Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Last time, standing outside her apartment, she'd signed an avalanche of words at him.

He'd stayed the whole night, determined to finally clear the air between them.

But Henry's paper-cutting competition was about to start, and he'd had no choice but to leave.

Now, here she was again, pouring her heart out in a torrent of sign language.

He finally understood-she'd only misunderstood him.

It wasn't that she didn't love him.

Overwhelmed, he pulled her into his arms with one swift motion, holding her tightly.

"Let go."

Jessica shoved him away with all her strength. She hated him-hated the way he threatened the people around her.

Divorce was supposed to be just between the two of them, but he always dragged others into it.

"Nora, you've got it wrong. It's not what you think."

"Timothy, don't even try. I'm not going to believe you."

Jessica turned away from him, refusing to meet his eyes.

"I really meant it when I promised to make up your birthday. I stayed up all night, planning to come back early the next day. Henry was just making things up-you can ask him yourself. Sheila wasn't with me; she went ahead to attend Ines's comic convention."

"Enough."

All these explanations felt hollow and pointless.

If it weren't for their own son blurting it out, she'd never have known Sheila had gone to Capital City with him.

She'd even considered using the voice ring he'd given her that day, but when she called using Mabel's phone, it was Sheila who answered.

They were sharing a room.

"Nora..."

loved you. I want a divorce because I don't love you anymore. Even if you gave me a convincing reason for everything, I could never love you again. What's

battered to pieces by him and their son, would never

to see him, Sheila,

believe you," Timothy's voice was raw. "How could you not love

always known she loved

still, he'd hurt her, the one who'd always been at

her smile shattered

Sheila's just family to me-I thought you'd understand that. If it

with her. Move her into The Gilded Whisper

clenched, veins standing out across his knuckles and forehead. "Do you

saying? Just the truth, Mr. Lawson. Stop pretending-no one's

it."

Mr. Lawson?

Heh.

She could

called him Timothy.

a hurry to cut

"That's right."

hesitate her answer sharp and

like stones in the

like

to keep then

his

Herbert Wheeler showed up

You've

change

Vince had mentioned it

ket

Jessica, but

kept things appropriate. Timothy knew firsthand that nothing had

couldn't