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.

felt much better. He called Stewart to ask when his mom would be coming

Briony wouldn't

moment Irwin heard Briony was sick, he demanded

Stewart came to pick him up, and the two of them headed out to

wasn't

the last few days. This morning, she woke

staying at her studio lately, thinking she'd wrap things up before heading to Silveridge in a few days. With so much to finish, she hadn't gone back to Skybreeze Retreat

Briony figured it was just the

so he brought her back to Skybreeze Retreat.

straight to bed

of homemade chicken soup. After

when Stewart

didn't even make

she's taught everything she needs to the

but Irwin heard she was sick and wanted

all. But thanks for your concern-no need to trouble yourselves." With

the closed door, his eyes dark

head bowed,

upset and gave his hair a gentle ruffle before leading him

stone started working? When would Mom's new baby finally go to heaven?

the drive home, Irwin mulled things over in

he found

was nowhere in sight; only Ms. Radcliffe was there to