NovelEnglishStewart carried a bowl of warm, nourishing soup upstairs.
Briony was sitting on the bed, video chatting with Little Nina and Little Mario. She'd draped a cardigan over her shoulders on purpose; you couldn't tell from the camera that she was in a hospital.
"When are you coming home, Mommy?" Little Nina asked, her small voice soft and sweet.
With her daughter's gentle face on the screen, Briony couldn't help but relax. Even her voice grew softer, melting around the words. "In a couple of days, honey. Mommy's been out of the country for a long tthis time, and there's a mountain of things waiting at the studio. So I'll be pretty busy for the next few days." Little Nina blinked, her eyes wide. "Is Daddy with you right now?" Briony glanced instinctively at Stewart.
He cover, set the soup down on the bedside table, and sat beside her. Looking at their young daughter on the phone, his voice warm and calm, he said, "Daddy's here too." "Whoa!" Little Nina covered her mouth, grinning mischievously. "Daddy and Mommy are together! Are you two hiding from us to have a secret date?" Briony froze, caught off guard.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtStewart shot her a sidelong look.
He could see the awkwardness flicker in her eyes.
Turning back to the phone, Stewart patiently explained, "Daddy's job abroad ended, and the big company closed down. Now, Mommy's the big boss, and Daddy works for her. That's why Daddy's with Mommy every day." "Huh?" Little Nina blinked, surprised. "So Mommy pays Daddy a salary?" Stewart smiled faintly. "That's right. Since Mommy's the boss, she has to pay Daddy." "Wow! Mommy, you're amazing!" Little Nina clapped her hands, excited. "When I grow up, I want to be a big boss too, and hire lots and lots of really handsguys like Daddy to work for me! Then I can see a bunch of handsfaces every day!" Stewart: "..." Briony: " 11 On the other end, James nearly exploded. "Little Nina! That's not the right way to think! Handsguys are all trouble. It's dangerous to have so many around you. I don't approve. Your godfather says no!" Little Nina turned to James, eyes bright. "But godfather, you're handstoo. Does that mean you're trouble?" James: " || Little Nina continued, "I know! Godfather isn't trouble at all. You're not just good-looking, you're really good at your job. Oh, are you working for Mommy too?" James huffed, "I am not! I'm Mommy's business partner. We're colleagues!" "That still means you work together!" Little Nina winked, then started counting on her fingers. "Godfather, Daddy, Mr. Douglas, Mr. Ellsworth, Mr. Maynard-you're all handsome, and you all work with Mommy! So why is it okay for Mommy to have a bunch of handsguys around, but notwhen I grow up?" Briony: "..." Stewart couldn't help but laugh, glancing at Briony. "Our daughter has a thing for good looks, but she's clever. I don't think we'll ever have to worry about her being fooled by any man." Briony: "..." There was clearly no salvaging the conversation.
Briony quickly ended the call.
Stewart stood and handed her the bowl of soup. "I just made this. It's probably still hot, so be careful." Briony stared at the steaming bowl in front of her.
The soup was clear and thick, just the right consistency, with a pearly sheen.
It looked almost exactly like the soup she used to make.
Surprised, she looked up at Stewart. "You made this?" He rubbed his nose, looking a little embarrassed. "I followed your recipe. Try it." "My recipe?" Briony was puzzled. "But I never taught you how." Stewart avoided her eyes, speaking so softly she could barely hear. "The journal you left behind..." Briony paused, realization dawning.
She remembered now. Over four years ago, when she left Northborough for Silveridge, Stewart had asked her to help teach Jeannie Radcliffe. Back then, Briony had started learning everything from scratch to care for Irwin Wentworth. That journal was filled with detailed notes on cooking and ingredients.
She never imagined Stewart had kept it all this time.
And she certainly never expected him to actually learn from it.
Briony looked down at the bowl in her hands.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmDuring those years when she'd loved 3 most, she'd never an never she'd one day be eating soup he made himself.
A single bowl of soup-so simple, yet it held all the the years of heartache and longing she could never put into words.
Her eyes burned with tears.
Lifting the bowl, she scooped up a spoonful, blew gently cool it, and tasted it. The flavor was soft and rich, the texture creamy and smooth.
It tasted exactly like hers.
She closed her eyes, swallowing slowly.
Stewart watched her, a little anxious. "Well? How is it? Is it good?"
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