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?"

knew he probably hadn't had a

nodded. "Yeah. Is there

"You want soup?"

craving it. But

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

call you when

You're

grinned. "You sweet

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

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

study door closed, Elliot piped up, "Daddy,

and took out a small plastic box. He popped

let's work on

and Elijah leaned in,

your granddad gave me when

up a piece and read it aloud: "King

never forget where you came from. The blood in your veins

up straighter,

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

learn from them and never forget

tousled their hair affectionately. "They'll be proud of you too. Come on,

of them quickly assembled the pieces, revealing a detailed

But-

missing a piece. Is that all

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