Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica froze, her body tensing for a split second before she shoved Timothy

away with all her strength. She yanked the comforter up to shield herself, glaring at him with a wariness that hadn't been there before.

"It was just a kiss. Was that really necessary?" Timothy scoffed.

She never used to react like this.

Her rejection stoked his frustration-ever since Herbert Wheeler had shown up, Jessica hardly let Timothy touch her at all.

Jessica silently cursed her inability to speak; if she could, she would have called him a creep to his face.

As if he even realized where he'd tried to kiss her.

After making sure the blanket was secure around her, Jessica reached out and signed, "Trying to pull that stunt in broad daylight at the hospital? Get out. I'll change by myself."

Timothy's irritation softened, if only a little.

She was shy-especially in the middle of the day, in a hospital room no less. With her temperament, of course she couldn't accept it.

As long as she wasn't pushing him away for another man, he could live with it.

He was still coaxing her, after all; the last thing he wanted was to drive her so far that she'd never come home again.

So he left the room.

dressed in a hurry and slipped out of

led her toward the exit,

Sheila, chatting with her. "Miss Sheila, could you please talk to my dad? Tell him now's not the time for a wedding. If he's not embarrassed, I

voice was cold, sharp

father's stony expression. Remembering the scolding he'd received at the paper-cutting contest that morning, he shrank back and clung

out of this. She didn't want a wedding,

politely, then turned to Timothy. "You shouldn't be so harsh with Henry all the time. It's not good for

ma'am, dinner's ready.

lecture Henry, but with dinner ready and guests around, now

eaten lunch, so he said,

to the dining room. Pulling out her chair

of them sat across from Timothy

in front of her. "You just got over

voice was gentle, almost

as if her heart were

of tenderness had belonged

her head

there or not, it barely

out pieces of food for her-even