Remember When - Ace Merrill (BOOK 3)

Mr and Mrs Merrill.

Their family breakfast was interesting to say the least.

It became very clear very quickly to the residents of Castle Rock that Ace Merrill had children in town.

AJ raced past a table as he stole one of their milkshakes. Quickly being told off by every agent and his parents.

Salvatore kept pulling ugly faces at everyone who looked over at him.

"I'm serious, Irbys is literally 2 doors away." Ace begged her across the table.

Oceane held onto Hero as tried to hold her hands as she seemed so desperate to yank on the person's hair sat behind them.

"No offence Ace, I'm beginning to think having kids with you was a bad idea." She mumbled as she held Hero out to Austin as he quickly took her daughter from her.

"I ain't even argue with you." He replied as he turned to see Salvatore grabbing AJ and carrying him back over to them.

*****

The group finally left the diner. Not before Ace and Oceane had apologised profusely for their children.

Ace now beginning to see what he put everyone else through. If he had been anything like them, he wanted to apologise to everyone for the rest of his life.

*****

"Ma'am..." Skylar snapped almost harshly as he stuck his arm out, stopping Oceane from walking.

She stared at him blankly as she looked behind him.

Their front door was wide open.

"I fucking locked that!" Ace snapped.

"Fucking locked it!" Hero said excitedly in Hugo's arms.

Oceane glared at him.

"Hit him mum! Deck him!"

Oceane glared down at AJ, who slunk back slightly.

"No more TV for you." She snapped down at him.

Half the agents had already left and were slowly approaching the house.

Oceane reached out and grabbed at Salvatore and AJ, yanking them closer to her instinctively.

"Lemme pound 'em!" Salvatore snapped as he tried to rush off.

His older self grabbed our and held the young boy to him, knowing Oceane couldn't keep a hold of both.

"You're really scary, you know that right?" Salvatore asked as he looked up at him.

Salvatore nodded as he kept his attention focused on looking around.

Skylar quickly came back out the house. "It's clear but um-"

He held a small envelope up to Ace. Yet before he could take it, Oceane had reached out and grabbed it.

Mr and Mrs Merrill

She looked down at their names on the front. Ignoring everyone's concerned looks she ripped it open and opened the newspaper clipping inside.

It was the one where they announced Hero's birth.

What a beautiful happy family.

Oceane looked up at the others.

"What is it mum?" AJ asked quietly, sensing the change in everyone.

"Get the kids inside now." She fired her order at Salvatore as she handed Skylar the clipping.

Salvatore instantly scooped up his younger child in one arm, over his shoulder as AJ was soon hoisted up onto his other one.