Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Sunday evening.

The full moon hung high in the summer night sky, its glow bathing everything in cool, gentle light. A refreshing breeze swept through the gardens of Skybreeze Retreat, where the leafy courtyard seemed made for sipping tea and admiring the view.

After dinner, everyone gathered in the garden's gazebo, enjoying tea and idle conversation. Aster lay in her cradle, happily munching on her tiny fingers.

Briony and Stella Joyner sat close together, Stella fiddling with an old camcorder she'd unearthed from the attic earlier that day.

"Bryn, look at this shot-remember when you were reading in the library? The sunlight came in just right and lit up your face-nature's own spotlight. I just had to snap the perfect candid!" Stella grinned, turning the camcorder's screen toward Briony.

Briony raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Looks to me like the camera's focused on the guy sitting behind me, not me. Admit it, Star, you were trying to film him."

Stella scoffed, feigning outrage. "Nonsense! I was filming you, obviously."

Briony bit back a laugh and nodded, playing along. "Of course, my mistake. You only had eyes for me."

Across the table, Cedric Clarke glanced over, eyeing the camcorder in Stella's hands and the guilty look on her face. He grinned. "Star, mind letting me have a look?"

Stella clutched the camcorder tighter. "As if! These are my private collection. Only Bryn gets to see them. Go drink your tea!"

Cedric pressed his lips together and gave a resigned sigh.

"Dr. Clarke, your status in this household

him a look and

up the drive and

to greet his

glanced over.

Stewart's face looked

than usual-he'd clearly lost weight. He stood by the car, dark

up a few fairy tale books for Little Nina," he said softly, almost

simple, awkward affection of a father for

to the other side of

stepped forward, opening the back door and

godfather, sweetheart?" he asked,

"Of course I did! Did you

you? I could hardly eat or sleep thinking

just put your

I didn't notice!"