Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Anya couldn't think about anything else. "Crab, crab... It has to be a huge crab."

The three women dug like treasure hunters at the spot where they'd seen bubbles, making a pretty big hole. But when they stared into the empty pit, it was like the universe had played a prank on them. All that work, and for what? They started questioning all their life choices.

Not long after, voices started to echo from the jungle: "Nora, Mia-"

"Molly! Molly-"

Then came Henry's full-throttle wailing, the kind that could shatter glass: "Mamaaa!"

Mia sprang up. "Honey, we're over here!"

Andre listened carefully, trying to figure out where the voices were coming from. The island paths twisted every which way-honestly, the women could have ended up anywhere.

Once the rescue party tracked them down, Andre and Chad each held up a little torch. Their boys had been crying so hard, their faces were streaked with tears, arms outstretched for a hug as soon as they saw their moms-looking as if they'd been abandoned on a desert island themselves.

Mia scooped up her son. "What happened, sweetheart? Why so many tears?"

Molly cuddled her own little one, patting his back. "What's wrong, kiddo? Didn't get your nap?"

Earlier, inside the house, Henry had eaten a big meal, then mustered up all his energy to shout "Mommy!"-and got nothing back. He'd searched every room like a tiny detective, but Mom was just gone. Finally, he grabbed onto his dad's leg and asked where she went. "Mia went out, she's not here," Andre told him.

You'd think the world had ended. Henry bawled his eyes out, calling "Mama!" over and over, as if she'd left for good.

Wayne, seeing his own mom wasn't around either, started to mope and whimper. Even James, who still had his mom in sight, caught the contagious sadness and burst into tears too. Mrs. Calder just scooped him up and made a quick exit.

So, Andre and Chad ended up carrying their crying sons out into the night to look for the missing moms.

Henry was fine enough during the day, but come nighttime, he was all about clinging to his mom-no way was she getting away.

In this strange place, Henry latched onto his mom's neck, refusing to budge, basically turning into a human backpack.

Wayne didn't even touch formula, so Molly had to sneak off to a corner to nurse him.

Once in a while, Wayne would bite a little too hard, and Chad-being the dad he was-would give his son a gentle swat. Not that anyone ever saw it; Chad kept his discipline low-key.

Andre, though, was famous for being loud and clear with his son.

"Down. Stop making your mom carry you," Andre ordered.

Henry, stubborn as ever: "No! Mommy holds."

"You want a spanking?"

Henry shook his head. "No spanking. Daddy gets a spanking."

Andre couldn't help but laugh. "Come on, walk a little. Mia can't carry you forever, you little chunk."

Henry puffed out his cheeks, looking deeply wronged.

His grandpa always said he was getting skinny, but now his dad was calling him chubby?

By the time night fully settled over the beach, there was nothing but darkness and the faint sound of waves. Anya still hadn't found her giant crab. "Weird. Is seafood this competitive overseas too?"

Jade, just finished feeding her baby, wondered aloud, "Anya, do you think maybe the big crab is hiding at the bottom, too deep to come up?"

Anya shot her a look. "Is it?"

Her tone made Jade second-guess herself. "Chad, what do you think?"noveldrama

Chad, arms full with his son, just blinked. “Uh... what now?"

The night got chillier, and the sea breeze picked up.

Back at the restaurant, the party was still going strong. Hansen was tipsy enough

to belt out a couple lines from an opera, and nobody stopped him.

Leo and Cooper huddled together. Cooper, already a few drinks in, blurted, "Leo, why are you still friends with my sister? I almost thought you'd end up as my brother-in-law-"

Leo clamped a hand over his mouth. "Cooper! For both our sakes, don't ever say that again. Your brother-in-law, my uncle-they'd kill us both."