Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



But today, he felt her weight in his arms more profoundly than ever before.

After she left, it was as if his heart had emptied out too!

"Hey, hurry up!"

Elysia called out to him, standing a few yards away. She had walked a bit before realizing he hadn't gotten out of the car yet, so she waited there for him. Since he had carried her out, she wasn't wearing a coat, just a cream-colored hoodie. She paired it with black leggings and a pair of ubiquitous snow boots. Feeling a bit chilly, she rubbed her hands together and blew on them, her feet shuffling on the spot. Her hair, long enough to reach her waist, was now a bit disheveled, with traces of blood on her forehead and red-rimmed eyes from recent tears. At first glance, she looked like any girl from a modest background, distressed after an incident. Yet, she drew plenty of attention. Her face was strikingly beautiful, even without makeup, a rarity in an era obsessed with cosmetic enhancements.

"Tarquin, aren't you going to accompany Elysia into the hospital?" Lowell reminded him.

This time, Tarquin looked away, straightened his clothes briefly, and strode towards her with his long legs. As he approached, Elysia pouted, "What took you so long? The hospital's packed at this hour. We'll be waiting forever, and the kids are still at home." Tarquin didn't respond but draped his coat over her shoulders.

Elysia: "?"

Tarquin, with his usual aloof demeanor, explained, "If you catch a cold, Elijah will worry, and our New Year's will be ruined."All content is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

"Oh, but aren't you going to be cold? What if you get sick?"

"I won't. I'm not as delicate as you."

"Am I delicate?"

Tarquin's lips twitched, but he didn't reply.

Elysia glanced down at his coat, "It's such a high-quality piece. It'd be a shame to wear it just once and then get rid of it, right?"

"Why would we get rid of it?"

"Because you don't like me wearing your clothes. If I wear it, you won't want it back. Isn't that like throwing it away?"

"When did I ever say I didn't like you wearing my clothes?"

"That time you got drunk, I borrowed one of your turtleneck sweaters. You seemed really upset and said if I wore it, you wouldn't want it back. You found it disgusting."

Tarquin frowned, "...Did I say that?"

"You did! I remember clearly! That turtleneck is still at my place. I washed it but never dared to give it back to you."

Tarquin's frown deepened, "You misunderstood. It wasn't that I found it disgusting you wore my clothes. Remember to give it back to me." Elysia, puzzled, pressed on, "Then what did you mean? If you weren't disgusted by me wearing your clothes, what were you disgusted by?" "I've forgotten!"

Elysia pouted but didn't pursue the matter further, ready to dash into the clinic wrapped in his coat.

Tarquin caught her hand and led her in another direction.

Elysia, confused, asked, "Where are we going? Aren't we here to see a doctor?"

Tarquin replied, irritated, "I'm taking you through the back door!"

"The back door? Do you know a doctor here?"

"Benjamin!"

It then dawned on Elysia, "Oh, I completely forgot about Dr. Benjamin. I've been so preoccupied with you lately."

Her offhand remark struck a chord with Tarquin. Her words filtered through his mind, leaving behind a simple thought: She's been thinking of him. Upon further reflection, it condensed to an even simpler essence: She misses him.

Tarquin looked at Elysia meaningfully, wanting to say something, but then noticed the injury on her forehead and held back.