“I was imagining something small,” Hannah said from where she was starfished on the floor, “maybe inviting local kids for a costume party. Elijah told me it’s hard to find a place in driving distance to take the twins to show off their costumes since trick-or-treating is so spread out among the farms, and we could be that place. It would be helpful to remind the townspeople of their childhood nostalgia, both around Carrigan’s and Halloween in general. People are open to collaborations when they feel warm and fuzzy.”

“I don’t remember Halloween being a warm fuzzy time,” Miriam said, sitting up and tucking her knees underneath her. “My dad only let us do things that looked good for his business, so we were always in expensive tailored costumes at a company party. But I assume for people not raised by abusive narcissists, it’s a happy childhood memory.”

She bit her lip. She never talked about her dad, especially not blithely about his abuse, but something about the two women—the cousin who was almost a sister and the stranger who already didn’t like her, even if they had geeked out about art together—felt like they had given her permission to open the floodgates. The two certainties, that she could neither lose Hannah’s love nor win Noelle’s regard, set her free.

Noelle handed her back the candy bowl. “Never mind, you earned these,” she said, a line between her brows, her voice a low grumble. “I vote burlesque.”

“I finally get you two to agree on something and it’s naked women?” Hannah groaned.

Miriam and Noelle looked at each other, and a tiny corner of Noelle’s mouth lifted. Miriam found herself suddenly very interested in her candy.

On All Saints’ Day, they officially opened the Christmas festival to business. The animatronic cherubs played “Joy to the World,” while the lights in the trees out front flashed in time to the music. Ziva reappeared, just in time to preside ostentatiously over the proceedings. A line of townies stood outside, wanting first pick of the trees as soon as Miriam’s mother ceremoniously flung the gates open. Most families would buy on Black Friday, but the people who lived nearby knew to avoid the tourists and snag the best trees early.

Miriam livestreamed all of it for the Bloomers, who were starting to ask uncomfortable questions about why she was still in New York. She tried to distract them with pomp and circumstance, since she definitely wasn’t planning to give them any real answers.