Author Notes
This story was written for the
Halloween Story Contest 2023
. I hope you enjoy it!
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Chapter 1: Ulterior Motives
"Hiiiiii Tim," came the voice of Tim's mom in an exaggerated hello. She wanted something.
"Hey mom, what's up?" Tim replied applying as little emotion as possible.
"Hey baby, I know you probably already have plans for Halloween, but... I really, really, really, really, really want you to come to our house this year. We're throwing a big party, and you should come!"
Tim didn't have plans for Halloween. His mom, Melanie, had ulterior motives. Why on earth could she possibly want him to come to their annual Halloween party so badly this time? Melanie and Tim's Stepdad, Steve, had thrown a Halloween party every year for at least a decade, what was so special this time? And, for the record, the party was always "big."
Melanie and Steve had gotten married after Tim's dad died in a motorcycle accident when Tim was 12 years old. Melanie had had Tim when she was young, as a Freshman in College at the age of 19. Tim was the result of a slip-up in the birth control department. Raising a kid while finishing college and struggling to get careers, marriage, and a child off the ground caused Tim to be an only child.
Tim was now 22 years old, making Melanie 41. Melanie had taken very good care of herself over the years, and I suppose you could say that it paid off for her. Melanie was 31 when she married Steve who was 15 years her senior. Steve is an eccentric serial tech entrepreneur, who had never married until Melanie came along.
Tim couldn't be sure how wealthy Steve was exactly, but from the age of 12 on, Tim grew up in Steve's $2.2 Million Dollar Home on the lake in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Steve was always flying back and forth to California but would at times be home seemingly retired for several months at a time. Now at the age 56, Steve found that generally if he couldn't close the deal on a ZOOM call, he wasn't interested in the project. Not that he could be blamed for that. Coeur d'Alene was a beautiful place in the summers, and in the winter, Steve and Melanie would temporarily move to their home on the gulf in Galveston, Texas. Halloween always signified the beginning of that transition as it was always the last big party of the year on the lake in Coeur d'Alene.
Tim had gone to the University of Texas, opting to enjoy the warmer weather year-round, and would see Melanie and Steve more often when they were down in Galveston than in Idaho. Tim landed a job in San Antonio after graduation and was currently living there. Point being, it wasn't a simple task for him to "come to a Halloween Party" in Coeur d'Alene. No non-stop flights, and at least 5 and a half hours to fly up to Coeur d'Alene. Tim genuinely wasn't sure if he wanted to make the effort to go up to Coeur d'Alene, and Melanie could sense Tim's hesitation.
"Of course, we'll buy your plane tickets, and we'll even grab first class for you," Melanie offered. It was a nice gesture.
"Look mom, I'd have to check on work, and it's a long flight, and just to come up for one party... I don't know, it just seems like a lot to ask," Tim meant every word, it seemed kind of silly for him to come up there. Besides, maybe a little resistance might cause his mom to spill the beans on the real reason she wanted him to come.
"Oh honey, don't come up for just the party, you should come out early. Halloween is on a Tuesday this year, and you can't fly back that day. So why don't you come up on Friday on a late flight after work. And take a few days off next week. Or maybe they'll let you work remotely for a week? If they do that, you can stay the whole week maybe?"
Tim didn't understand why his mom was asking him to stay for so long. It didn't make any sense. They were usually packing before the Halloween party and after it, he would just be in the way.
"I don't know mom. I don't want to ask for any special favors at work right now. I might actually need some later," Tim replied.
"Okay honey, I get it, I really do. So... ummm... what if..." Melanie sounded apprehensive, "What if... I told you, that I miiiiight have sort of, told your Aunt Kelly, thaaaat, you could probably help her get her office redesigned."
There it was. Tim's Aunt Kelly owned a small insurance agency in town for the last 15 years. It probably was time for a redesign. Tim was an architect and so he was certainly capable of helping, but his mom was asking him to come to a "Halloween Party" and then what? Spring this whole office redesign on him as a side project while he was there? It wasn't out of character for Melanie to volunteer Tim for things without asking him, and he wasn't even put out by it, but it still annoyed him slightly at the whole charade of it all.
Tim sighed heavily, "Okay fine. How much does it pay?" Tim already knew the answer.
"Oh honey, you know your Aunt Kelly isn't raking it in it, maybe you could just help her out?"
"I know, I wasn't serious anyway."
"Thank you, Tim, really, I know Aunt Kelly will really be appreciative too! Maybe she can set you up with one of her hot young new hires while you're here as a thank you!" Tim's mom and Aunt Kelly were always trying to set him up with someone. He didn't even try to object to the idea as he knew it wouldn't do any good anyway.
They had set him up a few times before with mixed results, but it had given him some fun experiences over the years. He even lost his virginity to one of his Aunt Kelly's employees before he went off to college. Tim felt some swelling in his groin thinking about the prospect. Since moving to San Antonio, Tim hadn't had many opportunities to get out and socialize and meet people. He wasn't dating anyone yet, and there weren't even any prospects on the horizon. The company he worked for was mostly men, and the women who were there were too old, too overweight, or too married to interest Tim.
"Sure thing mom. Hey, listen, I need to head out and pick up some groceries, but I'll text you if I get the time off or am allowed to work remotely."
"Sounds good, and we'll book the plane flights for you."
"Perfect, say hi to Dad."
"I will, I LOVE YOU!"
"Love you too mom, bye."
Tim had gotten used to calling Steve 'dad' reasonably quickly. Steve really had put a lot of effort into their relationship, and it was easier and more natural to refer to him that way when people were always asking "is this your dad?" as Tim was growing up. Tim quickly texted Steve.
"Thanks for the airfare and first class."