Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Sheila stepped into the room.

She walked over to the bedside, her expression etched with worry as she glanced at Henry. "Jessica, is Henry alright?"

Jessica knew Sheila could read sign language, so she skipped typing on her phone and signed directly.

"It's appendicitis, but he's okay now. The surgery's done."

"How did he get appendicitis all of a sudden?"

Jessica shook her head.

Sheila's face softened with sympathy. "Poor thing, must have been so painful for him."

Sheila pulled up a chair and sat down next to Jessica.

Jessica frowned, her mind drifting.

Timothy had suddenly started doting on her, buying her cake, acting unusually close, and upending one of her long-held suspicions.

Because she loved him so much, she was utterly defenseless against his gentleness.

her heart was

were the same age, they never acted like aunt and nephew. That strange lack

and Sallie had

uninvited, Jessica's emotions were

reminder of everything

gave in to the urge to ask Sheila outright—just to get the truth out. But she stopped herself; it felt

in both words and actions, she'd seemed to be

something between Sheila and Timothy, would Sheila ever admit it? And if word got back to Timothy, it

herself on being above

was only because she was so conflicted inside, desperate to know the truth, that

and sat quietly, not saying a

however, broke

out of danger now. You've been up all night-why don't you go home and get some rest? I'll stay with

just got off

then said, "Actually, Jessica, there's something you should know. Last time Henry had a fever, the nurse who gave him the injection was his classmate's mother. He asked me to pretend to be you-he didn't want his classmates to find out about your situation. It's almost morning, and once the day staff comes in, there'll be more people around. He might run into

finish, but her meaning was