Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Steam curled gently above the bathtub, where Little Nina sat with her knees hugged to her chest, idly swirling a rubber duck through the bubbles.

"Don't you like that man?" Briony asked, kneeling beside the tub, her hands scrubbing Nina's back in gentle circles.

"Like him?" Nina wrinkled her nose. "Why would I like him?"

Briony paused, glancing up to meet her daughter's eyes.

Nina tipped her round head, lips pursed in thought. "Just because he's my dad, am I supposed to like him? I don't even know him! I have no idea if he's a good dad or not, so why should I like him?"

Briony fell silent, lost for words.

"Leo's dad hits his mom," Nina continued, her tone matter-of-fact. "And Leo even saw him hugging and kissing another lady. Leo told his mom, and then she and his dad had a huge fight, and then his dad hit her... Leo says he hates his dad, because his dad treats his mom horribly."

Nina blew a handful of bubbles from her palm and looked up at Briony with wide, earnest eyes.

"Mom, if he was good to you, you wouldn't dislike him, right? You're such a kind person—if you don't like him, he must have been awful to you!"

Briony stared at her, stunned by the child's logic.

he treated you badly, then I don't want to like him

She reached out and stroked her daughter's damp hair. "But what if he's good to

"If he's good to me, does

could only

scooped up her rubber duck, launching into a string of complaints. "Every time he talks to

does it. What am I supposed to do with so many toys? It's such a waste of money! He'd be better off

between laughter and

was a child with her own mind. When it came to Stewart-the father who had suddenly appeared in her life—she wanted to make her

together with him?" Nina asked suddenly, her eyes bright

her thoughts and smiled, shaking her head. "No,

if—" Nina's voice turned earnest, "I mean, if someday he does

dad, and I decide he's alright

"Of course not."

Briony caressed her daughter's

because your