Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy's brow was deeply furrowed. He had traveled halfway across the world, injuries and all, just to clear up the misunderstanding between him and Jessica.

How had it come to this-had he really pushed her to the brink?

Problems between a husband and wife only fester and worsen when left unspoken, without honest communication.

"I came here to explain things to her," Timothy said firmly.

Vince's tone was gentle but steady, "Timothy, listen to me. Give her some time. Let her recover and catch her breath. I haven't known Jessica for long, but even I can tell she's wound tighter than a spring. She's still in the hospital, trying to get better. Her throat-think about it. How do you think she'll react if she sees you right now?"

Timothy's frown deepened.

He remembered how, that day, Jessica had actually flinched from his touch. The moment he reached out to brush her cheek, she had started trembling uncontrollably.

But still...

"Timothy, you two aren't even divorced yet, are you? There's no need to rush. You know as well as I do how much that night affected her-don't make it worse by forcing things."

Vince was trying to buy Jessica some peace and quiet.

When someone's sick, emotional stress only makes things worse. And matters between a man and a woman—if they aren't mutual, if the heart isn't in it—it can be deeply hurtful.

Timothy said nothing, lost in thought.

Vince pressed on, "Even I wanted to shake you that night, you know? Just think about how she must have felt. Why else would there have been a paring knife lying by her feet?"

need to see Jessica. Showing up now

Timothy quietly hung up.

be told, he hated the smell of antiseptic. In the end, he decided to stay at

at the Howard family estate,

and Sandra were both awake, and when they saw the state Timothy was in -bruised and battered-Sandra burst

concern, worry etched into every line of his

of Sheila, just as Phelps

a six-year-old son. Why

Downstairs, Sheila heard the

unable to

moment she saw Timothy, her eyes went widecand she rushed to

did you

was nearly in

was just a minor

accident? You call

ached for him, but he made it sound like nothing

late. You should get

off a long flight, and he needs