Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

Chapter 1432

She helped him take off his coat, gentle as always.

"Did you get some sleep? Or just lying there?" she asked softly. "Did you finish everything?"

"The cemetery's all settled, but the monks are still at the old chapel, holding services. They say they'll need three more days."

"Do we need to go over there?"

"I'll go myself. Just wanted to come home and check in. I'll head back in a bit."

Elysia took his coat and hung it up in the entryway closet.

Elliot, their little boy, grabbed a pair of slippers from the shoe rack. "Daddy, change your shoes!"

Tarquin grinned. As soon as he slipped on the slippers, Elijah, his younger son, picked up his dress shoes and tucked them neatly inside the cabinet.

Tarquin gave Elijah's hair a gentle ruffle, his eyes full of warmth.

The four of them headed toward the living room. Tarquin glanced around. "Did Mom and Dad head out already?"

Clayton and Pamela had moved out at the beginning of the month. The house was quieter now.

"No," Elysia replied, "they stayed tonight. They're worried about you—and about me and the kids."

She lowered her voice, "I gave them a little something to help them sleep. Your dad left you some dinner too. Want to eat?"

he probably hadn't had a bite all

Is there

"You want soup?"

of craving it. But

can whip up some chicken noodle. It won't take long. You hang out with

Elijah—I'll call you

hon. You're

"You sweet

the kitchen. Tarquin wasted no time—he led the

soup just to give her something to do. The business about the eighth-generation virus... he

study door closed, Elliot piped up, "Daddy, did

took out a small plastic box. He popped it

work on this

leaned in,

puzzle your granddad gave me when I was

picked up a piece and

say, 'Wherever you are never forget where you came from. The blood in your veins makes you who you are, son Never forget your

sat up straighter, eyes shining

Grandpa are real heroes," Elliot declared. "We're

them and never forget our roots!"

"They'll be proud of you too. Come

three of them quickly assembled the pieces, revealing

But-

a piece.

box and looked around. "Nothing else. That's all