Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Larkin grinned from ear to ear, eyes squinting with delight as she waved Jessica over. “Jessy, come here! This is Mr. and Mrs. Bryant, and our childhood friend, Yates."

Jessica took in the warm, beaming faces of the Bryants. Their kindness radiated from every gesture, and after hearing Vince talk about them, she couldn't help but think what a wonderful couple they were.

She stepped forward and greeted them with a small bow. "Good evening, Mr. Bryant. Mrs. Bryant."

Then she turned to Yates, nodding politely. "Good evening, Mr. Bryant."

Her manners were impeccable-gracious and respectful. Only after her greetings did she take a seat beside Larkin.

Middleton and Mrs. Bryant exchanged a surprised glance at Jessica addressing Yates as “Mr. Bryant,” but neither pressed for answers just yet.

Mrs. Bryant's eyes softened as she looked at Jessica, her voice gentle with concern. “Jessy, you've been through so much these past years. But you're home now, and that's all that matters. We've been waiting for you."

"Thank you for caring, Mrs. Bryant. You're right-now that I'm home, everything will be alright."

There's no safer harbor than being with family.

At that moment, the butler appeared and invited everyone to dinner.

They made their way to the dining room. Larkin sat at the head of the table, with Mr. and Mrs. Bryant on one side. Vince and Jessica took the seats opposite, while Yates sat further down.

Mrs. Bryant couldn't help but watch Jessica with growing affection. Even though she hadn't grown up with the Zimmerman family, Jessica still carried herself with such grace and warmth-some things run deep in the blood. There was no mistaking she was one of their own.

Their only regret was not finding her sooner. Still, the timing was good-her divorce from Timothy was nearly finalized, and soon she would be officially back in the family.

Bryant and Middleton exchanged hopeful glances in between their smiles at Jessica. Yates, meanwhile, remained

ever the gracious host, encouraged everyone to eat and soon the conversation picked

the Lawsons, Vince said you didn't

meant she'd never win custody of her son. Now that she was back with the Zimmerman family, they would stand by her

everything Vince said

sigh. "That Timothy is unbelievable!

gently, "If you don't want custody, that's fine. You're still young. You'll have more

a wave of nausea hit her. Setting down her fork, she hurried from the

startled and whispered to Middleton, "Did I say something wrong? Did

think it was me. I shouldn't have brought up

already on his

badly-just hearing his name is painful for her. Maybe

concern etched on his

came muffled through the

sudden nausea. Was it a symptom

nausea had come and gone. She rinsed her mouth and stepped back

I don't know what happened-I was just about to eat and

help collecting evidence against Timothy. He quickly pulled her aside, lowering his voice. "Jessy, are you... could you

Jessica frowned. "No, that's

once she'd recovered, she and