Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy, for his part, hadn't even shown the slightest hint of anger.

Sallie, clearly dissatisfied, shot Jessica a dramatic eyeroll before turning back to Timothy. "Timothy, maybe you don't know this yet, but on Grandpa's birthday, I saw her at the fabric market. She was with some guy, laughing and looking awfully cozy with him..."

Timothy fixed his gaze on Sallie, his eyes cold as frost. His lips, sharp as if carved from marble, pressed into a hard, silent line.

Realizing she'd pushed too far, Sallie clammed up immediately.

She'd acted on impulse-again.

Men care about their pride, after all. And Jessica, being mute, made any talk of

her cheating even more humiliating for Timothy.

She shouldn't have blurted it out so recklessly.

Timothy broke eye contact, reaching over to take Jessica's hand.

Jessica tried to pull away, but his grip was unyielding.

Sallie just gaped.

Even now, Timothy was taking Jessica home?

her suitcase in the backseat, and got in himself. He didn't spare

twisted in

thought, she reasoned that Timothy, with his composure, would never argue

Sallie climbed into her own car, intent on following to

***

Timothy brought Jessica home.

the master bedroom, gently guiding her to sit at the edge of the bed. Then he knelt in front of her, his hands

and elegant, his features striking; watching him communicate

it. Jessica could hear perfectly well —she just didn't speak. He and his father knew sign only so

"About this morning-sorry. I was up all

Jessica hesitated.

Timothy had ever explained himself

she quickly steeled herself.

responded in sign:

passed over Timothy's eyes, dark and turbulent. His

turning away from

the way he liked it. Divorce had never even crossed

why Jessica was suddenly making a