Briony turned away from Stewart, no longer meeting his eyes, and staggered forward, barely holding herself together.


    "Bryn!"


    Ste hurried after her, catching up to help her into the car.


    Stewart''sshes trembled. He''d just started to move when Cedric rke, unable


    to watch any longer, stepped in to block his way.


    "Stewart, let it go. She needs someone else right now, and that''s not you."


    Stewart''s expression darkened at those words.


    Cedric, frustrated, shook his head. "Honestly, you''re hopeless. You just stand there trying to make your presence known, and it''s infuriating!"


    Stewart shot him a re, his face like a thundercloud, but said nothing.


    Cedric sighed, the whole situation growing more absurd by the second.


    "I mean it, man. You even kept your secret marriage to Briony from me! Thest time at the hotel, I said all those things... No wonder Dr. Joyner was giving me that look. Stewart, you totally set me up...''


    But Stewart wasn''t listening anymore. He pulled out his phone and dialed. "I need a search and rescue team. Money''s not a problem-just send them."


    For three days, Briony waited-sometimes by the riverbank, sometimes at the police station-hoping for news.


    Ste took time off from her job at the hospital, staying with Briony day and night. On New Year''s Eve, the officer assigned to the case finally approached Briony and told her the search was over. He offered his condolences.


    Briony didn''t say a word. Once outside the station, she told Ste she wanted to stop by the grocery store.


    Ste knew something was wrong. Ever since Julia''s ident, Briony had locked all her emotions deep inside. It was unsettling-far more so than if she''d broken down in tears.


    But Ste was helpless. Briony had shut herself off, moving through the world like a numb, unfeeling puppet.


    At the store, Briony quietly filled her basket with all the foods Julia had loved.


    Ste trailed after her, eyes stinging with unshed tears.


    Once home, Briony headed straight for the kitchen and began to cook.


    Worried she might drift off or hurt herself, Ste stayed close, helping where she could.


    As night fell and the city''s lights flickered on, Briony finally finished, setting out a full table of holiday dishes.


    She set three ces, then called Ste to join her at the table.


    Ste sat down, staring at the hearty, festive meal-everything looked delicious, but she had no appetite at all.


    Briony put a few pieces of fish into the empty bowl beside her, thendled soup into another bowl and ced it at the same spot.


    Watching this, Ste''s chest tightened; her tears flowed unchecked.


    "Bryn, please don''t do this. Just let yourself cry. If Julia could see you like this, it would break her heart..."


    Briony looked up, her lips pale but curved in a faint smile. "It''s New Year''s Eve. We can''t cry today."


    "I''m okay," she said softly. "Come on, let''s eat."


    She picked up a meatball and put it in Ste''s bowl. "These are your favorite. I made them just for you so you can''t use me of only cooking what my mom liked."


    Ste stared at the meatball, tears streaming even harder.


    Briony frowned and shot her a mock re. "If you keep crying, I''ll throw you out, I swear."


    Then she quietly ced more of Julia''s favorite dishes in the empty bowl beside her.


    Ste pressed her lips together, trying to hold back the sobs, but the tears just wouldn''t stop.