Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 89

Jessica paced restlessly, worry etched across her face. She wanted desperately to ask the doctor about Henry, but she couldn't speak.

Timothy seemed to sense her anxiety. He stepped forward, voicing every question she wished she could ask.

"It's only a minor procedure," the doctor assured them. "There's really nothing to worry about."

Soon after, Henry was wheeled into the operating room.

Even with the doctor's reassurance, Jessica couldn't shake her anxiety. Surgery was still surgery, no matter how simple. She hovered by the door, her heart feeling as though it might fly right in after her son.

Guilt gnawed at her.

She'd been so absorbed in her own mess lately, tangled up in her feelings, that she'd barely noticed Henry. He was only six, just a child-he acted out sometimes, said the wrong things. But instead of gently guiding him, she'd ignored him, left him to fend for himself.

If she'd paid more attention, if she'd cared for him like a mother should, maybe he wouldn't be sick now.

Her hand, braced against the wall, curled into a tight fist.

Timothy came over and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. His voice was low

and soothing. "Hey, it's going to be all right. Don't worry."

Jessica closed her eyes, struggling to compose herself.

asked Timothy about everything-hadn't told him the truth, hadn't figured out what was really going on. Instead, she'd let her diagnosis-six months to live-swallow

couldn't leave things like this. She had to talk to Timothy, had to

hand, ready to sign the

the screen. "It's from

let me take

Sallie's voice burst through. "Timothy, can you come get

would call

going abroad. Why are you

me Sheila had already taken Henry to

as soon as I

with

When Sallie called, Timothy had no choice but to go. It was nearly three in the morning there was no

safe in

She nodded.

of her neck and kissed her forehead. "Don't be scared. It's a

that, he strode

could still feel the warmth of his lips on her

mess.

didn't know what

before the operating room doors

and nurse rolled

his eyes closed and quickly pulled