Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 409

Vince understood Timothy better than most.

If Sandra and Abell had actually managed to persuade Timothy to file for divorce, they would have reached out to him ages ago-asked him to get in touch with Jessica, at least. But now, with the court date less than twenty-four hours away and still no word, it was obvious things weren't going as planned.

Larkin turned to Jessica and asked gently, "So, you're really sure there's no chance of you and Timothy getting back together?"

Jessica nodded.

"In that case," Larkin continued, "once the hearing's over tomorrow and you and Timothy are officially divorced-why not marry our Vince?"

Jessica blushed so deeply she could feel the heat creeping up her neck.

She waved her hands in protest, flustered.

"You don't want to?" Larkin prompted.

Hurriedly, Jessica grabbed a notepad and scribbled, "It's not that."

"Then what is it?"

She wrote, "Mr. Zimmerman is such a good man. I'm not worthy of him." Vince, silently watching from across the room, caught the words she'd written.

Larkin chuckled. "You're an exceptional woman yourself, Jessy. There's no such thing as 'not worthy.' Vince has always been the more gentle one in the family, always quick with a smile. I think you'd be a wonderful match. And I know he admires you, too."

just coming out of a marriage, for one. And someone like Vince-well, with his family, his standing, and his talents—he could easily find someone who'd never been married, someone without a child, not someone like her with so

and Timothy divorce, would you

not like that. Besides, Vince and Timothy

had ever occupied his thoughts the way Jessica did. No woman had ever moved him so deeply, or impressed him

was willing. Her past didn't matter to him. Even if she wanted custody of Henry, he'd find a way—no matter

stunned. She couldn't even look at Vince now. If things ever turned romantic between them, she doubted she'd have the courage to keep talking to him at all.

more-especially given his

to her

to Larkin.

to start anything new, not when her old wounds

with everything

"Jessy, Vince is willing. I've always thought

a good

you, I wanted to

to hold back? I'd hate to see someone else swoop in and take you

Vince interrupted,

“You just agreed a second ago—don't tell me you're

from him altogether if things moved too fast. At the very least, he wanted her to feel she

little sister. Not long ago, Jessy and I discussed that if, in the end, she still hasn't turned up, Jessy could pretend to be her for a while to

to Jessica, his voice a little softer. "You and my Salome would have gotten along, I think. How

Jessica wrote, "Twenty-seven."

younger than you now. She disappeared when she was six. It's been