Goodbye, Mr. Regret

All they could do was wait-wait for Timothy to come out.

Herbert, worried Jessica might collapse, scooped her up and carried her over to the lounge, gently settling her on a chair.

Sallie didn't like seeing Jessica so close to someone else, but she gritted her teeth and said nothing.

Half an hour crept by. Once Phelps and Naylor had finally recovered a bit, Naylor helped Phelps to the waiting area outside the operating room as well.

No one spoke.

Everyone's thoughts were fixed on Timothy's injuries.

Time stretched endlessly.

To the Lawson family, Timothy was their hope.

And for Jessica, the thought of Timothy in danger was unbearable.

Divorce was divorce, but she'd never wished pain or suffering on him-let alone death.

Especially not now, when he'd gotten hurt saving her and Herbert.

seen him come barreling toward them on his bike, her initial reaction had been anger-she thought he was pulling another reckless stunt, thinking only of

wouldn't

the hospital that day, too, taking care of

could have hired a nurse, but he insisted on being there having family around lifted a patient's spirits, and this was

son.

moment, Vince slipped away to visit

Henry a few times before; to him, the boy had always

was

of nurses talking. "Poor kid-so

already, and now

Vince hurried over to ask what had happened. The nurse, busy helping with Naylor and Phelps moments earlier, told him Timothy had been

took the stairs two at a time to the third-floor operating

saw Herbert beside Jessica in the lounge. Jessica

and crouched in front of her, his

she'd held back

be strong in front of everyone else, but never with Vince. He always managed to comfort her, no matter

"Big brother..."

know why