Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica braced herself against the wall, the bowl of water she'd been carrying slipping from her grasp and crashing to the floor, sending water splashing

everywhere.

She looked pale and unsteady.

Timothy hurried over and caught her before she could fall. "Jessy, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick? Let me take you to the hospital."

She tried to shrug him off, but a sharp pain twisted through her abdomen, leaving her too weak to resist.

Vince rushed over, gently prying Timothy's arm away and wrapping his own around Jessica's shoulders.

In a faint voice, Jessica muttered, "Vince, make him leave. I don't want to see him."

Timothy's heart pounded in his chest. "I'm not going anywhere! You're sick, Jessy. Let me take you to see a doctor."

Jessica shot him a cold look. "I don't need your help. Just go."

Even though she was barely holding herself together, her words came out with surprising force.

about her cancer. His voice was steely as he turned to Timothy. "Didn't you say you were going to change? She doesn't want to see you, and she's obviously feeling worse because you're here.

after a long moment he finally turned and left the room, his

Jessica over to the bed next to Daisy's and eased her down. "I'm going to

have my medication. I'll be fine once I take it. I just left my bag in Grandpa's room-could you grab it

"Vince, why don't you take your mother and Jessy home to rest for a while? Your mother's not well-she shouldn't be staying up all

go

and returned to the room. He poured her a glass of

took her meds, swallowing them with a

and Mom home. Are you up for it? If you're not, stay here and I'll

Mom home first. If she sees me like this,

come back for you. Jessy, don't be scared. The test results will come quickly, and once they're in, I'll take you abroad for the surgery. You're going to get

to lose her now. No one

already met Daisy and had even taken her as her goddaughter. With Daisy running a fever, Jessy was

protested, so Vince took Mrs. Zimmerman home

He stood outside the entrance, smoking nervously, watching as Vince led Mrs. Zimmerman out to the car. Once they'd driven off, Timothy stubbed