Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 653

Tarquin and Elysia were both momentarily stunned, speechless.

Despite the fire raging inside him, Tarquin hadn't actually considered staying over. He turned to Elysia, waiting for her to make the arrangements...

Elysia froze for a few seconds before quickly declining, "No way, no way, our couch is too small. It'd be a terrible night's sleep for everyone if we tried to squeeze in. He should head home."

After she said this, she hurriedly looked back at Tarquin. His intense gaze made her avert her eyes momentarily before she mustered up the courage to say, "It's bedtime for the kids, and you should be heading out too."

Tarquin: "..." He knew it. He knew she wouldn't let him stay.

He didn't respond but turned to the kids instead, "I've got an early start tomorrow, and it wouldn't be convenient to stay here. But, how about I finish the bedtime story before I go?"

At the mention of a bedtime story, the children immediately perked up, especially Evan and Emmett, "You know bedtime stories?"

"Yep, want to hear one?"

"What stories do you know?"

"What do you want to hear?"

Emmett eagerly replied, "Do you know any stories about Bigfoot?"

"I do!"

"I want to hear it! I want to hear it!"

Tarquin affectionately ruffled Emmett's hair and turned to Elysia, "I'll just finish a bedtime story for them, then I'll leave, okay?"

Elysia: "..."

She had wanted to send him on his way now. His presence made her anxious, too anxious. She felt completely on edge around him.

His gaze was like a wolf eyeing a sheep!

It was as if he might pounce at any moment!

But seeing the eager faces of the little ones, her heart softened. Her lips moved slightly, and she finally relented, "Okay, fine. But it's already late, so just the Bigfoot story and then you have to leave."

"Deal!"

He answered each question with patience, his deep, soothing voice filled with affection and love for the kids. It was the voice of a doting father.

Elysia listened quietly, feeling both comforted and saddened.

Comforted that the father and children were getting along so well, but saddened by...

Despite her best efforts over the years to fill the void in her children's hearts, she couldn't replace their father.

Deep down, the kids still longed for him!

Maybe they kept quiet about wanting their father because they didn't want to upset her.

Elysia sighed softly to herself, her eyes on the TV, but her heart was with them in the children's room.

She couldn't make out what Tarquin was saying exactly, but she could hear the kids' occasional exclamations, indicating a harmonious atmosphere.

A smile played on her lips, soft and gentle...

However, the clock on the wall had already struck half past nine, and the Bigfoot story was still going!