Briony had a dream.

In it, she was sharing a holiday dinner with her mother.

Her mother smiled and praised her cooking.

Briony laughed, but tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Mom..."

Sprawled across the big bed, Briony's brow furrowed as her tears soaked the pillow beneath her.

She murmured restlessly, clutching the front of her nightshirt in pain, her suffering almost unbearable.

In her dream, her mother said she was tired, and from now on, Briony would have to walk her own path alone.

Briony begged her not to leave, but her mother only faded away into the mist that drifted across the river. No matter how desperately Briony called, she never appeared again.

"Mom!"

Briony jolted awake.

For a moment, as she stared up at the familiar ceiling, the world felt strange and distant.

"Mommy!"

At the foot of the bed, Irwin abandoned his toys and scrambled over to her side.

have a bad

her mind slowly clearing from the

This was Southcreek Manor.

how had she

the mattress, pushing

recall-she'd gone down to the river, maybe even

that was

crying?" Irwin reached up and touched her damp cheek. "You were crying in your sleep, too. You kept calling for your

Briony gazed at him.

eyes was

there was something in the set of his brows that reminded her of

of Rosita, a wave of rejection-almost revulsion-rose in Briony's

Irwin's hand away, threw off the covers, and swung her

over her; her body felt weak

couldn't stand to stay here a second

out of the master bedroom and

"Mommy!"

her hand. “Are you

down at him, pulling her hand free, her

Irwin froze.

another glance and headed for

reached the ground floor, she nearly collided

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