Jacqueline the Dullahan (special preview)

“Oh my, looks like it’s supposed to snow this weekend,” your grandmother said, plucking you from your deep thoughts.

You turned from the window, which was framed by the poplar trees just outside. “It’s supposed to be Halloween this weekend. What are you talking about snow?”

She rolled her eyes like a teenager. “Just what I said! It’s going to snow.”

You frowned at her, stirring your coffee while you tried to figure out if this was one of her grand pranks, or one of her random predictions. She was good at those, great at saying a phone was going to ring or someone would be at the door. Her weather predictions weren’t as good, so this felt like it should be taken with a grain of salt.

You stood up from your seat. “Maybe alert the presses, parents will wanna know how to dress the children I’m sure.”

“Speaking of Halloween!” Your grandmother announced, knocking you from your train of thought. “I got you an early birthday present.”

“Grandma,” you huffed. “I told you, I just wanted you to make dinner for my birthday. You didn’t have to get me something.”

She cackled wickedly, making you stop in your tracks.“Oh, you’re going to love this. Trust me.” She took out her rattan pocket book and unclipped it, opening it up and rustling around inside. She then took out her Burt Reynolds wallet and opened it.

“I got it just the other day while I was at The Dark Sweet getting our bonbons.”

The hairs on the back of your neck stood at attention. The Dark Sweet was your favorite store in town, they handmade all their confections, and their chocolates were the best you’d ever had. And you were a girl who had sampled many, many types of chocolate over your lifetime.

Your grandmother pulled out a small dark orange envelope and passed it over to you. “This is a big deal around here. And I won a ticket!”

“Ticket?” You opened the envelope to see a jack o’ lantern card inside with its vines spelling out welcome. Inside, the card spelled out a one-of-kind dining invite to The Dark Sweet on Halloween where a dinner and chocolate sampling was to be had.

“Grandma!” You gasped.

“They only give out a few tickets each year. But the tasting is a huge deal to this town. What’s served is to be the menu for what comes out in the shop the following year, you see. It’s a big deal.”

“Then why not use the ticket on yourself?”

Grandma scoffed. “I’ll be fine with what I trick or treat. I figured you could use a nice night out. Maybe meet someone.”

You gave her a look. “Don’t start sounding like mom.”

“Oh, am I?” Grandma pulled a mirror from her purse and checked herself. “Oh thank goodness. Got scared for a second. But Merrimores can only find love here. That’s why your mother ain’t had a lick of-”

You gave her a look and she quieted instantly.“My bad, baby girl. But I’m glad you’re more like me than her. It’s important for us girls to stick together, you know? This town, it needs us. Our family was the first to step foot in this town.”

You nodded, having heard this story a million times before. “Yes, I know.”

“Don’t give me that, young lady. The Merrimores are part of history. One day, you’ll understand that.” She motioned to the mantle where a painting of your million time great grandmother was posed before a field of pumpkins. “We are tied to this land in ways you’d be shocked.”

This wasn’t new, you’d heard this over and over again from your grandmother. It was part of why your mother didn’t want you around her. She grew up with it, and she left when she was seventeen.

“Your mother gummed up the order!”

“I know.” You looked at your golden pumpkin invite again, smiling to yourself as the excitement began to grow.

To your surprise, it snowed Halloween weekend. Skeletons and pumpkins had caps of white fluff upon them, and the snow plows were running double time to make sure Halloween festivities could continue, even in the cold.

“Be sure to wear your gloves,” Grandma fussed at you.