Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

The old man and the little boy were chatting away, so caught up in their own world that nobody noticed the look on Tarquin's face.

The old man leaned in toward Evan and said,

"Listen, Evan, you remember what Bernard always says: Maybe your fists can't fix everything, but they sure can fix the kind of people who start the trouble in the first place!"

"Doesn't matter who it is—if someone's messing with your mom, you go all out and give them a real good wallop!"

Evan balled his tiny fists and nodded so hard his hair flopped,

"Yeah! If anyone bullies my mom, I'll knock their socks off! I don't care who it is!"

The old man grinned, "Even if it's your dad."

Evan replied without a hint of hesitation, "Of course! My mom's the most important!"

Tarquin: "..."

For a second, he honestly didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He was touched that his little boy loved his mom so much.

But on the other hand, he felt a pang of sadness-his own son didn't seem to care about him at all.

Tarquin just stood there, somewhere between a smile and a sigh, and glanced over at Bernard.

Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine, as if he'd just dodged a bullet.

If he hadn't built a real relationship with Elysia, what kind of mess would he be in right now?

One, two, three, four, five... six!

six heavy-hitters, all out for

thought made Tarquin

thought of

even he had

There was no way he could go up against a

thoughts flashed to

City who used to gossip about Elysia, sneering about her raising kids out in the sticks with a bunch of

Those folks must be terminal,

of these six legends could stroll into town and wipe the

steadied himself and greeted Bernard politely,

old man

or not depends on you. You treat my Elysia and those rascals right, then I'llbe good. If I'm good, things go well for you.

wasn't just talking-he was

Tarquin nodded,

Don't worry-Elysia's the queen of our

and princesses. I'm just the loyal

serve the queen and her royal kids, after all. He'd treat

old man narrowed

not done you over that. That slap was

with

her heart again,

retired that we can't come out of

Tarquin was all seriousness,

the only one doing any bullying in our marriage

never hurt

man finally looked satisfied, the threat

bond, son. Don't make me regret