Goodbye, Mr. Regret

The Lawsons had completely fallen out with the Howards.

Now that Sheila was back, it suggested the tension had eased—at least a little.

Given how close he was with Sheila, he'd never embarrass Timothy in public by making a scene.

Yates, on the other hand, fixed Timothy with a thoughtful stare. "Sheila's got a point. No woman could put up with that much for so long. Why don't you bring her over and introduce us? She deserves at least that much."

"There's nothing to explain."

Timothy picked up his glass, taking a long, punishing swallow of whiskey.

Jessica, that woman just couldn't behave.

He'd handled everything for her, made it all so easy. All she had to do was send him a single message, and he'd let bygones be bygones, bring her home.

But of course.

She just had to ruin his mood.

Still, if she came to him now, made the first move, maybe just maybe he'd forgive her this once.

Sheila noticed Jessica was gone. Rising from her seat, she put on a show of mock annoyance. "Timothy, you- What am I supposed to do with you? Oh, forget it. If you won't go get her, I'll do it myself."

Sheila glanced in the direction where Jessica had been only moments ago.

Where did

time to see that familiar figure had vanished, and his eyes

line formed on his lips, simmering with

tugged Sheila back down into her seat. "If Timothy can't be bothered,

Timothy didn't care at all about the woman who'd given him a

still looked uneasy.

come on, enough with the 'but.' Have

a piece of fruit with a plastic fork

seriously intended to go fetch Jessica anyway, so she accepted

nearly spent cigarette in the ashtray. "I'm going to use

slipped away, an odd tension seemed to

glass, nodding at Yates for

Timothy

an eyebrow. "Hard to

but seven years had

shot Sheila a knowing look. "What about you,

pink. "How should I

outside the restroom, Timothy made a call to his

Come inside and find out what

up without

the kind of