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.

...

had eased and

at the clock. Two

children woke up in much

moods changed

of hers, Briony led them

over. "Awake at last! I went up around lunchtime, but you three were so

really had slept

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

you want to eat? I'll

"Just some noodles, please."

"You got it!"

already off, happily playing

still groggy from

her head

front

at the

rain had come out of nowhere and had

was still in her purse,

bag and fished out the phone, only to see multiple

missed calls, she wasn't even sure who to

phone

name on the screen, hesitated, and let it ring until

called again. And again.

and

dead phone back

while later, Marlene finished making the noodles. Briony called

wash their hands