Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Stewart had pulled stunts like this more times than anyone could count over the past five years.

Briony turned to Irwin and said, "Call your mom."

Irwin mumbled an "Okay," and dialed Rosita.

No answer.

"Neither of them is picking up!" James snorted in disgust. "Bet they're off together, up to no good."

Briony's expression turned cold as she glanced toward the river, where sky lanterns were starting to drift upward. Worry gnawed at her.

James, guessing she was thinking about Julia and wanting to go release a lantern for her, offered, "Why don't you go on ahead with Hannah and the others? I'll stay here with him and wait for Stewart."

Briony shot him a grateful look. "Thank you."

"Oh, don't get all sentimental," James said, tugging Irwin gently by the arm. "Go on, before the crowd gets too thick and you can't get through."

He was right—as the evening wore on, the riverside would get packed, and it wasn't safe for her, not while she was pregnant.

Briony left with Hannah and the others to join the crowd by the river and release their lanterns.

She didn't look back at Irwin-not even once. She didn't take the lantern he'd bought for her, either.

Irwin stared at the little lantern in James's hand, feeling a pang of disappointment.

past, his mom would have made the lantern herself, and both his parents would walk him down to the river to float

dad had gone off to be

mom had left him behind, choosing

the cartoonish lantern in his hands, his vision

tear fell, soaking

well-behaved, so sensible. Why was his

Rosita right? Was it true-did his mom really have a baby

she did, would she ever

...

packed,

drift upward, glowing against the night sky until it became

gave her a gentle hug. "Briony, Ms. Hudson will see it.

nodded, taking a long, steadying breath.

"Sure."

had arrived too; they said their goodbyes and went off to find their

else to be after dinner, planned to head home as

and Hannah to

past a cluster of people and caught

a worried frown. "It's getting crazy out here

"We were just

close. I'll keep you safe," James said, stepping to her side and