Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy gazed at her, his eyes growing even darker. Only now did he realize just how deep the rift between them truly was.

"Who told you that?"

"The truth told me," Jessica shot back without hesitation.

"That's not it, Jessy. It's never been like that. There's a huge misunderstanding between us. You never once asked me, and I swear, there's nothing inappropriate between Sheila and me. Please, don't let your mind run wild. If we let these misunderstandings tear us apart, don't you think that's just too much to lose for nothing?"

She met his eyes, unwavering. "If that's really all there is, then you're right—it's not worth it. But I gave you a chance. I gave myself a chance too."

She remembered that night. He and Sheila had taken Henry upstairs, and Jessica had stayed behind in the master bedroom. She'd soaked in the tub, exhausted, and drifted off to sleep. When she woke up, it was already late. He still hadn't come back down.

She'd assumed he'd spent the night upstairs with Sheila. What she hadn't expected was that he'd actually come back down-he'd been busy in the kitchen, making her a birthday cake.

She'd guessed wrong. She'd misjudged him.

Maybe she'd misjudged him before, too. Maybe that box of mementos, those notes scribbled with Sheila's name—they were all ancient history.

She'd been so close to giving up, so close to letting disappointment swallow her whole. It had taken everything she had to find the courage to give them both one last chance, to try to talk things through.

But-

She let out a soft, bitter laugh.

Actions speak louder than words.

Timothy stood there, lost. He had no idea what she was talking about.

"Jessy, we never really sat down and talked this through. Please, believe me. There's nothing between Sheila and me. Nothing at all."

He looked at her with unwavering sincerity. "I swear."

"Just go." Jessica finally tore her gaze away. "I don't want to hear any more."

This marriage was already battered and bruised. She couldn't do it anymore. Worse, she was afraid-afraid that if she kept listening, her heart would soften, that she'd start to believe him. That she'd-

No. Enough.

"Why won't you listen?" Timothy's voice trembled with urgency. "Are you afraid it's all been a misunderstanding? That deep down, you still care about me?"

He grabbed her hand, enclosing it tightly in his own. "You just don't want to face it. You're afraid to face it!"

"You can't throw away your family for outsiders. Don't be so foolish."

"Let me go." Jessica struggled, trying to pull her hand free. Her voice was low, her movements restrained; she didn't want to wake Daisy.

"I won't. I have to tell you-on that stormy night in New York, when you sent outnoveldrama

that SOS, I understood. I came for you, Jessy. I came as fast as I could!"

"I landed the helicopter just outside the city, took a cab to the outskirts, ran into the police blockade-I was scared I'd be too late, so I kept calling for help the whole way."

"The streets were flooded, everything was shut down. I had to go on foot. The water was filthy,

manhole covers were missingnet

slipped fell, knocked myself out. I nearly drowned in water barely up to my knees!"

"Stop. Please don't say any more!" Jessica cut him off before he could continue.

Tears welled up, blurring her vision.

She could feel it he wasn't lying.

He'd mentioned that night before. He'd told her he'd never abandoned her. Secretary Allen had told her too.

"All right. I'll stop," Timothy said softly. "Don't be upset. When you're ready, I'll tell you everything. Jessy please believe me. I've done a lot of thinking lately, and I've realized that so much of what's come between us is just misunderstanding. want, more than anything, for us to have a real conversation. Please, give us that chance."

With that, he slowly released her hand.

Jessica turned away and lay down, pulling the blanket over herself, unwilling to say another word.

Timothy didn't leave.

He turned and checked Daisy's forehead, feeling for a fever. The cool washcloth

had warmed up again, so he went to the bathroom to refresh it.

Jessica pulled the blanket tighter, burying herself beneath it.

Timothy's low, earnest voice seemed to echo in her ears long after, refusing to fade away.