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 he held

healing. It'd be better to keep it

glanced at the faint pink patch of new skin on the back of her hand. He was right-it

her tone flat. "Thanks. You can

word, Stewart left the

for all sorts of dishes, but since he was just recovering

meal plans for Irwin-meals tailored for a child with

years, she moved around the kitchen with practiced

brought out five dishes and a hearty soup to the

Go wash your

hurried to take his seat at the table, excitement written all

and yam soup for him.

looked at the spread. He grinned, "Thanks, Mom! You

gave a faint smile.

out a chair

her apron, walked it back to the kitchen, and paused. After

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

from them, Stewart

then quietly focused on her own meal. Stewart

of those bowls of rice would have been

watched Briony eat with single-minded focus, his brow

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