Briony was the first to look away, turning to the older woman and saying, "You've got it wrong-he's not my husband."

"Oh?" The woman blinked in surprise, caught off guard for the first time in her years of sales pitches. After a long pause, she managed, "Oh... I see."

Briony didn't dwell on the awkward exchange. She grabbed a neatly packaged tray of ribs from the meat counter and headed toward the produce section. Stewart watched her go, his eyes cool and unreadable.

...

By the time they returned to Southcreek Manor, it was already noon.

Briony went straight to the kitchen to start lunch.

Irwin was in the living room, tinkering with his new toys.

No sooner had Briony tied on her apron than the glass kitchen door slid open.

She turned and saw Stewart step inside.

"Did you need something?" she asked.

He glanced at the ingredients on the counter, his voice calm. "Do you want a hand?"

"I'm fine," Briony replied without looking up, already busy at the sink.

Stewart stood and watched her for a moment before quietly leaving. She turned on the tap and pulled out the vegetables to wash them.

It wasn't long before Stewart returned.

these,"

the plastic gloves

is still healing. It'd be better to keep

patch of new skin on the back of her hand. He was right-it was

tone flat. "Thanks. You

Stewart left the

dishes, but since he was just recovering from pneumonia, Briony chose

the years, she'd researched countless meal plans for Irwin-meals tailored for a child with

years, she moved around the kitchen

brought out five dishes and a hearty soup to

ready. Go

and scampered off to wash up, then hurried to take his seat at

bowl of chicken and yam soup for him. "It's hot, so blow on

as he looked at the spread. He grinned, "Thanks,

a faint

out a chair

to the kitchen, and paused. After a moment, she took the apron and tossed it

of rice, sitting next to Irwin and setting one bowl in front of him,

Stewart watched her

quietly focused on her

bowls of rice would have been

with single-minded focus, his

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