Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

Elysia's eyes welled up with tears in an instant. She threw herself into the old woman's arms, sobbing, "Grandma!"

The old man, small and spry, hadn't quite caught up to what was happening. He stared in wide-eyed confusion. "Huh?!"

Before he had a chance to react, Elliot and Emmett dashed over and each grabbed onto one of his legs, shouting, "Bernard!"

Bernard blinked like crazy, totally taken aback. He looked down at Elliot, then at Emmett, then finally at Evan—the little guy he was still holding up by the back of his hoodie like a mischievous kitten.

The old man and the youngest boy locked eyes for a moment, both of them staring, neither blinking.

After a brief, stunned silence, Bernard suddenly let out a loud exclamation.

"Well, I'll be darned! It really is you little rascals back again! For a second there, I thought my old eyes were playing tricks on me and my ears were going too!"

"You nearly gave me a heart attack, you little troublemakers! Bernard almost thought he was about to kick the bucket!"

Still holding Evan by the hoodie, Bernard didn't go for a hug or any kind of warm welcome. Nope-he just tossed Evan off to the side like he was tossing a sack of potatoes!

Tarquin, who was standing off to the side, just gaped in shock. “!"

But Evan didn't hit the ground. The kid twisted midair, landed on his feet like a cat, and grinned.

Bernard gave an approving nod. "Look at you go, kid! Haven't seen you in half a year, and you've really stepped up your game!"

up to how handsome your old Bernard was at your age! I'll tell you, when I was your age, I was quite the

laugh, then bent down and scooped up Emmett, lifting him high and

Gotten taller and sturdier, too! Finally not such a little

not nearly as tough as Elliot or Evan. So besides

already a ball of tears. "Bernard... Bernard..." he

"Hey now, Emmett, no more tears. How about Bernard takes you for

he

his mouth quivering in

I-I think

hi to Great-Grandma Tracey."

off he ran, hurrying

Elliot's eyes were a little red too. He

"Elliot, want

but I should go check on Great-

of Bernard's leg

he risking the "flying" game. That was

higher-climbing up a tall old oak tree in the backyard, no safety net, no nothing. Then, like a wild monkey, he'd leap

catch you just

you hit the ground.

to cry, Bernard would take them