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.

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. Why are you

finally turned and left the

gone, Vince helped Jessica over to the bed next to Daisy's and

my medication. I'll be fine once I take it. I just left my bag in Grandpa's

hall to Larkin's room, where their parents were keeping vigil. When Zachary saw him, he said, "Vince, why don't you take your mother and

I'll go

Jessica's bag and returned to the room. He poured her a glass of water and

meds, swallowing them with a

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

home first. If she sees me like this, she'll only worry and

will come quickly, and once they're in, I'll take you abroad for

her again—he couldn't bear to lose

that Jessy had already met Daisy and had even taken her as her goddaughter.

Zachary nor Mrs. Zimmerman protested, so Vince took Mrs. Zimmerman

Timothy hadn't actually left the hospital. He stood outside the entrance, smoking nervously, watching as Vince led Mrs. Zimmerman out to the car. Once they'd driven off, Timothy stubbed out his cigarette and went