Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

Chapter 1282

Tarquin's face softened, his eyes full of warmth.

"You ran out here wearing so little-aren't you freezing?"

"I'm fine, really."

Elysia slipped her arm through his, her gesture as light as a lifeline.

She turned to the two old men, her voice taking on a playful, almost pleading tone.

"Quincy, Walter, didn't you both already figure out what really happened back then? We agreed to let it go, remember? Don't scare him."

Quincy and Walter exchanged glances, both rolling their eyes at themselves. "Isn't this just the way it goes-girls grow up and leave us old-timers behind?" Elysia jumped in immediately, shaking her head.

"No way! I love you guys just as much as I love him-you know that!"

That made both old men chuckle, the sound echoing on the cool evening air.

"All right, all right," Quincy said, waving her off with a grin. "Elysia's right. Let bygones be bygones. Come on, let's head home-dinner's waiting!"

The two old men started off down the path, their steps surprisingly spry. Tarquin stood frozen for a second.

Elysia tugged on his arm, smiling. "Come on."

he could say anything, Walter

was just messing with you. Wouldn't dare actually hurt you-if I

in, laughter in his voice, "Evan says you're Elysia's sweetheart now, her prize pumpkin

as they wandered off

his head, a faint smile

to heart. They know the truth about what happened. They'd never really hurt

her,

not upset. I'm grateful-grateful that they love

lit up

We really

the kids a more normal life, you know, let them experience all the joys and messiness of the world-just like everyone else-we might

for their grandkids too. Sometimes, I didn't want to leave at

grandparents-was the best

at life. They gave me real

Tarquin's voice was soft.

happen to good

people like this in

to stumble across someone powerful, someone who takes them in and raises them right? It's like winning

extraordinary person—she'd found

in her past life. Maybe

Grandpa are

moving. He looked down, half-expecting the ground beneath his feet to explode-after all, Walter had tried to