Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



Not long after, Tarquin and the four little rascals returned.

Under Tarquin's lead, they sneaked into the house, quietly opening the door and tiptoeing inside. Their eyes, all five pairs of them, were glued towards the direction of Elysia's bedroom, terrified of being caught by her.

But then-

Elysia's voice emerged from behind them, "Freeze!"

Startled, the group stopped dead in their tracks! Then, they simultaneously turned around to face her.

Elysia, apron tied around her waist and a kitchen knife in her hand, stood at the kitchen doorway, her brows furrowed in a mix of confusion and irritation, "What have you been up to? Why are you coming from outside?!"

She had thought the little rascals were playing in the playroom all this time!

Caught red-handed, the kids blinked rapidly, one after another, before unanimously turning their gaze towards Tarquin, waiting for him to save the day.

Tarquin glanced at the shiny kitchen knife in Elysia's hand, cleared his throat, and repeated the story they had agreed upon earlier, "We were just bored, so I took the kids out for a little stroll downstairs. Didn't want to worry you, so we came back after a short while."

Elysia interrogated, "A stroll downstairs? When did you sneak out? And why didn't you tell me?!"

Tarquin replied, "You were in the bedroom; thought you were resting. Didn't want to disturb you, so I didn't mention it."

Elysia, half-believing, stared at him for a few seconds, then her gaze shifted towards the four little ones. With just one look from her, the kids spilled the beans, "Mommy, he took us downstairs for ice cream." "It was his idea." "We didn't want to go, but he tempted us with delicious ice cream!" "He even said if you got mad, he'd take the blame for us."noveldrama

Tarquin: "???!"

Ah? So much for the "ship of friendship." When they were downstairs, they had agreed that if Elysia found out, they would all stick to the story of just going for a walk. Whoever mentioned ice cream was the traitor! Looks like he was the only one who took that seriously? These little traitors! Had he known, he would've been better off telling Elysia the truth from the start!

As Tarquin was inwardly lamenting their betrayal, Elysia, visibly upset, said, "You four, back to your room! You, come with me!"

Elysia, still holding the kitchen knife, headed towards the study. The kids scampered off to the playroom quicker than you could say "ice cream," closing the door behind them.

Tarquin: "..." The ship of friendship had completely capsized!

Reaching the door of the study and noticing Tarquin hadn't moved, Elysia snapped, "Come here!"

Tarquin grimaced awkwardly, managing a strained smile, "Let's just talk. No need to get physical, especially not with a knife."

Only then did Elysia realize she was still holding the kitchen knife she had been using to chop vegetables. Hearing the commotion, she had instinctively grabbed it before coming out.

Too lazy to return to the kitchen, she carried it with her into the study. Tarquin swallowed hard and followed.

Once inside, Elysia sat on the couch while Tarquin, not daring to sit, stood and explained, "There's a new ice cream parlor that just opened downstairs. I figured kids love ice cream, and since we had some time, I thought why not treat them."

Elysia fumed, "Did the kids lie?"

"No."

"So, it was indeed your idea to take them for ice cream?"

"Yeah."

"You..." Elysia, livid, "Do you have air for brains?! It's the middle of winter. Feeding kids something that cold is terrible for their health! Other parents go out of their way to keep their kids away from ice cream, and here you are, inviting them to have some! You..."