Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Briony turned to look out the window as well.

Snow was falling again, thick and soft as down feathers drifting from the sky.

"Do you like the snow, Mario?" she asked gently.

Mario's voice was barely above a whisper. "Dad promised me. He said when it snowed in winter, he'd take me outside to build a snowman and have a snowball fight."

Briony felt her heart skip.

"Mom," Mario turned his solemn gaze to her, his eyes wide and searching, "is Dad ever coming back?"

She stared into her son's deep, dark eyes, suddenly at a loss for words.

It felt like an invisible hand was squeezing her heart.

She knew how sensitive Mario was. He must have sensed that Stewart was gone.

Mario spoke again, his voice quiet. "I actually knew Dad was sick. He said he went overseas to work, but I think... he really went to get treated. That's why he sent me to live with you."

Briony's nose stung with tears. "How did you know? Did Dad tell you?"

Mario shook his head. "He used to wake up at night and cough a lot. Mr. Clarke would come by all the time with his medical bag. Mom, they didn't have to say anything. I knew Dad was sick."

Briony couldn't hold back anymore. She pulled her son into her arms.

"Mom, is Dad... gone?"

no words of

Mario looked up at her, his small face serious. "Dad

you

Briony could barely breathe.

Her heart ached.

son had known all

he was still just a child—not even five-why should he have

don't have to be strong. Even if Dad's not here anymore, I can give you

world a little earlier than the rest of us. But he'll become a star in the sky, always

nodding quietly. After a while, she

Briony closed her eyes.

Mario's back. "How about I sing you a

the snowflakes falling beyond the

Sdenly come back."

caught. "Sleep now," she whispered, "maybe tonight Dad will visit you in your

obediently closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep as his mother's soft song filled the

...

Mario never

Nina

she was the

sibling,

Mario didn't argue. Hee