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!"

he leaned down to ruffle Elliot's hair. “You've shot up, Elliot! And you're looking sharper than ever. Almost catching up to how handsome your old Bernard was at your

and scooped up Emmett, lifting him high and weighing

some healthy weight. Gotten

had always been the frail one as a baby, not nearly as tough as Elliot or Evan. So besides

most sensitive, was already a

started to comfort him. "Hey now, Emmett, no more tears. How about Bernard takes you for a

he heard

his mouth quivering in

Bernard. I-I

hi to Great-Grandma Tracey."

he ran,

down and saw that Elliot's eyes were a little red too. He tried

him up: "Elliot, want Bernard to

"... Thanks, Bernard, but I should go check on

go of Bernard's leg

was he risking the "flying" game. That

idea of "flying" wasn't your average piggy-back ride. Nope, it meant hauling you up to the roof, or even higher-climbing up a tall old oak tree in the

to catch

you hit the ground.

Bernard would take them "flying." They'd always stop crying after