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.

hope, or longing Timothy's eyes held,

trusted her he'd even insulted her outright. Even

her words cool and even. "Mr. Lawson, can't we just put a period at the end of

years were real. How am I supposed to

couldn't be erased

shouldn't have lashed out. I never meant to refuse your calls for help that stormy night—I tried to get to you. I promised

spoke this much in one go. Maybe that was part of the problem- he always left things unsaid, and every time their conversations broke

he'd never known

protectively to his side and shot Timothy a cold look. "Timothy, do you have to

didn't know all the details of

scolded Vince, "Watch your manners. There's no

"Timothy, the paperwork's done. Divorce will be finalized soon. Jessy clearly has no intention of getting back together. She went missing, her background's still unclean She was supposed to marry Yates,

are you saying you want

in the future, you two are already divided in every way that matters. All that's

stand waiting forever, Timothy. As your elder, I suggest you see

were heavy with the concern of a father figure. Timothy, though stubborn,