Goodbye, Mr. Regret

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.

She fished it out of her pocket-it was Henry, calling from

up and typed

anymore. Can

of her, Jessica knew Sallie would never

was Timothy's

brother, the one she'd helped raise. Sallie had never married or had children of her own-she doted on Henry as if

be there as soon as

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

message came

you. Why did you get

the ache in

a deep breath. She couldn't let herself think too much about all this

now.

astray, but he was still young-there

hurt or angry she felt, she couldn't really hold

everything through with him. If all her suspicions were nothing but paranoia, if she'd misunderstood everything,

best to set Henry back on

months left to live, she couldn't just stand by

she saw how pale Jessica looked, her brow furrowed. "Are you feeling alright? Maybe you should