Timothy was already far down the road.

Sheila stood where she was, helpless and rooted to the spot.

He really was growing more and more concerned about Jessica.

Seven years had changed so many things.

Timothy tracked down Jessica's attending physician and finally learned the truth: Jessica had gone into shock from extreme fright.

The police had found her in her hotel room and brought her straight to the hospital.

The tight knot in Timothy's chest loosened, just a little.

He remembered, vaguely, a night years ago. A thunderstorm had raged outside, and they'd been curled up in bed. Jessica had clung to him so tightly, trembling. For once, she'd been the one to pull him in for a kiss, her hands tangled in his hair. Even afterwards, she'd stayed wrapped around him like ivy.

He'd never realized, until now, how afraid she was of storms.

Last night's thunderstorm was the worst in years-lightning webbing across the sky, thunder shaking the windows.

It was no wonder Jessica had been so terrified she'd gone into shock.

A pang of regret stabbed through Timothy.

He should have come straight here the moment his flight was canceled at the airport. Should have hired a helicopter if he had to.

Timothy

herself, then made

waited in the hallway, expecting he

she saw him striding out of the hospital, still wearing

What is he thinking?!

to see Jessica looking

practically hear her

hair out of place, shirts pressed to perfection. There

Jessica. All those little things he used to care about gone, just like

anyone else, Sheila might

But this was Timothy.

fists, nails digging into

hurried to the stairs, and

cruel twist of fate, her forehead struck the handrail. Blood streamed down her face, and stars burst before her

fumbled for her phone

a taxi at the curb when Sheila's name flashed on his screen. He

a hotel for the night when

a hurry, I missed

pressed into a thin, hard line. After a brief silence,

up, a satisfied

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