The Runaway Groom

Finding the book interesting, Tommy suddenly pointed outside and exclaimed, "Pitter patter!"

"Pitter patter, pitter patter, listen to the rain!"

Tommy appeared interested as Isaac read it for him, and the boy pointed outside and exclaimed, "That's what we're hearing outside... I like nursery rhymes, Daddy."

Irene smiled mildly. "As long as you like it."

Tommy then lay down and wrapped himself in the soft blanket, his little legs lifted into the air.

Just then, Isaac's phone on the table rang.

Seeing that it was James and probably about work, he picked it up. “I'm taking this."

Irene nodded. "Go on."

She lay with Tommy and read it for him, "Home! Home! Sweet, sweet home! There's no place like home!"

"I like this, Mommy," he said, pointing at the last part. “There's no place like home—does that mean missing where we used to live?"

The boy was quite smart for his age, and Irene smiled. "More or less." “I miss home too," Tommy suddenly said.

it here?" Irene

about it

normal,” Irene told him—such was nostalgia, and it inevitably occurs

I should sleep,” Tommy said as he picked

him just then. "You

time, and he might not fall asleep if he had to share a bed with them. As Irene

at Irene quizzically

with then. "Goodnight, Daddy,” Tommy said

bed, she asked, "If Erin has a daughter, do you think we could

growled, and

were actually unrelated, she was still his half-sister and Tommy's aunt.

was

a

Irene

the door just as he turned to look at her, and he approached her slowly

and reached

after having two sons, and he felt like he could snap her if