Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy strode toward her, his steps steady, his dark eyes aglow with a gentle, mysterious light.

He leaned down, lifted the blanket, and without a word, scooped her up from the bed into his arms.

His arms were strong, holding her with effortless strength.

Cradled against his broad chest, Jessica felt safe, cocooned in his warmth.

He carried her over to the table where the cake sat, then settled into the chair without letting her go, so she ended up in his lap.

Jessica found herself nestled in his embrace, perched on his thigh-intimate, their bodies close.

With his right arm wrapped around her, Timothy reached under her arm and picked up a box of birthday sparklers from the table.

His other hand fished out a lighter. He lit a sparkler, placed it in her hand, his palm covering hers, and together they touched the flame to the tiny candles on the cake.

As soon as the "2" candle caught, it burst into a spray of tiny sparks, like a miniature firework.

So they were sparkling candles-three of them, all at once, showering the room in soft bursts of light. Timothy drew her closer, his chin resting in the curve of her neck, his voice low and gentle.

"Don't just stare-make a wish."

His sudden tenderness left her mind blank, caught somewhere between disbelief and longing.

For several seconds she couldn't even remember what she wanted to wish for.

Just as the sparklers were burning down, Timothy covered her eyes with his hand.

your eyes. Make a wish.

silently make her birthday wish for

showed her tonight

couldn't help but hope—just a

suspicions would prove wrong, just as tonight had surprised her.

cancer, she'd thought: if, in the time she had left, Timothy could fall in love with her, she'd have no other wishes in

finally burned out, Timothy took her hand, and together they cut

in soft, golden

plastic knife meet some resistance in the

didn't seem to care; he guided her hand to pull

he let go of her, leveled the knife, and scooped out a small

eat anything

gaze was attentive, all

She shook her head.

some cake." He handed her

hesitated, not taking

want me

on hers, the look in them dark

lips

Timothy picked up a fork, speared a small piece of cake, and brought

sweet aroma