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?"

hadn't had a bite

Is

"You want soup?"

of craving it. But if not, no big

chicken noodle. It won't take long. You hang out with

you when it's

You're

"You

into the kitchen. Tarquin wasted no time—he led the boys upstairs to the

soup just to give her something to do. The business about the eighth-generation virus... he didn't want her worrying

Elliot piped up, "Daddy, did you

out a small plastic

let's work on this

Elijah leaned in, curious. "What

a puzzle your granddad gave me

a piece and read

never forget where you came from. The blood in your

straighter, eyes shining

heroes," Elliot declared. "We're proud of

them and never

their hair affectionately. "They'll be proud of you

quickly assembled the pieces, revealing a detailed map of Zhinora,

But-

we're missing a piece.

looked around. "Nothing