Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem ( Elysia and Tarquin) novel Chapter 823

"No, when your mom was teaching in Green Valley, I was stationed at the southern border. I didn't know much about her situation there; everything I heard was through her letters.

I never met Aiden, nor his parents. Why are you asking about him? Did the Bradfords get to you again? Don't listen to them, your mother was a wonderful woman!"

"I know."

Tarquin didn't bring up Keith's situation, knowing that Soren was swamped with military duties and he didn't want to add to his worries.

"Do you have the exact location where my mom was teaching? I need to check something."

"Yes, we kept in touch through letters all that time. I'll send it to you later."

"Thanks, Soren."

"Don't mention it. If you need anything, just let me know."

"Will do."

After hanging up, Elliot and Elijah eagerly approached,

"Did you find out anything?"

Tarquin looked serious, "Keith's original name might have been Aiden."

"Aiden? We've gone through all the people close to Grandma, but there was no Aiden."

Tarquin didn't reply but started to re-examine the information about Elizabeth teaching in Green Valley with the boys.

They still couldn't find any mention of Aiden.

Nor could they find anything about Elizabeth adopting a child.

It was as if the passage of time had erased the records, or someone had deliberately wiped this chapter from history.

Tarquin had heard his father mention Elizabeth's teaching stint in Green Valley when he was a child.

He talked about a time they were apart, though not broken up, which was the most torturous, painful, and anxious period for him.

While missing his mother, he was also wary of the Bradfords plotting against her.

But he never mentioned Aiden.

Occasionally, when he talked about the teaching period, it was about his and his mother's complicated feelings.

His mother never mentioned it either, not Aiden's name, nor the teaching stint. And his father never brought it up in front of her.

Without a doubt, Aiden was a scar in his mother's heart.

Who exactly was Aiden?

If online searches turned up nothing, then they would have to investigate locally.

He was eager to find his daughter, with Keith being the only lead. Only by uncovering Keith's background could they possibly trace his daughter's whereabouts!

…

Elysia found herself unable to sleep that night.

She still didn't know that Keith was the one who had messaged her.

Given just one day to arrange a divorce, she was anxious about what the next day might bring.

Even knowing her daughter was safe for now didn't ease her fears.

Afraid they might not find him, afraid he might vanish without a trace, afraid she might never see her daughter again.

"What if we staged a divorce to trick him into revealing our daughter's location?"

Tarquin looked down at her, "You don't want me anymore?"

Elysia was startled and quickly shook her head,

"No, I meant a fake divorce. After we get our daughter back, we can remarry."