Nine

We made it to the house and walked in while Zoey was still cheerfully singing. I turned on the tv, Zoey got plates for the pizza, then we curled up on the couch. Zoey lay in my arms, while Ghost curled up on her lap. Throughout the movie, I noticed how cold Zoey felt.

The first movie was over. "Want to watch another one?" Zoey shook her head negatively.

"What do you want to do?" She climbed into my lap, straddling me. She kissed my neck and used her hand to rub over my genitals. Dead or alive, cold or warm, I wanted this girl, and I wanted her now. She moved from the neck to my lips and stuck her tongue in my mouth. I moaned, enjoying the taste of her tongue in my mouth.

"Are you sure you want this baby?"

"I want you," she said, biting my neck. I picked her up in my arms, carrying her to the bed. She wrapped her arms around my neck. I kissed her on the forehead. I lay her down gently on the back. She was eager – she wasted no time climbing on top of me. She took off my pants, and I took off hers.

"You okay, baby?" I rubbed her cheek.

"I am wonderful," she said. I made love with her twice that night, and it was unbelievable. I was crazy about Zoey. She completely stole my heart.

Waking up to Zoey naked in my arms had to be the best feeling in the world. She was so innocent and sweet. I was convinced that she was the most precious thing in the whole world.

"Good morning," she said, waking up and planting a kiss on my cheek.

"Today is October 31st".

"Do we have any Halloween plans?"

"I normally pass out candy to the children."

"I am so excited."

Zoey jumped out of bed. She rushed to the closet, grabbing one of my flannels and a pair of boxers from my drawer.

"Kevin, get out of bed!" She got dressed in a hurry, pouting her lip at me. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

"It's Halloween," she declared.

"And?"

"We have a lot to do," she said with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Okay." I huffed getting out of bed. "We have to get candy for the kids still."

"Yeah."

I got dressed, and we walked to the kitchen. I opened the cupboard and filled Ghost's food bowl. He happily dug in. I put water into his other bowl as well. "Do you want to get Halloween donuts from that bakery downtown?"

"I love donuts, Zoey."

"I was sure you did," I chuckled.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she said, placing her hand on her hip.

"Nothing… You just like your sweets."

I laughed. She laughed too.

It wasn't long before Zoey and I headed to the bakery. She was singing Monster mash which came on the radio for Halloween. It was a quiet morning – not many cars on the road, and the bakery parking lot sat nearly empty. We walked into the bakery hand in hand.

"The wonderful smell. I can't contain myself," said Zoey sniffing around.

"I hardly can either."

We grabbed a pre-packaged box of Halloween donuts. They were shaped like a Ghost, pumpkins, and witches. Zoey skipped to the checkout.

"Kevin, look!" she said, her mouth hanging open. She was excited about the pumpkin spice wine.

"Are you sure we need that, Zoey? I remember you struggled with alcohol problems."

"Why does it matter now? I am dead," she asked.

"I guess you're right." I let her put two packs into the shopping cart.

The lady checked out our stuff, and I paid for everything leaving her a special Halloween tip. We soon walked back to my truck, heading to the dollar store to pick up Halloween candy for the trick-or-treaters. After a few minutes, I pulled into the dollar store. We both opened our doors and get out quickly. Zoey grabbed a shopping cart. "Can I pick out the candy?''

"You look like a kid on Christmas. Of course, love, you can."

She filled the cart with chocolate, fruit candies, mints, candy corn, and lollipops. She tried on a witch hat.

"You look adorable. We are getting that."

"You spend money like it's nothing," she argued.

"I have a lot of extra money. I have no bills and just work at the cemetery."

As we walked back to the truck, Zoey was stuffing her face with donuts, licking the frosting off her fingers. It brought back memories from the previous night. I shuddered at the thought. We made it back to the cemetery to a car parked by the office. I was hardly in there because people knew where I lived.

"That's my mom's car," Zoey teared.

"I bet she's here for funeral arrangements." I parked next to her, and we both got out of the truck. Zoey's mom got out as well.

"Hello," she said.

"Hi. I am sorry we had to make a run to the dollar store to get Halloween candy."

"We?" Zoey's mom looked surprised.

"I meant I," I replied rubbing the back of my head. It was going to take me a while not to include Zoey when I talked to people.

"I am here to pick out and pay for a burial plot for my daughter Zoey," she said.

"I figured that."

"The police report said you were the one to find her."

I nodded my head, "Yes."

"I am sorry for that."

"Don't be."

I filled out the paperwork, writing down all of Zoey's information. The funeral was set for the following day. I hoped I could make it through without getting too emotional.