Goodbye, Mr. Regret

The moment Timothy caught sight of Herbert standing protectively beside Jessica, his lips pressed into a hard, bloodless line.

Herbert, of course, noticed Timothy as well.

Timothy didn't bother hiding how intimately he held the woman in his arms; even when running into his own wife, he made no attempt to keep up appearances.

It was outrageous.

Without another glance at Timothy, Jessica turned toward Herbert and quietly signed, "Let's go."

She acted as if Timothy didn't exist.

Both Timothy and Sheila understood Jessica's sign language.

Sheila, a beat behind everyone else, finally spoke up. "Timothy, Jessica's right here. You can put me down now."

Her voice was still rough and low from the strain.

"Don't talk. Protect your voice," Timothy replied, his tone clipped but concerned.

Jessica and Herbert were already heading toward the exam room when Timothy's words drifted to her ears.

Sheila had undergone surgery on her vocal cords. The fact that she could now do voice-overs for her cartoons meant her recovery was complete.

her throat

Sheila into the exam room, Timothy stepped

didn't want Timothy knowing about her own throat exam. Herbert nodded, understanding her worry,

unless you want one. For now, I'll give you some medication to help with recovery-herbal

Jessica nodded in agreement.

handed her the

her goodbyes, making it clear she had no desire to

had come to this; Jessica no longer wanted to feed Herbert empty stories about loving Timothy or refusing a

this point, even if she wanted to keep lying,

Sheila like that, even the blind could

mention Timothy's behavior with another

you go on home," he said gently. "We'll

for the medication, Herbert

and tracked down a doctor to ask about Herbert's

on the

"Come in," Herbert called.

and Herbert looked

let out

returned to the country, that very first day he saw Jessica—Little Mute, as he called her-standing with him in the square, watching Timothy and Sheila being mobbed by