The Runaway Groom

Finding the book interesting, Tommy suddenly pointed outside and exclaimed, "Pitter patter!"

"Pitter patter, pitter patter, listen to the rain!"

Tommy appeared interested as Isaac read it for him, and the boy pointed outside and exclaimed, "That's what we're hearing outside... I like nursery rhymes, Daddy."

Irene smiled mildly. "As long as you like it."

Tommy then lay down and wrapped himself in the soft blanket, his little legs lifted into the air.

Just then, Isaac's phone on the table rang.

Seeing that it was James and probably about work, he picked it up. “I'm taking this."

Irene nodded. "Go on."

She lay with Tommy and read it for him, "Home! Home! Sweet, sweet home! There's no place like home!"

"I like this, Mommy," he said, pointing at the last part. “There's no place like home—does that mean missing where we used to live?"

age, and Irene smiled. "More or less."

you like it

suddenly thought about

normal,” Irene told him—such was nostalgia, and it inevitably occurs when one

I should sleep,” Tommy said

then. "You can sleep

if he had to share a bed with them. As Irene released him, he picked up his book and

at Irene quizzically when he saw Tommy

was just too old to sleep with then. "Goodnight, Daddy,” Tommy said primly and scampered off on his little

asked, "If Erin has a daughter, do you think we could have her as

growled, and Irene

even if Erin and Isaac were actually unrelated, she was still his half-sister and

shrugged—she was just

you want a daughter?” Isaac

Irene asked in

just as he turned to look at her, and he approached

he said and reached out to hold

remained slender even after having two sons, and he felt like he could snap her if he got a little

Irene snapped and withdrew from him, but there was no place to