Stewart left with Irwin–and took the ragdoll cat Rosita had insisted Briony would love.
The moment the door closed behind them, Briony, who had been holding herself together all this time, finally collapsed.
James caught her just as her legs gave out and gently carried her over to the office couch.
She sank into the cushions, clutching her chest, her breathing ragged and fast, her face as white as a sheet.
It was clear she was having a panic attack, triggered by overwhelming emotion.
James pressed a steady hand to her mouth, calmly guiding her, “You’re hyperventilating. Close your mouth and breathe with me. One, two–inhale. That’s it. One, two, inhale…”
With James’s help, her breath eventually slowed to a normal rhythm.
He went to pour her a glass of warm water and brought it to her lips. “Here, drink a little.”
Briony leaned back and sipped the water, and after a few gulps, the tension in her body slowly began to ease. James grabbed a throw pillow and tucked it behind her back. “Lean on this. You’ll feel better.”
Briony looked up at him, her pale lips curving in a faint, sincere smile. “Thank you.”
The past few days had shown her that while James could be blunt, he was genuinely kind–and surprisingly thoughtful for someone his age.
“What’s this?” James bent to pick a folded sheet of paper off the floor, frowning. “An ultrasound report? Whose is-?”
Briony’s heart skipped. She pushed herself up, reaching for it.
“Wait.” James dodged her hand and stood, scanning the document. A few seconds later, he turned to her, brows knit. “You’re pregnant?”
She met his gaze, her own brows pinched. “Don’t tell anyone.”
“But you and Stewart are getting divorced!” James stared at her in disbelief. “Are you planning to raise the baby alone?”
“I have a procedure scheduled for tomorrow.”
James blinked. “A procedure…?”
She nodded, standing to take the report from his hand, her voice barely above a whisper. “An abortion.” James was silent.
Briony slipped the paper back into her bag and headed for the door.
Her golden retriever puppy was still waiting patiently in its crate. As soon as it saw her, it leapt up, tail wagging furiously, barking in delight.
She smiled and let the puppy out.
The little dog bounded over to her, rubbing its head against her hand, tail swishing with uncontainable joy.
James walked over, watching her play with the puppy.
After a long, uncomfortable silence, he finally asked, “Does Stewart know?”
Briony kept her eyes on the puppy, not looking up. “He doesn’t need to.”
James pressed his lips together, falling silent again.
1/2
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“Lucky doesn’t have a dog bed or any food yet, right?” Briony asked softly.
“Oh–actually, I… I already bought everything.” James caught himself, coughed, then added, “My friend took care of it. It’s all in my trunk. I’ll grab it later.”
Briony kept stroking the golden retriever, her whole presence still a little distant and fragile.
James crouched down beside her, watching her quietly.
He remembered how she’d broken down in tears by the riverside after seeing that little girl.
He hadn’t understood it then–he’d thought she was still grieving Julia’s death. But now, after seeing the ultrasound report, after learning she was having a procedure tomorrow…
He understood. Every “I’m sorry” she’d whispered was for the child she was about to lose.
“Actually…” James hesitated, rubbing his nose, weighing his words. “I think… it wouldn’t be so bad to keep the baby. Even if Stewart’s not in the picture.”
Briony’s hand stilled on the puppy’s fur. She glanced up at him.
“I mean it,” James said earnestly. “You’re financially independent, you’re capable–if you want to, you could give this kid a good life, even without Stewart. You wouldn’t have to do it alone.”
Briony frowned. “Raising a child takes more than just money.”
“What else then?” James pressed. “Oh, you mean a dad? Well, I could do that!”
Briony blinked at him, surprised. “You?”
“Sure!” James grinned, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “I can be the godfather! Wait, what’s with that look? Am I not handsome enough, or not charming enough?”
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