The kids'' praise totally went to his head!


    He got so carried away, he called in sick to work just to help Evan fulfill his dream.


    Now, he regretted it.


    Why did he have to take off today of all days? Couldn''t he have just waited until tomorrow? Tomorrow was Saturday-Evan didn''t even have school!


    But regret was useless now.


    yton saw his son-inw looking all gloomy and couldn''t help but feel sorry for him. He sighed and said,


    "You''re probably better off going to apologize first. Same old drill-if she starts smacking you, just yell for help. We''lle rescue you."


    Tarquin managed a weak smile. "...Thanks, Dad."


    Out in the living room, Pam was carrying the baby off to find Lan.


    Elliot, Emmett, and Elijah had just said hi to Elysia. The moment they spotted Tarquin walk in, the three little guys dashed over to him.


    Elliot whispered, "Dad, Mom found out you called the school for Evan. She''s got murder in her eyes."


    Emmett nodded seriously. "She''s so mad, I think she wants to eat you alive!"


    Elijah chimed in, "Dad, she''s probably really going to hit you. Brace yourself."


    Tarquin winced. "...Where''s Evan?"


    "Mom kept him upstairs with her."


    "She''s giving him a talking to?"


    Tarquin had barely finished the sentence when Evan came trudging down the stairs.


    He spotted Tarquin, shrugged helplessly, and said, "Dad, you''re toast. Seriously. Mom''s on the warpath."


    Tarquin asked, “Did you tell her everything?"


    "Yeah, I had to! If I didn''t, she''d get even angrier. I do not want Mom angrier."


    Tarquin groaned. "So what did she say?"


    l.ne


    Evan replied honestly, "She said this was a one-time deal. No more skipping school behind her back, and definitely no more faking sick!  s


    “She also said, yeah, I messed up, but admitting mistakes and making it right is what a good kid does."


    Tarquin pressed, "And then?"


    "Then she patted my head, gave me a hug, let me go, and sent me down here. She told me to send you up."


    Evan added, "Oh, and she''s still really mad at you!"


    Tarquin asked, "Did you try to plead my case?"


    Evan straightened up, looking all noble. "Of course! You only got in trouble because of me, so I had to say something-but...no luck. She told me Kid let the grown-ups handle this.'' So Dad, I did my best. You''re on your own, buddy  s


    Tarquin gave him a look, but didn''t bother with the fact his own son was calling him buddyke some. old pal. He just started up the stairs, resigned to his fate.  s


    yton called after him, "Tarquin, remember-if she starts swinging, yell loud! We''lle save you."


    Tarquin shot his father-inw a thumbs-up over his shoulder.


    Upstairs, the bedroom door was closed. Tarquin knocked gently. "Elysia...?"


    "Get in here!" Elysia snapped, her tone sharp as a whip.


    Tarquin''s mouth twitched. He opened the door, stepped into the bedroom, and closed it behind him.


    Elysia was sitting on the couch, ring at him so fiercely it was like she was wielding kitchen knives with her eyes.<fn4082> This update is avable on findnovel</fn4082>


    Trying to lighten the mood, Tarquin shed his most charming grin, hoping maybe, just maybe, his looks could win him some mercy.


    "Hey, honey..."


    Elysia was having none of it.


    After all these years, that smile might have worked on some young girl, but it was


    no match for Elysia in full fury.


    She bared her teeth, her eyes zing.


    "What are you grinning about? What''s so funny?!"