Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

James didn't say another word. He turned and walked away.

...

On the way back, Briony suddenly said she wanted to stop by Pearbrook.

James pulled the car over by the roadside near the river.

He walked with her across the crosswalk and onto the sidewalk that bordered Pearbrook.

Late summer nights after a storm always carried a sticky dampness to the city. The river ran swift, its waters churning rather than calm.

The rain had only just let up. There was no one else by the river.

Briony stood gazing out at the dark water, silent for a long time.

James simply stayed by her side, keeping quiet.

Across Pearbrook was Briony's new home; just a crosswalk separated them from

it.

The damp night breeze tugged at her long hair.

Briony lifted a hand to brush the strands from her cheek.

Cedric Clarke's words from the police station echoed in her mind-

[Stewart always said he didn't want a funeral. He just asked me to scatter his ashes in Pearbrook. But now...]

"But now there's nothing left. His last wish can't even be fulfilled."

barely audible. James caught only a fragment and leaned in, his voice low, "What did

"It's nothing."

eyes on the river.

was so dark he

to Skybreeze Retreat, they

see Stella sitting on the floor, playing puzzles with

jumped up and hurried over,

fine," Briony tried to reassure her with a small

be swamped with work for the next few days, and there's not much else I can do at least I can

the ones who'll be busy. There's not much happening on my end. You really didn't need to make a special

Stella didn't know Briony as well as she did, she might have been fooled by her

me," Stella said, tugging Briony up to the second floor without

pulled Briony into a bedroom

hug. "Cry if you want.

for a few seconds, then gently pushed her

frowned, studying her

I'm not feeling that kind

really hate

hate." Briony shook her head. "The moment I heard he was

all my feelings

heart died with

turned to look out

night was pitch black, nothing visible

sounded soft, almost fragile, in

that's it. Whether you grieve or not doesn't change anything. I'm not devastated by Stewart's death.

"You still care

Briony didn't deny it.