Chapter 95

Jessica just stared at Henry, silent.

Henry thought she must be upset, so he hurried to explain. "Mom, you've always cared about me most, right? You wouldn't want me to be teased by others, would you? When we're alone, you'll always be my mom. But could you let Miss Sheila pretend to be my mom in front of everyone else? Just for show-would that be okay?"

Jessica's lips trembled.

This was the child she'd carried for nine long months.

She felt a deep, helpless ache rising inside her, the kind that makes you want to cry but leaves you with no tears.

Suddenly, a metallic taste filled her throat. She clamped a hand over her mouth and rushed out of the hospital room.

She doubled over in the hallway, retching.

When she pulled her hand away, she saw a smear of blood in her palm.

Tilting her head back, she closed her eyes for a moment, then walked toward the public restroom.

She turned on the tap and rinsed her hand clean, watching the blood swirl away, then splashed cold water on her face, desperate to wash away the tears threatening to spill.

She wandered out, numb, barely feeling the floor beneath her feet.

out of

pick up. Instead, she hung up and

out anymore. Can you

Jessica knew

was Timothy's

was Sallie's younger brother, the one she'd helped raise. Sallie had never married or had children of her own-she doted

it. I'll be there as soon as

outside Henry's room, determined to fulfill her duty as a mother, waiting

message came from

did you get upset and

words, the ache

took a deep breath. She couldn't let herself

now.

was still young-there was time to

or angry she felt, she couldn't really hold it against

him. If all her suspicions were nothing but paranoia, if

best to set Henry back on the

if she only had six months left to live, she couldn't

at the hospital. When she saw how pale Jessica looked, her brow

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