Tarquin shrugged helplessly. "I don''t know. He says no. By the way, Elliot called today."


    Elysia immediately perked up. "What did he say? Is everything okay?"


    Tarquin didn''t mention Bernard, only saying, "Evan had a fever a couple of days ago."


    Elysia''s expression changed instantly. "A fever?!"


    "Yeah, but Elliot said not to worry. It was just amon fever. They''ll wait until he''s fully recovered beforeing back. You''ll need to call the school and get them a few more days off."


    Panic seized Elysia''s heart. "How did he get a fever?"


    "They said it rained in the mountains a few days ago, and Evan got caught in it."


    "Was it a high fever?"


    "...No, not high."


    Elysia''s heart ached. "No wonder I''ve been having so many nightmarestely. I knew it wasn''t just about Winona, that something else bad was happening! And it was Evan getting sick!"


    "You know, Evan might be mischievous and love to get into fights, but he''s terrified of getting shots and taking medicine! Every time he got sick before, I had to coax him into taking it."


    "And whenever he''s sick, he gets super clingy. He can only sleep at night if I''m holding him."


    "I''m not there with him now... I wonder if he''s able to sleep at all..."


    Elysia was sensitive, and her eyes reddened as she spoke.


    Tarquin''s heart went out to her. If she was this upset just hearing that Evan was sick,


    how devastated would she be if she knew Bernard had passed away?


    Tarquin pulled her into his arms,forting her. "Don''t worry. Elliot and his grandparents are all there with him."


    "It''s normal for kids to get sick. People grow up through bumps and bruises. They can''t go through life without ever getting sick or falling down."


    "You, on the other hand, need to start taking care of yourself."


    "You haven''t been yourselftely. You''ve lost weight. When Elliot and Evane back and see you like this, they''ll be heartbroken. And they''ll definitely me me for not taking good care of you."


    "Emmett, Elijah, and Baby have all asked me privately several times what''s wrong with you. They''re all very worried."


    Elysia was taken aback. "They asked you about it?"


    "Yeah. The kids may be little, but they''re perceptive. They can tell you''ve been in a bad moodtely. They''ve been taking turns. interrogating me."


    Elysia felt a pang of guilt. "With Elliot and Evan away, I''ve been a little worried about them, and on top of that keep having nightmares... I know I haven''t been myself"


    Tarquin didn''t dare mention Bernard. He just said, "You''re worried about Elliot and Evan, and you''re worried about Winona. It''s normal to have nightmares. Just try not to overthink things."


    "Elliot and Evan are with their grandparents. They''re safe."


    "And Keaton wouldn''t dare bully Winona, so no matter what''s happened, she won''t be the one getting hurt. You don''t need to worry about her either."


    "Just rx and live your life. If you don''t pull yourself together soon, Emmett, Elijah, and Baby are going to have my head!"


    Elysia looked up at him, about to speak, when the voices of Emmett, Elijah, and Baby drifted up from downstairs. "Daddy! Mommy!"


    Elysia quicklyposed herself and called back as she headed downstairs.


    Tarquin followed behind her.


    Emmett and Baby bounced excitedly. "Mommy, look! We got awards!"


    "Really? Let me see."


    Elysia took them. They were little certificates from their preschool, the kind every kid gets.


    But Elysia still knelt, kissing Baby, then Emmett, and then Elijah, showering her children with praise. "You guys are amazing! So super smart!"


    Elijah said, "Mommy, I made a new friend at school today, too. And I was the one who went up to him first."


    "You did?" Elysia asked, surprised.


    "Mhm!"


    Elysia was thrilled. "Our Elijah is so amazing!"


    Elijah was in school now, but he was still a little withdrawn. For him to take the initiative to make a new friend was a huge step.


    A shy flush crept up Elijah''s cheeks at the praise. "Are you happy, Mommy?" Emmett and Baby also looked at her with wide, hopeful eyes.