Chapter 16

"Mom?"

Irwin refused to give up. He ran into the living room, calling out for her.

"Mom? Mom!"

He searched every corner, but Briony was nowhere to be found.

Only then did Irwin realize-Briony had left.

For the first time ever, Briony had walked out on him without a word.

Frustration welled up in Irwin. He grabbed all the toys Briony had bought him from the sofa and hurled them to the floor.

Upstairs in his study, Stewart heard the commotion and came down to check.

The living room was a disaster zone. In the chaos, the divorce papers got knocked under the sofa as well.

Stewart frowned and glanced toward the kitchen. "Where's your mom?"

"She's not my mom!" Irwin shouted back, voice trembling with anger. "What kind of mom just leaves her kid alone when he's sick? I can't stand her! I don't want her for a mom anymore!"

Stewart paused, caught off guard. "She left?"

"Yes!" Irwin's outburst faded and hurt flooded his face. Suddenly, he burst into tears.

"She's awful! She doesn't want me anymore, does she? Even after I got my pretty, gentle new mom, I never said I didn't want her. How could she do this to me... She's terrible! She's mean!"

Irwin's hair with his big hand. "Even if you're

me the way she used to! Dad, is it because I have a new mom now? Is

sofa, pulling a few tissues from

though you've reconnected with Mom Rosita, she'll love

Irwin sniffled. "Really?"

"Dad never lies."

his father's words, and the knot of anxiety and

longed

sick and couldn't eat much, but the soup Briony made always tasted so good and comforting. He wanted her to make

I still really miss

you finish your soup

that, Irwin's eyes lit

went straight back to her

three days, her mother would

in just over a week, it

with everything they'd need. She'd even arranged for a cleaning service to come tomorrow and tidy the place

one artifact restoration to deliver the next day

finish this one

year, she wanted to spend Christmas with

she

her stomach, a tangle of emotions

hadn't decided what to do about

would Stewart say if he found out she was

he be the same way with her

it, the more foolish she

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