Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



After Keith left the Blossom household following lunch, the kids immediately convened their little council.

Elijah was the first to voice his opinion, "I don't buy his excuse that disrespecting Mom was just a test for Dad. If it was really a test, Dad would've seen right through it!"

Evan and Emmett were on the fence, both turning their gazes towards Elliot for guidance.

"If he's telling the truth," Elliot began, furrowing his brow in thought, "then we've all misjudged Keith. But if he lied..."

Elliot paused, the concern evident on his young face, "Then it proves he's cunning and not to be underestimated. No matter how you look at it, he's got an excuse ready to clear his name."

Evan, growing anxious, asked, "So, is Keith a good guy or a bad guy?"

Elliot pondered for a moment before replying, "Hard to say for now. Let's stick to our plan-act like we don't know anything and keep an eye on him." Evan and Emmett nodded in agreement, while Elijah's expression darkened. He was firmly on Dad's side, convinced that Dad was truthful and that Keith was up to no good!

However, he didn't resent Elliot, Evan, and Emmett for their skepticism. He understood it.

After all, Keith...

Elliot had shared earlier that day about a time in preschool when Emmett fell from the top of a climbing frame. Keith had rushed over without a second thought, injuring his knees and arms in the process, but Emmett came out unscathed.

Afterwards, Keith had brushed it off as no big deal, stating that it's a teacher's duty to protect their students, insisting they not tell their parents to avoid worry.

Then there was the time Nola locked them up at the preschool, and Keith, concerned for their wellbeing, clashed with Nola's bodyguards. Although he didn't manage to free them, Keith was hurt and nearly lost his job over the incident.

And they had only learned about these acts of bravery from other teachers afterwards, which moved them and made them grateful to Keith.

Keith wasn't just a hero to them; he was like this with all the kids at the preschool.

He was like an unsung hero, doing good deeds and helping many without seeking recognition or praise.

In everyone's eyes, Keith was cheerful, optimistic, gentle, and humble-a true helper in need.

This made Elliot, Evan, and Emmett, as well as Blossom, fond of him.

And there was another crucial point-Keith had been working at the Sunshine Daycare for two years!

Meaning, when Keith started his job there, Elliot, Evan, Emmett, and their mom were still in the remote countryside.

If Keith had targeted them from the beginning, how could he have known they would end up in Jindale City and that the boys would attend Sunshine Daycare?

If Keith had set his sights on them only after their arrival, then maybe it was their mom he was interested in-after all, she was incredibly beautiful! Yet, Dad claimed Keith wasn't interested in Mom, and Keith himself had shown no signs of affection towards her.

So, considering everything, Elliot, Evan, and Emmett were still only skeptical about Keith, not fully siding with Dad, which was understandable. In the kitchen, Elysia was washing dishes alone.

Blossom had dashed off to "compare notes" with Keith, as the preschool was about to start and she hadn't finished the workload assigned to the teachers. Keith had mentioned during lunch that he had completed his tasks and could help Blossom out.noveldrama

So, right after lunch, Blossom had hurried off to see Keith.

As Elysia scrubbed the dishes, she pondered how to broach the subject of Keith with Blossom.