Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 313

Just as the car came to a halt, Evan shoved open the door and bolted out. He'd been here before and navigated his way to the apartment entrance with a familiarity that had his hands shoved in his pockets and his pace brisk. The last thing he wanted was to spend another second in the car with Tarquin.

It was suffocating! Too much to bear! He wanted to give Tarquin a piece of his mind, maybe even more, but restraint was a cruel companion.

Inside the car, Tarquin sat frozen, staring through the window at his son's retreating figure, feeling a billion wounds slash at his heart. His sorrow was a dam breached, unstoppable. His facade of composure crumbled, tears streaming down his face.

Lowell, stepping out to help him with the door, couldn’t help but feel a wave of pity. “Tarquin, take a moment, will you? Elijah would never treat you this way. This isn't him. It's like... remember the Elijah who showed up on Thanksgiving, the one who lost it? That's who we're dealing with now, not your son.”

Tarquin’s brows knitted together, a lightbulb moment illuminating his understanding. He'd been so caught up in his grief that he'd overlooked the whole multiple personality situation. He reassured himself, thinking, Elijah loves me too much to despise me, to hurt me with those words!

If the polite and engaging Elijah was the original, then the one who made an appearance first on Thanksgiving, the one with impeccable manners, was personality number one. And now, this defiant, rebellious version claiming to be "the boss," exuding a 'too cool for school' attitude, was personality number two.

Tarquin's thoughts darkened with every step. The more he pondered, the more his suspicion turned towards Elysia. He instructed Lowell to unlock the apartment for Elijah while he, with a scowl, dialed Elysia.

Accusations flew the moment she answered, “Elysia, you’ve crossed a line trying to take my son from me!”

An accusation as unexpected as it was unfounded. And poor Elysia, not the sharpest tool in the shed, confused Elijah with Evan, panicked at the accusation, “How... how did you know?!”