#Chapter 149: A Dress to Match

Agnes The scent of garlic and tomatoes greeted us as we stepped inside the house later that evening. Elijah was already at the stove, stirring a pot of what smelled like spaghetti sauce with the white sleeves of his button-down rolled up to his elbows, exposing his muscular forearms. He looked up as we entered and smiled. “There are my girls,” he said warmly, and I felt my stomach turn to molten lava at the tender phrase. “How was your day?” Thea hesitated, looking sheepish. “What happened?” Elijah asked, noticing her strange look. I sighed, giving Thea a reproachful look. “Thea got into a fight at school. She punched a boy in the nose.” Elijah’s eyebrows shot up. “You what?” Thea gulped audibly. Haltingly, she explained herself, wringing her hands the whole time. Elijah listened without interrupting or judging, although his face grew more stern as he heard the story. When she was finished, he said, “Well, I can’t say I blame you for getting up