Epilogue

"Trick-or-treat!"

Della opened her apartment door to the latest chorus of children's voices. "Oh my!" she exclaimed. "Look at so many scary monsters. And such a beautiful fairy in the midst of them." She smiled at a little girl in blue, who grinned a big toothless grin in reply. "Here's some candy for all of you." She held out a large red bowl. "Just one candy bar each," she added.

The kids dug in, taking their prizes into their treat bags. "What do we say?" Della prompted when they each had something.

Again the kids chorused. "Thank you!"

Della straightened, smiling as she watched them move on to the next apartment.

"Having fun?" Perry asked from behind her.

Della nodded, leaning against the doorframe. "This is Halloween the way it should be," she said, "where the only scary ghosts and goblins are children in costumes."

Perry smiled, coming up next to her. "I agree."

The ringing of his phone interrupted the moment. He took it out, looking at the name and number in surprise. "It's from the Walker home," he announced. "Hello?"

Della perked up and turned, curious.

"Hello, Mr. Mason! Happy Halloween."

"Oh, Bonnie," Perry greeted. "How are things tonight?"

"They're going well, Mr. Mason," Bonnie smiled. On her end of the conversation, she was standing by and watching as Mrs. Walker doled out candy to the trick-or-treaters. "Very well. Mother has rallied, that awful cold sensation is gone, and Dr. Younger has proposed!"

Hearing Bonnie's words, Della smiled.

"Wonderful," Perry said sincerely. "Give them our congratulations."

"Coming through!" Michael called, approaching the door into the living room with two more bags of candy. "Could someone get the door?"

Bonnie moved to open it for him. But before she could excuse herself from the phone, the door swung open by itself. Michael stepped through, eyeing it, a bit taken aback. But then he shrugged and smiled. "Thanks, Tom."

"It doesn't always have to be Thomas," a disembodied voice replied.

Bonnie jumped a mile. Then, shaking her head, she turned back to the phone with a smile. "It looks like Dad was right about Thomas and Philip staying here for a while, too," she said. "But I don't think we're going to mind."

"Good," Perry smiled. "Very good."

In the apartment, Della came to attention as another group of children approached the door. As Perry stepped back inside to finish the conversation, a chorus of "Trick-or-treat!" went through the phone.

Bonnie chuckled. "Well, I'd better let you see to your trick-or-treaters, Mr. Mason," she said. "Thank you again for your concern and help."

"You're welcome," Perry said, "but I think most of the credit goes to the dearly departed. And to you as well, judging from what your father and brother said."

Bonnie considered that. "Yes," she mused, "I suppose you're right. But thank you anyway, Mr. Mason—you and Miss Street and all of your friends. You were all worried about us and tried to help us and it means a great deal."

Perry smiled. "I'm glad everything turned out as well as it did."

They said their goodbyes and Perry hung up, watching as Della passed out candy to the latest batch of costumed kids. They proclaimed their thanks in return.

Yes, everything had turned out well indeed.