Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

"Let me tell you, even if their great-great-granddaddy showed up, he wouldn't

dare take over my house! Bunch of arrogant idiots!"

"Shh, there are still a few people breathing in there," the old woman said, glancing over at Tarquin.

"Oh yeah? Some stragglers, huh? Let me see who's left."

The two seniors strode over together. The spry old man was just about to kick the door open when the old woman stopped him with a hand.

"Easy, don't go charging in. There are kids inside."

"Kids?"

She nodded. "Yeah, you can hear the lighter breathing. Just a few, and they're really young. Not just one, either."

At once, the old man's thoughts jumped to Elliot, Evan, Emmett.

"Don't tell me that's our Elysia and those three troublemakers back already?" Before the old woman could say anything, the old man shook his head.

"No way, no way. Elysia might be slow, but those three boys aren't! If it was them, they wouldn't have gotten caught by these fools. I'm telling you, my Evan could wipe the floor with them!"

The old woman was the calm one. "Two adults, five kids in there. Doesn't sound like Elysia's crew. She's only got three kids."

Elysia, what the heck

don't we

man asked, "They're all

they're

door and called out, gentle as could be, "Don't be scared, now! We mean you

but steady hand, he turned the lock. There was a loud 'crack' as the thick

The next second-

of the

and dodged the

collar like he'd done it a

the lights,

which family's wild child this is.

Just like my

get to finish.

himself

He froze.

stared at each other for a long,

a.ne

shocked silence. Then the old man whipped around to look at the old woman,

just saw Evan! My eyes must be

eyes were red, his voice muffled