Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"Because Mother Rosita said if I ever acted like I cared more for anyone else than for my mom, she'd get upset and jealous. And being upset and jealous just means you really care about someone."

Jeannie frowned. "Mother Rosita?"

Irwin nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I have two moms. One is the mom who's raised me since I was born, that's Briony. The other is the mom who gave birth to me, that's Mother Rosita."

Jeannie pressed her lips together, taking a moment to process this before asking gently, "Between your two moms, who do you like more?"

Irwin glanced around, then lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Honestly, I like the mom who raised me more. But I can't say that out loud. Mother Rosita would get mad, and when she gets mad, it's scary..."

A flicker of emotion crossed Jeannie's eyes. Then she smiled and affectionately ruffled Irwin's hair.

"I don't know your Mother Rosita, but I think the most important thing for a child is to be honest. If you need your mom, you should be brave and tell her. You don't have to act a certain way just to test her feelings. That kind of thing can actually hurt the people you care about, and it might even push them further away."

Irwin stared at her in surprise. "Really?"

"Really," Jeannie said warmly. "So, these past few days, you've been clinging to me and ignoring your mom on purpose? You were trying to test her?"

Irwin nodded sheepishly.

Jeannie let out a soft, helpless laugh. "I thought you just liked Ms. Radcliffe so much."

"I do like Ms. Radcliffe," Irwin admitted, sighing, "but a teacher isn't the same as a mom. I love my mom-no one could ever replace her."

Jeannie smiled, gently patting his head in encouragement. "In that case, next time you see your mom, don't ignore her on purpose, okay? Let's be honest and brave little ones, all right?"

"I got it," Irwin promised.

Stewart to ask when

told him Briony wouldn't be coming today—she

moment Irwin heard Briony was sick, he demanded to see

up, and the two of

wasn't feeling

exhausted the last few days. This morning, she woke up dizzy and

studio lately, thinking she'd wrap things up before heading to Silveridge in a few days.

the hospital, but Briony figured it was just the usual fatigue and dizziness that came with pregnancy-nothing worth making

wouldn't rest well at the studio, so he brought her back to Skybreeze Retreat. With Marlene and Gina around to help, he felt

at Skybreeze Retreat, Briony went straight to

of homemade chicken soup. After finishing it, Briony broke

when Stewart and

they didn't even

to let you know she's taught everything

doesn't have to come to Southcreek Manor, but Irwin heard she was sick

perfectly fine! Not sick at all. But thanks for your concern-no need to trouble yourselves."

at the closed door, his eyes dark and

head bowed, not making

gave his hair a gentle ruffle

He was just wondering-had the magic stone started working? When would Mom's new baby finally go to heaven? He missed the days when it was just

things over in the backseat until he drifted off

found himself back at Southcreek

nowhere in sight; only Ms.