Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Blair had asked a local to help look after Briony while she recovered on Goldfish Isle.

The helper was a young woman named Autumn, just twenty years old. She explained that her father had named her Autumn because she was born in the fall.

After two more days on Goldfish Isle, Briony was feeling much better. She was tired of lying in bed all day; the stillness was starting to suffocate her. She wanted to get outside, to feel the world again.

Autumn was attentive and gentle, always mindful of Briony's blindness. When Briony mentioned she wanted to go out for a walk, Autumn was quick to offer her arm, guiding her carefully out of the house and onto the sandy beach.

Evening was setting in. The air held a salty tang, the breeze cool against their skin. Autumn tucked the shawl more tightly around Briony's shoulders. "Are you cold, Briony?"

Briony shook her head. "I'm fine. Autumn, can you tell me more about your island?"

Autumn scratched her head, thinking. "Do you know why it's called Goldfish Isle?" Briony guessed, "Because the island looks like a goldfish?"

"Nope!" Autumn laughed. "It's because we actually have goldfish on the island!"

Briony was surprised. “But aren't goldfish freshwater fish? People usually keep them in tanks."

island isn't very big, but we have a few hills. One of them has a freshwater

"Oh, I see."

there are two stories," Autumn went on. "Some say the goldfish were always here, but others believe that ages ago, a sailor landed on the island and released his pet goldfish into the

and sky met in a sweep of endless blue. Yet all she saw was

"If I could see, I'd love to visit

sun-browned skin from years beneath the open sky, but Briony was so pale, almost.

el.not

the snow-white skin that seemed glow in the dusk. Even though Briony's eyes couldn't see, she was striking-like a living work of art. Autumn found herself stealing glances,

sorrow Briony kept

Briony," Autumn said gently. "Just think of this as a little vacation. When Mr.

you

he'll find a brilliant doctor to help you. Your

kind words

asked, "Where is

since last night, and a strange