Elysia held him close, her voice soft and soothing.


    "Everyone''s singing your parents'' praises now. The government''s cleared their names. They can finally rest in peace and so can you. You don''t have to worry anymore."


    Tarquin responded, his voice muffled by her shoulder.


    "Finding Mom''s ashes andying her to rest beside Dad, with everyone watching... That''s been my dream for years. Now it''s real. I''m happy, really. You


    don''t have to worry about me."


    Elysia''s heart ached for him. She gently patted his back.


    After a quiet moment, she called to him, "Honey?"


    "Yeah?"


    "Your birthday''sing up."


    Tarquin opened his eyes, lifting hisshes to look at her. "And?"


    "You''ll be staying at the old house these days, right?"


    "Not for the whole time. If anything urgentes up, just call me."


    Elysia smiled. "Well, while you''re there, make sure you eat well and get plenty of sleep. When your birthdayes, I''ve got a huge surprise for you. Sound good?"


    Tarquin''s eyes narrowed yfully. "How huge are we talking?"


    Elysia grinned, making it sound even more dramatic. "Super, super huge."


    Tarquin chuckled. "Can you tell me now?"


    Elysia shook her head right away.


    "Of course not! If I told you, it wouldn''t be a surprise! And I need to see how you behave. If you''re good, you get your present. If not, no surprise this year."


    Heughed again. "Alright, I''ll be good."


    "So now, close your eyes and go to sleep. Be a good boy."


    "...Okay."


    Elysia held him, gently rubbing his back and humming a luby, just like she used


    to when Elliot, Evan, and Emmett were little.<fn8db9> Chapters first released on find?novel</fn8db9>


    Tarquin was truly exhausted. He fell asleep in no time.


    At three-thirty in the morning, he woke up in Elysia''s arms.


    He''d only slept for a couple of hours, but it was the best sleep he''d had in ages.


    He nced at Elysia, still fast asleep, and a soft, happy smile crept onto his lips. Carefully, he moved her arm and slipped out of her embrac  swnovers


    She stirred, frowning slightly and pouting in her sleep.


    With her eyes closed, she instinctively burrowed closer to him.


    Tarquin chuckled, his heart full of affection, and pulled her back into his arms.


    She snuggled in, finding afortable spot before drifting off again.


    Tarquin waited until she was sound asleep before finally getting up to leave.


    The next morning, when Elysia woke up, Tarquin was already gone.


    She felt a twinge of disappointment, but she wasn''t surprised.


    Reaching for her phone, she found a note from Tarquin under it:


    ''Good morning, sweetheart! I''m back at the old house. If you miss me, just call. Always loving you your husband.''


    It was scribbled on a heart-shaped sticky note, his handwriting strong and bold, the words sweet as honey.


    Every bit of it radiated love.


    Elysia''s little pang of disappointment vanished instantly, reced by warm, giddy happiness.


    She didn''t want to wake him up, so she stretched, got out of bed, and went to make breakfast for the kids.


    After breakfast, she dropped them off at preschool, then headed to Tanhe Manor to meet Winona.


    She wanted to go shopping with Winona and get everything ready for Tarquin''s birthday.


    The security guard at Tanhe Manor recognized her and waved her through as soon as he saw her.


    Elysia carried the breakfast she''d


    Winona, making through the neighborhood toward her friend''s house. Content Belongs to


    bro neighet


    “Elysia!”


    A familiar voice called out behind her.


    Elysia turned and saw Keaton, just getting back from outside.


    Beside him stood a stunning young


    woman gorgeous, with a sweetne


    smile and curves that turned heads. She looked about twenty