Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Don't blame Jessy. If I hadn't taken the necklace out, it never would've broken..."

Sheila looked so wracked with guilt that Timothy didn't have the heart to comfort her.

His mother had given her life to save him and his sister. He'd never met her, but he knew she'd been extraordinary.

While waiting for death, she'd poured her love for her children onto the pages of a journal, a legacy that had accompanied him into adulthood.

"I'll get the necklace fixed," Timothy said quietly, and with that, he walked away. Sheila couldn't tell if he was angry with her or not.

If he was, then why had he defended her when Jessica was there just moments ago? But if he wasn't, why was he now so cold, barely speaking to her?

At least, from the way Timothy's eyes flashed with barely contained anger when he saw Jessica push her, Sheila knew he wasn't indifferent. Maybe it was just his sense of self-control that kept him from slapping Jessica right then and there. She understood his character-no matter what, he would never raise a hand to a woman.

Jessica returned to her tiny apartment, pushing the door open to find Vince inside.

As soon as he saw her, he rushed over, gripping her shoulders, his face a mask of worry. "Jessy, what happened? Why is there blood on the floor?"

That morning, Vince had come by Jessica's place.

Her phone was off. He knocked, but no one answered.

surprised to

he'd found a dark stain on the wooden floor-blood, dried

to be found. Just as he stepped out

dead. She dug through her bag for a notepad and, after a moment's thought, scribbled a quick note: *"I'm fine, don't worry about me. The blood's from a stray dog I helped

had no intention of telling anyone about

she certainly

of all, she couldn't let Timothy

get a divorce, this illness was her last

let out a

his sides. Then, noticing how pale she looked,

Are you sure

well last night,* she wrote,

who didn't know sign language was exhausting, and writing everything out slowed every conversation to

voice-emitting pendant Herbert Wheeler had given her was a godsend now that she'd

I'll call the attorney, have him come by later

need. Let's meet with him now-I'll take a

determined to get the

glass of water. She found her phone charger