"You can't shake my faith in her, Sora." It wasn't Anthony's faith Sora was worried about, it was his fidelity. Not that his wandering eye was her problem anymore. She was done playing referee.

"That's good. I'd hate for her to go through what I did. Wonderful to see you, as always." She didn't need to point him at the door for him to know they were done here. Sora had already started checking email. She had no more time for Anthony Himura today.

"What's Tommy doing for Halloween?"

Sora perked up at the chance to talk about her son. "Trick or treating. Some moderately scary movies. Ravi and I were thinking of taking him to the Misra children's fair."

"I'll be there."

"Good." Sora didn't want Anthony to be a stranger to their son. Whatever she might think of him as a husband, Anthony wasn't a bad father by most measures; he was just horribly self-involved which had the benefit of making him behave in ways that hurt his children. She would do whatever she could to ensure that Tommy was loved regardless of Anthony. That didn't mean she wanted Anthony to be a stranger. "You have any scary Halloween plans?"

"A couple of costume parties to put in appearances at. I might stop by with some candy for Tommy, if that's okay." Tommy would love that, she was sure.

"It's fine. I'll text you when we plan to be home so you don't miss him."

"Good, good. What's Tommy going to be dressed as?"

"A duck. He sounds like a cockatoo—he likes cockatoos now—but he looks like a duck. Dhiren's taking a lot of videos; he's got Instagram and Snapchat. You should take a look when you have a minute."

"I'll do that."

"Goodbye, Anthony."

He nodded, finally taking the dismissal at face value. "Goodbye, Sora."

...

October was uneventful in a way the year hadn't been so far. After the party to end all birthday parties for Tommy, the Himuras, Gallegos, and Misras all settled down to work. The year was winding down, the holidays were on the horizon. Sora was vetting entries for the Creatives' Quarterly Christmas Edition. Ravi was already brainstorming spring/summer for the following year with his interns and junior designers. The kids were growing like weeds. Imogen had popped sometime in late September and was currently dazzling much of the Los Angeles fashion scene with the latest in maternity fashion of her own making. Anthony and Hana were chugging along toward a wedding disaster that was not Sora's problem, and Diana Parrilla was staying out of it.

But first, Halloween.

...

Sora greeted all Hallow's Eve with a smile. Her costume was waiting at home, as was a king's ransom in candy. Her itinerary was packed with ghoulish delights. She was looking forward to it.

"That's it, Cristina. I'm clocking out."

"At four? It's a Halloween miracle." Cristina handed her the next day's schedule for her to peruse first thing in the morning. Sora liked to have a hard copy for when she was too tired to glare at her phone screen at dawn.

"I am going to celebrate the scariest night of the year with my boys and eat my weight in candy. I'll see you around."

"Good night, boss!" Cristina was already attired in her bleeding bride costume for the Himura costume party Sora was intentionally not attending. Her employees deserved a night without the boss watching their every move. Hopefully the morning wouldn't bring an embarrassment of selfies to haunt them all. They could do without the headlines.

...

Sora and Ravi split up on arriving at the Misra Children's Fair. They'd converted the office and grounds to a great big carnival for the area children. There were two bouncy castles. Various games and even some rides rented for the occasion. It's like the Valentine's Fair all over again. Sora could scarcely believe that had been eight months ago before either of them were sure what was between them would become what it had. Sora still didn't know what to call it. Fate? She'd take that.

She hiked Tommy up on her hip and made for the area reserved for the small children. There was a corral of docile ponies and their handlers where the little ones could sit in their saddles and be led around a paddock for a couple of tickets. Tommy wrinkled his nose at the ponies.

She walked him around the various stalls for games till she found something he might like. When they reached the rubber ball pit he quacked, or as close as he was apparently coming to a quack anytime soon.

"You wanna go in the ball pit, babe?"

He pointed eagerly at the pit and at the attendant leaning against the booth. It was someone in a pink wig reminiscent of cotton candy, with bright fluorescent makeup and rhinestones affixed to her face in arresting patterns. She wore something that had to be haute couture. Puffy shoulders, tailored sleeves. Knee-high boots in teal. Elbow-length velvet gloves. All topped off by a prominent baby bump.

"Let's go see Imogen. Doesn't that sound fun?"

Tommy 'dooted' his agreement.

"Aunt Sora, you made it!"

They managed to hug around Imogen's stomach and Tommy's grabby hands that wanted to get to know her wig much better. Sora disentangled him and Imogen waved off her apologies.

"I have to get used it. It'll be my turn soon." She was as wistful as she was excited, and Sora was excited for her. Hers was sure to be the best dressed child in their postcode.

"Sure will. You're about to pop."

"I feel like I am! Every time I bump into something I think my water's gonna break."

Sora rubbed her back. "It'll be over before you know it."

"That's the scary part!"

"At least the fair's good practice?" She pointed to all the toddlers milling about the childcare pen with the volunteer minders the next tent over. Parents with multiple children could bring the youngest here while they accompanied the older ones to the other attractions.

"Terrifying practice, yeah. I want one, Aunt Sora. Just one perfect baby. This is too many." She patted her distended belly lovingly but firmly as if daring biology to surprise her with a bonus baby on delivery day.

"I think you can handle whatever comes your way."

Imogen stepped aside to admit another parent and small child to the ball pit play area. "Maybe, but one is how I'd like to start. I couldn't pull this outfit off if there were more than one in there."

"Speaking of which..." Sora knitted her brow at Imogen's costume. "Who are you supposed to be?"

"Effie Trinket."

"That name sounds familiar."

"Hunger Games, public relations diva. She has flare and you know how I like flare."

She does like flare. Sora was sad to admit she was well behind on her Hunger Games trivia. She'd read the books once for a marketing project and not gone back. Leisure reading was at the bottom of her to-do list and watching adaptations that weren't exactly kid friendly for a toddler fell even lower.

"It suits you."

"Thank you." Imogen patted her fluorescent wig tenderly. "Us trendsetting revolutionaries have to stick together." She tipped her head to regard Sora in her flapper-esque dress and gossamer wings, golden wig and burnished crown. "Now who are you supposed to be?"

"Another literary figure, though she doesn't carry a bow and arrow."

Imogen circled her, tickling Tommy in the process. "I know who you're supposed to be, Little Man. Quack quack." He giggled.

Imogen clapped. "Got it! You're a really fancy Tinkerbell."

All things considered, not the worst guess Sora had heard. Not even the first Tinkerbell. "Something like that."

"You look great as a blonde."

"I haven't been this blonde since I was four, but it works for Halloween and only for Halloween."

Sora chased around a very hyper toddler and distributed tons of candy to children visiting the fair. She did this for hours, between gossiping with a waddling Imogen and canoodling with Ravi whenever he passed by amid putting out organizational fires. Eventually, all that was left to do was deal with the press and make their fashionable exits. Sora was ready this time. She had nothing to be afraid of.

She picked a tired but lucid looking journalist out of the press line.

"Ms. Himura, what are your tried and true tips for dressing well?" Ha, naturally they were still interested in Ravi and his thoughts on Dior.

"In fashion as in business. First, learn what you like. Second, learn what looks good on you and learn to like it. If all else fails, date a fashion designer. He'll never let you leave the house in less than your best. This is a fact."

Ravi startled her, slipping his arms around her waist from behind. "Listen to the woman, she knows of what she speaks."