Love at the last door

Trick-or-treating with her granddaughter, Cathy gets a shock when her old crush opens the door and gives her the sweetest treat of all

- Jamie A Richardson

''One more, Nana! Peaseee!” Cathy looked down at her wide-eyed granddaughter and sighed. She rarely said no to Abby, but putting all that cuteness into a ladybug costume made it impossible.

“Okay, Little Miss, one more street. But then we have to head home. You have preschool tomorrow.”

“Yes!” Abby cried, taking off toward the house around the corner. As they turned, she let go of her grandmother’s hand and ran up the drive. Cathy followed, appreciating the homemade jack-o’-lanterns illuminating the path to the door.

“See if you can do it all by yourself this time,” Cathy encouraged, as the four-year-old turned to look at her, determination in her face. As the walkway took a 90-degree turn to the door, Cathy waited out of sight.

“Twick or tweet!” Abby said under her breath, before calling, “Right, Grandma?”

Cathy tried to hide a chuckle. “You have to knock first, remember?”

“I forgot!”

After the bell let out a ghoulish laugh, the door swung open, catching Abby by surprise. She took a few steps back, looking to her grandmother for help. Donning her pink superhero cape, Cathy stepped around the corner to rescue her.