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?"

and Irene smiled. "More or less." “I miss

you like it here?"

thought about it

told him—such was nostalgia, and it inevitably occurs when one has

said as he picked up

then. "You can

if he had to share a bed with them. As Irene released him, he

and he stared at Irene quizzically when

shrugged—the boy was just too old to sleep with then. "Goodnight, Daddy,” Tommy said primly and

Erin has a daughter, do you think we could

lost your mind?" Isaac growled, and Irene

if Erin and Isaac were actually unrelated, she was still his

was

a

Irene asked in

turned to look

thoughts exactly!" he said and

and he felt like he could snap her if he got

Irene snapped and withdrew from him, but there was no place to hide when the bed was