Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

After James tucked little Nina into bed, he turned around and saw Briony carrying little Mario in her arms. "What happened?" he asked quietly.

"I'm going to lie down with the kids for a while." Briony's voice was soft, her face giving nothing away.

James recognized it for what it was a way to avoid everything.

In the end, he said nothing more. He stepped out of the room, gently pulling the door closed behind him.

Briony settled little Mario onto the bed, then lay down beside her two children. "Mom's here. Let's rest together, okay?"

Little Mario closed his eyes, drifting off almost instantly.

Briony watched her children's peaceful faces, then let her own eyes slip shut.

Outside, the wind and rain continued unabated.

Inside, the room was silent, broken only by the steady, even breathing of the children.

With her eyes closed, Briony couldn't help but replay the man's last words in her mind-

[Bryn, do you still resent me?]

Did she?

She hadn't answered him.

Because, truthfully, she didn't know the answer herself.

...

again, the rain had eased

glanced at the clock. Two

woke up in much better spirits

thing about kids-their moods changed

hand in each of

around lunchtime, but

really had slept

rainy weather," Briony replied. "I lay down with them and must've

do you want to eat? I'll whip something

"Just some noodles, please."

"You got it!"

were already off, happily playing

still groggy

head pounding

the front

at the

rain had come out of nowhere and had been falling for hours, showing no

in her purse, which she'd left

her bag and fished out the phone, only to see multiple missed

calls, she wasn't even sure who to call back

her phone vibrated

hesitated, and let it ring until it went to

again. And

and the

the dead phone back into her

later, Marlene finished making the noodles. Briony called

hands