Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Vince had barely stepped outside when he spotted Timothy's car pulling up the driveway.

Timothy was sitting in the backseat, the window lowered. "You coming?"

Vince climbed in without a word.

Timothy wasted no time. "She's at your place, isn't she?"

"You've done your homework," Vince replied, eyeing him warily. His voice dropped, cold and heavy. "Still going with the same old plan?"

Timothy's tone was mild, almost indifferent. “That's not going to work anymore." "Why not?"

Vince figured Timothy's only move had ever been to stall for time—he never had any better ideas. Delay, and hope for another chance later. That was always his way.

"Because you're onto me now. You'd see right through it."

Vince gave a crooked half-smile. "So you're divorcing her, and now you're picking a fight with me?"

"And whose fault is that?" Timothy shot back. "If you'd kept out of it, things wouldn't have gotten so complicated. Vince, we've been friends for years. Why not let it go? I never wanted to divorce her. All this mess-it's just one big misunderstanding."

"It's too late for that," Vince said, his voice steady. "I'm involved now. I'm not backing down. You want me out? I say you should be the one to let go." He paused, then offered a suggestion. "If you really can't bear to lose her, then divorce her and win her back the right way. At least if you let her go now, maybe you'll still leave her with some good memories of you."

Timothy's brow furrowed. "She won't even come home while we're still married. If we divorce, what makes you think she'll give me another chance?"

He wasn't about to fall for Vince's bait.

"And if tomorrow doesn't go your way, have you thought about the fallout? She might really go scorched earth on you, Timothy. I think she's truly done this time. And honestly, I don't see why she'd want to come back. You never appreciated her. Wouldn't it be better to end things peacefully?"

Timothy's voice was edged with anger. "And what makes you think I didn't appreciate her?"

"I can see it plain as day. Anyone can. You clinging to her like this—it's just pointless."

Vince wished, more than anything, that Timothy would just let go, cut the cord, and be done with it.

day," Timothy said, "this whole mess is your fault for butting in. So now I'm giving you the problem, Vince. I don't let people force

want to

as stone, his voice even

you

"I found your sister."

a humorless chuckle. "You expect me to

you want. You wrecked my family, so I'm not telling you anything— for

true. You really did

"Yeah."

by the collar, voice shaking with barely restrained fury. "Where

you. I'm not

neck until it hurt. But finally,

the Zimmerman

right now. But don't you understand how

mother's been sick with

"She's dying now!"

for you to tell me the truth right now then I

words tumbled out in a rush, his voice

second. He knew every

his answer was ice-cold. "Your mother needs her daughter. You need your sister. The Zimmermans need Salome. But I need my

out who Jessica really was, Timothy would

but the Bryants had

there would be no future for

the only leverage he

his gaze icy and

stranger, his stare

you one more time: where is

Jessy to come home and drop the divorce, and I'll tell