Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 559

After giving his orders, Tarquin began to chain-smoke, one cigarette after another, a storm cloud of worry and anticipation brewing around him.

With each passing second, the New Year's Eve countdown began outside, signaling the end of an old year and the dawn of a new one. The countdown echoed,

"10, 9, 8, 7... 3, 2, 1... Happy New Year! Cheers to a prosperous new year, haha..."

The arrival of the new year was celebrated with fireworks lighting up the sky over Jindale City, and the sounds of celebration filled the air. But for the group of six who had promised to ring in the new year together, a cold, unyielding door separated them into two worlds. Elysia was still in the emergency room, fighting to save Elijah's life! Tarquin, along with Elliot, Evan, and Emmett, were left in the haunting silence of the corridor, a mix of anxiety and helplessness their only company. The joy of the new year seemed a world away; their reality was fear, worry, and impatience. Elijah's fate was still unknown.

This was supposed to be the happiest year of his life...

Tarquin, staring toward the direction of the emergency room, took a harsh drag of his cigarette, his eyes swollen, his heart heavy. He reminisced about every moment with Elijah. He remembered the first time he saw Elijah. Five years ago, Nola handed him the baby, wrapped in a blanket with a note claiming he was the father. Shocked and skeptical, he looked down at newborn Elijah, so tiny and wrinkled, barely the length of his arm. He took baby Elijah for a medical check-up himself, even getting a paternity test done.

That first night with Elijah, not even knowing for sure if he was his son, he stayed at the hospital, clumsy and inexperienced in caring for a child, spending a sleepless night for Elijah's sake. The next day, the paternity results confirmed Elijah was indeed his son. He could still vividly recall the mix of emotions, unable to contain his laughter even in front of Benjamin. It was a whirlwind of excitement, shock, surprise, but above all, overwhelming joy...

From that day on, his life shifted from solitude to fatherhood. Elijah was his first child, and he was a new father; together, they grew. Without any prior experience, he insisted on being hands-on, which led to many a mishap. The first time he changed Elijah's diaper, just as Elijah had a messy accident. In his rush to clean up, he left Elijah unattended for a moment, returning to a scene straight out of a horror movie. Elijah, covered in mess from head to toe, created a memory Tarquin could never forget.

Then there were the firsts - the first bath, the first time dressing him, the first grasp of his finger. Elijah made him fall in love with photography, capturing every moment of his son's life. Like any father, he wished to freeze time, recording every milestone. He still remembered the pride and joy when Elijah first called him "Daddy" - so much so, he called Lowell and Axel Keaton at two in the morning, boasting and insisting they come over to hear it for themselves, non-attendance not an option.