Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica froze, her body tensing for a split second before she shoved Timothy

away with all her strength. She yanked the comforter up to shield herself, glaring at him with a wariness that hadn't been there before.

"It was just a kiss. Was that really necessary?" Timothy scoffed.

She never used to react like this.

Her rejection stoked his frustration-ever since Herbert Wheeler had shown up, Jessica hardly let Timothy touch her at all.

Jessica silently cursed her inability to speak; if she could, she would have called him a creep to his face.

As if he even realized where he'd tried to kiss her.

After making sure the blanket was secure around her, Jessica reached out and signed, "Trying to pull that stunt in broad daylight at the hospital? Get out. I'll change by myself."

Timothy's irritation softened, if only a little.

She was shy-especially in the middle of the day, in a hospital room no less. With her temperament, of course she couldn't accept it.

As long as she wasn't pushing him away for another man, he could live with it.

He was still coaxing her, after all; the last thing he wanted was to drive her so far that she'd never come home again.

left

hurry and slipped out

He caught her hand and led

nestled up against Sheila, chatting with her. "Miss Sheila, could you please talk to my dad? Tell him now's not

Timothy's voice was cold, sharp

he'd received at the paper-cutting contest that morning, he shrank back and clung to Sheila's arm,

almost hoped they could talk Timothy out

"You shouldn't be so harsh with Henry all the time. It's not good for his

Mabel appeared and announced, "Sir, ma'am, dinner's ready. You can come

had intended to lecture Henry, but with dinner ready and guests around, now was

eaten lunch, so he said, "Let's eat

for Jessica's hand, leading her to the dining room. Pulling out her chair like a perfect gentleman, he waited for her to

over, and the two of them sat across

and set it in front of her. "You just got over a high fever and skipped lunch. Have some soup-it'll

was

as if her

tenderness had belonged

kept her head down,

or not, it barely seemed

kept serving Jessica, picking out pieces of food

bones from the fish before placing it