Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 1415

“Honey…”

“Don’t call me. I’m going down for dinner. If you want to kneel, be my guest.”

Elysia strode toward the door, and Tarquin scrambled after her.

He grabbed her arm, but she shook him off.

Just as Elysia reached for the doorknob, Tarquin made a split-second decision. He pressed her gently against the door, blocking her path with his arm.

He was determined to make her forgive him!

He tried to kiss her, but Elysia turned her head away. “Tarquin, do you want a black eye that badly?!”

“Babe, I know I messed up. You can smack me if you want, but please don’t say we’re over—”

Before Tarquin could finish, a tiny voice piped up from the hallway:

“Big bro, second bro, third bro, Elijah—what are you guys doing lying in front of mom and dad’s door?”

Elysia froze. “!”

Tarquin froze. “!”

She shoved Tarquin aside and flung open the door.

All four kids were huddled outside, looking as guilty as a pack of puppies caught stealing cookies. Their eyes darted everywhere but at her.

For a few stunned seconds, Elysia could only stare. Then she found her voice.

“When… when did you all get here?”

Elliot chimed in, “Just now!”

Evan added, “Maybe ten minutes ago?”

Emmett mumbled, “We came upstairs with Dad.”

Elijah said, “We just got here!”

All four answered at once, none of them matching.

Elysia’s eyes narrowed. “So you’ve all learned to lie just like your dad, huh?”

The kids looked at each other, then quickly corrected themselves, “We came up right after Dad did!”

Elysia crossed her arms. “And why exactly did you come up?”

Elliot answered for the group, “We were worried you’d actually hit Dad, so we were ready to rush in and kneel with him. You know, to beg you to forgive him!”

Downstairs, Clayton had been watching the whole scene unfold from the bottom of the stairs.

As soon as he saw his daughter coming down, he called out, “Irene, come help your old man dish up dinner.”

“Coming,” Elysia replied, setting the youngest down and heading for the kitchen.

Clayton took the chance to plead Tarquin’s case. “You know, Tarquin’s not a bad guy. He just spoils the kids a bit. That’s a heck of a lot better than those deadbeat dads who don’t care about their kids at all.”

“Especially for a CEO. Most guys in his position wouldn’t even know their kids’ birthdays, let alone spend time with them.”

“I know you’re strict about their grades, but a little scolding is enough. Don’t go too hard on him.”

Elysia grinned. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’m not really mad at him.”

Clayton shook his head. “Not mad? You’re making him sleep in the guest room! Trust me, as someone who’s been married a long time, that’s the ultimate punishment.”

Elysia couldn’t help but tease him. “Relax, Dad. I’m not torturing your son-in-law.”

She leaned in and whispered something in his ear, then grabbed the plates and headed out of the kitchen.

Clayton’s eyes lit up, and he chuckled, shaking his head.

“Those two lovebirds. They’ll be just fine.”