Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Stewart sensed something was off. "What's going on?" he asked.

Judd glanced at Briony, then back to Stewart, his tone resigned. "The mayor meant well-he wanted to tidy up Mrs. Hudson a bit so her family wouldn't be upset when they saw her. But Mrs. Hudson refused to cooperate."

Briony's anxiety spiked. "What does that mean?" she pressed Judd. "What's happened to my mom?"

Judd looked uncertainly at Stewart.

A crease formed between Stewart's brows. "Take us to her."

"Alright. Come with me," Judd said, turning and leading the way toward a small gate at the edge of the yard.

The gate opened into the mayor's barn.

Briony hurried after him, hope flickering stubbornly in her chest. It couldn't be that bad, she told herself. It just couldn't.

But reality hit her hard the moment she stepped inside.

Huddled in the corner of the barn was a woman with sallow skin, her body curled in on itself. She wore tattered clothes, her hair tangled and matted with straw. Her face was so dirty that only her eyes were visible.

struck by

started forward, but someone grabbed

Farrah, held her back. "She's not in her right mind. She doesn't recognize anyone. Don't

looked at Farrah desperately. "She's my mom. I'm here

it's good for you to take her

"Why? Why is she like

man he brought her back here. She had a terrible fever for a week. The island doctor came several times and said she probably wouldn't make it. We were about to

when my husband and I got back from the station, she was gone. We searched everywhere and finally found her in the barn, clutching a pile of straw and talking to herself. It took all my patience to coax her back inside. But the next day she came

listened, the more hopeless

all too

mother had lost

living

wiped her tears away and moved toward the woman

out and stopped her. "Didn't you hear what

voice cold. "She's my mother.

person-not an animal. She didn't belong in a place like

are safer ways to get her out," Stewart insisted, grabbing her