Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Sandra could only shake her head in resignation.

Vince was just reaching the ER doctor's office with Jessica in his arms when she suddenly opened her eyes, disoriented to find herself in a hospital.

Panic flickered across her face. She quickly tugged at Vince's sleeve. "I'm fine, really. You can put me down."

"We're already at the doctor's office. Let's just have you checked out."

Jessica had barely made it home before her parents were overwhelmed with joy. If they saw her coming into the hospital now, there'd be no way to hide her cancer from them.

She had always planned to tell Vince first. Letting their parents know so soon would only devastate them-especially their mother.

Trying to sound casual, Jessica explained, "I just got a little woozy when I saw Timothy's wound. I just need a minute to recover."

It was true. She'd been through enough to understand. Some people aren't normally squeamish, but when someone they care about is hurt badly, it can trigger a fainting response. That's exactly what happened to her.

Timothy appeared just then, catching the tail end of her words. He hurried over. "Jessy, you still care about me, don't you?"

Everyone turned as Timothy approached, and the mood soured instantly.

Timothy's eyes held,

been married for seven years, and still, he hadn't trusted her he'd even

Lawson, can't we just put a period at the

years were real. How am I supposed to

couldn't be erased or

stormy night—I tried to get to

he always left things unsaid, and every time their conversations broke

Timothy's heart, bringing him pain and helplessness he'd never known before. It should have

look. "Timothy, do you have to cling to her like

all the details of Timothy and Jessica's

scolded Vince, "Watch your manners.

soon. Jessy clearly has no intention of getting back together. She went missing, her background's still unclean She was supposed to

"Mr. Zimmerman, are you saying you

Jessy marries in the future, you two are already divided in every way that matters.

don't stand waiting forever, Timothy.

the concern of a father figure. Timothy, though stubborn, wouldn't