Stewart said nothing. He just cast a faint glance at James, then turned to Briony. "You're still going through with the divorce?"
Briony caught the edge of a threat in his tone.
Sure enough, his next words came cold and sharp: "Briony, we have a daughter. You shouldn't be so stubborn."
Briony let out a mocking laugh. "Four years ago, it was all about Irwin. Now, after all this time, you're using our daughter?"
"Irwin's different now. Jeannie Radcliffe's done a good job raising him—he's much more mature."
Briony almost found it funny.
"Stewart, what am I to you, really? Is tormenting me the only thing that makes you feel alive?"
Stewart frowned, about to retort, but just then, the teacher came out with the children.
Briony ignored him, turning away with James to look for Little Nina.
The moment Little Nina spotted them, she bounded over, grinning from ear to ear.
"Mama! Uncle James!"
Briony knelt down, gathering her daughter into her arms and planting a kiss on her soft, chubby cheek. "Did you miss me, sweetheart?"
"I missed you so much!" Little Nina kissed Briony's cheek in return, her eyes shining. "Mama, is Grandma Julia feeling any better?"
During the days Briony was caring for Julia, Gwendolyn White and the others had explained to Little Nina who Julia was.
Though she'd never met Julia, Little Nina understood: Grandma Julia was Mama's birth mother, her family—and that made her Little Nina's family, too.
Mama cared deeply about Grandma Julia, and if Mama cared, so would she!
The grown-ups called that: loving someone because you love the people they love.
Worried Stewart might try to approach, James scooped Little Nina up in his arms, finally relaxing once she was safe.
He shot Stewart a look, gave a dismissive snort, and turned to Briony. "Let's head home."
Briony nodded.
Stewart watched the three of them—so much like a happy family—his dark eyes narrowing.
Held safe in James's arms, Little Nina's bright eyes darted around, and suddenly she spotted Stewart. Her mouth formed a little "O."
"Mama, that's the weird man who showed up out of nowhere when we were sketching last time!"
Briony and James both froze.
So Stewart had seen Little Nina before?
They exchanged a glance.
James asked, "Sweetheart, did he say anything to you?"
"He asked my name."
"And what did you say?" Briony prompted.
"I didn't tell him!" Little Nina huffed, proud as could be. "I thought maybe he was a kidnapper—since I'm so cute, he might want to steal me away! So I talked really loud and called the teacher over. He was scared of her, and the second she came, he left right away!"
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