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

him Briony wouldn't

moment Irwin heard Briony was sick, he demanded

and the two of them headed out to visit

really wasn't

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

before heading to Silveridge in a few days. With so much to finish, she hadn't

to the hospital, but Briony figured it was just the usual fatigue and dizziness

he brought her back to Skybreeze Retreat. With Marlene and Gina around to help, he

Retreat, Briony went straight

she woke, Gina brought her a steaming bowl of homemade chicken soup. After finishing it, Briony broke

when Stewart and Irwin

they didn't even

taught everything she needs to the new nanny. She

have to come to Southcreek Manor, but Irwin heard she was sick and wanted to check on

But thanks for your concern-no need to trouble yourselves." With that, James shut the

the closed door, his eyes

silent, head bowed,

assumed he was upset and gave his hair

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 him and his mom

the drive home, Irwin mulled things over in the backseat until he

he woke, he found himself back

dad was nowhere in sight; only Ms. Radcliffe was there to keep him