Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica braced herself against the wall, the bowl of water she'd been carrying slipping from her grasp and crashing to the floor, sending water splashing

everywhere.

She looked pale and unsteady.

Timothy hurried over and caught her before she could fall. "Jessy, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick? Let me take you to the hospital."

She tried to shrug him off, but a sharp pain twisted through her abdomen, leaving her too weak to resist.

Vince rushed over, gently prying Timothy's arm away and wrapping his own around Jessica's shoulders.

In a faint voice, Jessica muttered, "Vince, make him leave. I don't want to see him."

Timothy's heart pounded in his chest. "I'm not going anywhere! You're sick, Jessy. Let me take you to see a doctor."

Jessica shot him a cold look. "I don't need your help. Just go."

she was barely holding herself together, her words

you say you were going to change? She doesn't want to see you, and she's obviously feeling worse because you're here. Why

but after a long moment he finally turned and left the room, his steps heavy

as he was gone, Vince helped Jessica over to the bed next to Daisy's and eased

have my medication. I'll be fine once I take it. I just left my bag

hurried down the hall to Larkin's room, where their parents were keeping vigil. When Zachary saw him, he said, "Vince, why don't you take your mother and Jessy

I'll go

room. He poured her a glass

her meds, swallowing them with

home. Are you up for it? If you're not, stay here and I'll

first. If she sees me like this, she'll only

take Mom and then come back for you. Jessy, don't be scared. The test results will come quickly, and once they're in, I'll take you abroad for the surgery. You're going to get better.

bear to lose her now. No one in the family

even taken her as her goddaughter. With Daisy running a fever, Jessy was worried and wanted to stay at

Mrs. Zimmerman protested, so Vince

hadn't actually left the hospital. He stood outside the entrance, smoking nervously, watching as Vince led Mrs. Zimmerman out to the car. Once they'd driven off, Timothy stubbed out his cigarette and