Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 563

Elliot, Evan, and Emmett stared at him for a long while before Elliot said, "No worries, we can sleep on our own. Just make sure mom is taken care of, okay?"

Once inside their room, Elliot whispered to Evan, "Let's give him an extra point. He's sacrificing something so important to stay and look after mom. I'm really touched."

Evan nodded immediately, "Yeah!"

Before bed, Elliot asked Emmett to touch up his and Evan's makeup. Thankfully, Emmett was a whiz with the makeup kit. Otherwise, after all the tears shed today, their makeup would've been ruined, and Tarquin and the Bradford family might have noticed!

Outside, Tarquin leaned against the window, calling Lowell. His gaze lingered on Elysia. He told Lowell he'd stay put for now, inquired about the investigation's progress, and arranged some tasks.

After hanging up, he tiptoed into the boys' room to check on the trio. Seeing them all asleep, he carefully tucked them in, turned off the light, and left.

The hospital room was quiet. He sat by Elysia's bed, silently keeping vigil. Today had been a brush with death for Elijah, and for him too. If Elijah had died, it would've been as if he died too. So, in saving Elijah today, Elysia had also saved him.

He was grateful, moved, and pained. She was exhausted because of him and his son. Tarquin looked at her tenderly, unconsciously lifting his hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers gently traced her cheek, and his heart skipped a beat. It was like an electric shock. He swiftly withdrew his hand but soon found himself reaching out again.

Elliot explained, "Emmett had a nightmare."

Through tears, Emmett sobbed, "I dreamt of a monster so big, with three heads and eight arms! Its mouth was bigger than a car tire, and its teeth were longer than me! It was chasing mom and Elijah, trying to eat them, sob sob... I tried to save them, but I couldn't beat it. It slapped me away, sob sob... I saw it catching up to mom and Elijah, about to eat them, sob sob..."

Evan reassured him, "Don't worry, I'll protect mom and Elijah from any monster, no matter how scary. I'll knock them flat!"

Elliot, frowning, said to Tarquin, "Emmett is as timid as mom. It must've been the scare from Elijah's ordeal that triggered his nightmare."