As Briony made her way downstairs, James had just stepped out of his car. Seeing her safe and sound, he let out a sigh of relief.


    "What took you so long up there? I tried calling you a bunch of times and you didn''t pick up. I was starting to think something happened."


    "You called me?" Briony immediately fished her phone out of her purse. Sure enough, there were three missed calls.


    She slipped the phone back into her bag and looked at James. "Sorry, I had it buried in my purse and didn''t notice."


    James opened the passenger door for her. "As long as you''re alright. You know you''re practically a national treasure right now-Father Benedict and Mrs. Winslow remind me every day to keep an eye on you."


    Briony''s lips curved in a faint smile as she ducked into the car.


    James closed the door and turned to head for his own seat, but just then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a tall figure in ck stepping out of the building.


    He paused and nced over.


    Stewart had seen him, too.


    But the two men merely exchanged a fleeting look before turning away.


    At that moment, a sleek ck Mercedes pulled up behind James''s Range Rover.


    Carl got out and opened the back door. Stewart climbed in.


    James slid into his seat, buckled up, and started the engine.


    The ck Mercedes glided past his window, disappearing into the night.


    With one hand on the steering wheel, James asked, "Stewart didn''t give you a hard time, did he?"


    Briony rubbed her temples. "He refuses to sign the divorce papers."


    "What?!" James was stunned. "He''s already gone public with Rosita, and Irwin''s five now. What''s he ying at, refusing to get divorced?"


    Briony shook her head. "I honestly have no idea what he wants."


    "He''s not some kind of closet psycho, is he?" James muttered, shaking his head. "What, does he get off on stringing along his first love as the other woman? Is that some new kind of neurosis? I mean, I''ve heard of mutant viruses, not mutant personalities."


    "I don''t know." Briony sounded exhausted.


    "So what are you going to do?" James pressed. "If he won''t agree, you could always file for divorce yourself. Irwin is proof enough of his affair-you''d have a strong case."


    It was true. If she sued for divorce on grounds of infidelity, the court would have no reason not to take her side.


    "What''s holding you back?" James asked.


    “In Northborough, if I try to take him to court, I''m worried I won''t find awyer willing to help."


    "Then get someone from out of town," James suggested. "When I''m back in Silveridge, I''ll ask around for you."


    "Thank you. That''d be a big help."


    James rolled his eyes as he eased the car forward. “Here we go again. Do you think of Father Benedict and Mrs. Winslow as family?"


    Briony wasn''t sure why he''d suddenly brought that up, but after thinking for a moment, she nodded. "They are my family."


    "Well, I''m their student and godson, you know!" James shot her a yful look. "So that makes me family too, doesn''t it?"


    Briony blinked, surprised, then smiled. "Of course it does."


    "Then stop thanking me all the time."


    James kept his eyes on the road, driving steadily. "The pain of the past fades, you know. Loss and separation are part of life. I know Ms. Hudson''s sudden passing was hard for you, but you have to learn to move on."


    Briony was taken aback, ncing at James''s profile as he gazed ahead.


    "James, you''re awfully young to be so wise."


    "I was a handful as a kid," he grinned. "My granddad used to make me sit through philosophy sses just to settle me down, so maybe that''s where ites from."


    "Ah, raised by your granddad," Briony said, her eyes crinkling. "No wonder you act like such an old soul."


    James shot her a mock re. "Hey, is that supposed to be apliment or an insult?"


    "It''s apliment." Briony turned to the window, her voice soft. "I was raised by my grandfather, too."


    Jamesughed. "Well, would you look at that fate really did bring us together from miles apart."


    Briony smiled gently.


    That evening, just as Stewart dropped Irwin off at the studio, his phone buzzed. It was Maxine Moore, Rosita''s agent, calling with rming news: Rosita was threatening to end her life.