A lump formed in Elysia''s throat. The children were showing off their certificates, and Elijah was telling her about his new friend, all just to cheer her up.
She was their mother, yet her children were the onesforting her.
Elysia was both touched and filled with self-reproach. "I am. Mommy is so, so
happy. Tonight, Mommy is going to cook a special dinner just for you."
"Mommy hasn''t been feeling her besttely because she''s been worried about Elliot and Evan. I''m sorry for making you three worry."
Emmett asked, "Is Mommy all better now?"
Elysia smiled. "I''m all better."
Baby asked, "Mommy, when are Elliot and Evaning back? I miss them."
Elysia said, "They''ll be back soon. They miss Baby very much, too."
After chatting with the children for a few moments, Elysia turned to Lowell. "Thank you for picking up the kids. Why don''t you stay for dinner? I''ll make extra."
Lowell quickly refused. "No, no, that''s okay! I''ve still got work to do at the office. I should get going, Elysia."
With that, Lowell said goodbye to the little ones and practically bolted out the door, as if his life depended on it.
Elysia turned to Tarquin. "What''s with Lowell?"
Tarquin countered, "Why was he the one picking up the kids today?"
Elysia said, "He called me at lunch and said he wanted to do it, so I didn''t have to go this afternoon. Didn''t you know?"
Tarquin''s lips thinned. "If I''d known, he wouldn''t have looked so guilty when he saw me. Ditching work to pick up the kids!"
Elysia was speechless.
Elijah said, "Daddy, you''re not allowed to dock Uncle Lowell''s pay!"
Emmett quickly chimed in, "Daddy, are you going to dock Mr. Lowell''s pay?"
Baby hugged his leg, her voice small and sweet. "Daddy, please don''t dock Mr. Lowell''s pay..."
Elysiaughed. "Looks like all of Mr. Lowell''s spoiling hasn''t been for nothing." Tarquin picked Baby up and gave her a kiss. "I won''t, I won''t. Go on and y." Elijah went back to his room, while Baby and Emmett yed with Lan in the living room.
Elysia and Tarquin went to the kitchen to make dinner together. Tarquin took the lead as head chef, with Elysia as his assistant.
"Lowell really adores those kids," Elysia said. "He''s going to be a great father someday."
A week ago, the kids had gotten a call from Lowell and told him they hadn''t seen him in a while and missed him terribly. Lowell came back that very night.
He showed upte with a backpack full of little souvenirs from Border City for the kids.
They had all just gotten ready for bed, and Tarquin had asked him why he''de by sote. Lowell''s answer was, "I was in a hurry to see the kids..."
With the little ones in school during the day, he couldn''t see them. So, any chance he got in the afternoon, he would go pick them up from preschool.
He truly adored children, which was why Elysia was so sure he''d be a good father.
But Tarquin pursed his lips. "He''ll probably be a bachelor for life and end up needing
my kids to take care of him in his old age."
Elysia was curious. "Why would you say that?"
Tarquin thought of Dane, then summed it up simply "He has
terrible taste. He has a hard
enough time finding a girlfriend, let alone getting married and having kids."
Elysia, who didn''t know what had happened in Border City, pouted. "Lowell can''t be worse than Axel, can he? If Lowell has a hard time finding a girlfriend, what''s Axel going to do? He''s cold as ice, keeps everyone at arm''s length!"
Tarquin sighed heavily. Thinking about their love lives was giving him a headache.
Elysia teased, "Look at the friends
you hang out with. Some are
practically allergic to women, oth
are always surrounded by them.
None of them are normal
Tarquin grinned. "I''m the only normal one, which is why I''m the only one with a wife
and they''re not."
Elysia nced at him and smiled softly.
Suddenly, Tarquin''s phone rang. It was Keaton.
He wiped his hands and answered. "Hello."
Keaton''s voice was frantic. "Tarquin, you need to get to the hospital, now! I''m in
deep trouble!"