Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

Chapter 33

Elysia emerged from the bathroom to find Emmett had whipped up her favorite comfort meal – a bowl of chicken soup. He had sprinkled chopped green onions and cilantro on top, just the way she liked it, along with a pair of sunny–side–up eggs.

Emmett had a natural flair for cooking and a genuine interest that made everything he touched turn to deliciousness.

A warm feeling bubbled up inside Elysia as she approached Emmett and planted a smacking kiss on his cheek.

“Emmett, you’re the sweetest, like a warm hoodie on a chilly day,” she cooed.

Emmett’s cheeks flushed a rosy hue, his shyness evident. But when he noticed the bruise on Elysia’s face, a shadow of concern crossed his features, and his eyes welled up.

“Mommy, can I sleep with you tonight? I wanna be close to you.”

Elliot and Evan, hearing this, turned their hopeful gazes towards Elysia.

“Of course, you can,” Elysia chuckled.

“Yay! I’ll tell Mommy a joke to make her laugh.”

“I’ll give Mommy a massage.”

“I’ll help Mommy fall asleep.”

Laughter and love filled the small room, a testament to their tight–knit bond.

But as she looked at her three little ones, Elysia’s heart skipped a beat, a strange surge of emotion washing over her. It was as if a piece of her complete heart was missing.

up every time

her heart.

if something–or someone–was absent, yet

an odd,

Number One Mansion, the atmosphere was starkly different, cold

carefully carried a plate of spaghetti upstairs, where Elijah was still perched by the window, staring out toward the front door.

small figure looked lost

and he approached

10:25

didn’t move, his eyes

table in front of Elijah, Tarquin tried to coax him.

of Mommy, a flicker of

knows?” he asked Tarquin.

child. She knows what you’re feeling, and she

miss her, does she know that

“Yes… she does.”

miss her, why doesn’t she come back to

Tarquin’s

gone? Why

Does she not like me?” Elijah’s voice wobbled with

his head emphatically. “No, of course not. She

if she knows I

Tarquin stroked Elijah’s head. “Maybe she’s caught up in something right now,