Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 317

In Elijah's room, the brothers were having a heart-to-heart over the phone.

Evan was really worried about their mom, Elysia. "Is Mom okay now? Is she still crying?"

Elliot replied, "She stopped crying. We've figured it out. Tarquin said he won't let Mom see Elijah anymore. That's why she was upset."

"Why wouldn't he let Mom see Elijah?"

"Well, Mom's not even sure herself. She told Aunt Blossom that Tarquin suddenly called her, accusing her of trying to take his son! Did you do or say something that might have given him the wrong idea?"

Evan blinked, a bit puzzled. "On the way back, he kept talking to me. I asked him to stop, but he wouldn't. He just went on and on, and I got so annoyed that I yelled at him."

"What did you yell?"

"I... I told him Elysia is my mom, and I never wanted a dad."

Elliot sighed. "No wonder."

Evan looked sheepish. "Bro, did I mess up again?"

"It's not a disaster, but you indirectly made Mom sad."

Evan panicked. "I didn't mean to, I swear! I hate seeing Mom upset. I love her so much, how could I ever want to make her cry? I... I..."

He was so worked up he was nearly in tears.

Elliot tried to calm him down, "I know you didn't mean it. Don't worry, Mom's fine now. But you can't be impulsive anymore. Tarquin doesn't know about us or his relationship with Mom. When you said what you did, you made him target Mom. Mom's afraid he'll try to take us away, and he's worried she'll try to take Elijah. Mom hides us to protect us. But Tarquin... his reactions could be worse. Right now, he's just said Mom can't see Elijah. He might do something worse to Mom later on."

"He wouldn't dare!"

"We can't take any chances. And because you told Tarquin what you did without exposing us, that's lucky. So, while you're with Tarquin, try to get along with him, just like Elijah would."

"But I can't!"

Elliot spoke softly, encouraging his brother. "Then think of Mom, think of our plan. Do you want to make her cry?"

Elliot was about to respond when Emmett burst into the room, shutting the door behind him, all flustered. "Guys, trouble! I overheard someone calling Mom, saying that deadbeat dad wants to meet us. He’s sent someone to pick us up."

Evan exclaimed, "Meet us? What does that jerk Tarquin want? I didn't slip up, did I?"

Elliot furrowed his brow, "Evan, tell me everything that happened tonight, in detail."

After Evan recounted the events, Elliot quickly pinpointed the issue. "Mom never tells us sad stuff to worry us, only happy stuff to cheer us up!"

The slip-up was in the word "us."

Tarquin was sharp; he must've picked up on it!

After a moment, Elliot said, "Tarquin suspects Mom wants to take Elijah from him. He's seeking us out to understand Mom's intentions and plans. Luckily, we can use this to our advantage, to ease his worries and let Mom be with Elijah like before."

"But won't we be exposing ourselves once he meets us?"

"Calm down for a sec. I'll figure something out and get back to you."