Goodbye, Mr. Regret

After saying his piece, Father Benedict gently gestured toward the porcelain

teacup. "The tea's getting cold, my friend. Please, have some."

Timothy finished the last of his tea, warmth lingering only in memory.

Father Benedict rose from his seat. "There's much to be done in the abbey today.

I can't keep you company for long, but please, make yourself at home. Stay as

long as you wish, and leave whenever you're ready."

"Thank you."

"Peace be with you."

With that, Father Benedict left the quiet sanctuary.

Timothy sat there for a long while, lost in thought. Before stepping outside, he

slipped all the cash he had into the donation box by the door.

Driving home, Timothy replayed Father Benedict's words in his mind. He wished

he could do as the priest advised—let go of his pain, his obsessions. But he

couldn't. He wouldn't. He'd rather drown in the ache than live without Jessica. The

pain was still something he could bear. What did it matter if life was a little harder?

He couldn't imagine a world without her.

Little did he know, worse pain was waiting for him in the days to come.

Timothy returned to The Gilded Whisper Estates.

Sallie had no way of knowing where to look for him, so she'd simply waited

anxiously at the estate. When she saw him walk through the door, she hurried

over and grabbed his arm, her voice trembling on the verge of tears. "Why didn't

you let me know you were discharged from the hospital? I tried calling you, but

you wouldn't pick up. You have any idea how worried I was? I searched for you all

morning—I was about to call the police!"

"I'm not a toddler, Sallie. You didn't need to panic."

know you're not a child, but you're

just disappear and stop answering your

thought you'd flown overseas

he chewed me

himself from her grip and crossed to

across

did Vince say to

me of

he's not wrong. Why are you

couch, indignant. "You're my brother!

a hard time, you should be on my

anything about

"What did he say?"

or die, it's

anymore!"

expression darkened, shadows settling over his

her words had gone too far. She

now. "He was just upset—he didn't mean it.

were kids. You always looked out for him. He's not

that easily."

mildest thing he could've said," Timothy muttered.

I'd disappear for good."

didn't bother defending himself or

this would've happened

Salome. If we had, we never would've

her, his gaze steady. "Even if she wasn't Salome,

be

blaming me

you never did?

was part

no way

to divorce

custody of

her was what

son.

away from

said nothing, his eyes cast

her lip,

mean to

about you.

still don't

I got

about

was

hope for you

really tried,

back."

and Henry, that's why she was

echoed in Timothy's mind. She cared—so she was