iris is my thinker like Carter. Sit her down with a notebook and she doodles just like her dad. Parenthood has been more rewarding than I ever pictured, not to mention the way Carter and I have grown. I never thought that our love would be stronger today than it was the day we married. Some say it’s because children bound you tightly, but with us they are just to the extra scope of ice cream with your cake. Not a moment goes by throughout the day that I don’t stop and think about what my life has become. At that moment, I’m thankful for my family, friends, and the love that our household contains.
I reach over and grab the trick-or-treat bags and yell out for the girls. One more look at the outfits, I take notice of the ones that I made for the girls. A loud laugh escapes as I realize how awful they are. I’m not crafty, and it turns out like this every year. I create the perfect Halloween outfit while Carter goes and sneaks one in the house. He’s witnessed the eruptions of glitter, glued together fingers, and sequins scattered across the table. It’s just one more reason why I love Carter Northwood. He lets me try my hand at it, then comes to the rescue. Always has and always will. We rescued each other that day when our eyes met. It might not have been an easy road to get to where we are, but it’s a road I would never detour from if I had the choice to do it over again.
“Mom, we’re ready,” the girls say in unison and I hand them their bags.
“Now, remember no candy until we check it and make sure you say thank you at each stop.”
“Yes, ma’am. Is Uncle Cory going to meet us?”
“He’ll meet us at the park, now hurry up and let’s get to the car before we’re late.”
Carter and I stand on the front porch and watch as they skip along and jump in the backseat of my Land Rover SUV. It’s moments like this when they listen that we stop and take in our life. He places his hand at the small of my back to lead me towards the vehicle. After the girls have buckled, we make the short trip to the park that’s lined with other families just waiting for the sun to dip down a little more.
No sooner than we park, the girls spot Cory and my family right away and take off in their direction. As Carter and I approach, I notice Cory and Seth shaking their heads at me. It’s when I step closer that Cory asks, “What are they wearing? I thought they were going to be cupcakes or something?”
I instantly roll my eyes and look at Carter as I wait for him to explain.
“Have you seen her with a glue gun? Let’s just say it’s a good thing I made that deal with her.” He says as he goes over to help Jade with her outfit.
Seth comes over to join Cory and I. “Have you told him yet?”
“Nope and I don’t plan to until I find the perfect Thanksgiving outfit for the girls. Once I find that, I’ll be able to slip in the fact that we’re expecting again. Then I win and I gain control back over outfits.”
“Sweet sister, you only win if you give him a boy. Did you forget that part?”
“No, and don’t you two worry I have a plan and I shall win this war.”
“What war are you going to win, Tabby Cat?”
“The war on Glitter.” I say as I walk away and within a few steps I stop and turn my head back in his direction. I flip my hair over my shoulder and give Carter a wink. He knows I’m up to something, but that something will have to wait. Right now, we need to take these precious girls around the neighborhood so we can gather bags and bags of candy. Then afterwards we will go home and curl up on the sofa as we enjoy being Mr. and Mrs. Carter Northwood. Oh and I shall not forget to send a picture to Angela of the twins tonight. I’ve already seen Graham, and can’t wait to see what the others wore for the spooky night.
