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?

the backseat, and got in himself. He

twisted in

she reasoned that Timothy, with his composure, would never argue with Jessica in public. He'd probably wait until they were home to deal with

into her own car, intent on

***

Timothy brought Jessica home.

they entered the master bedroom, gently guiding her to sit at the edge of the bed. Then he knelt in

were long and elegant, his features striking; watching him communicate in sign language, he was almost

it. Jessica could hear perfectly well —she just didn't speak.

the words: "About this morning-sorry. I was up all night with Henry

Jessica hesitated.

first time Timothy had ever explained himself to

herself. It didn't

in sign: "Let's

over Timothy's eyes, dark and turbulent.

turning

Their life since marrying had been peaceful-just the way he liked it. Divorce had never even crossed

why Jessica was suddenly making