Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"You just got off the plane. Get some sleep-I'll keep an eye on Daisy."

"No need."

She turned away, refusing to look at him.

"You look exhausted, Jessica. Don't push yourself."

His voice was already pleasant, but with that gentle concern, it was even harder to resist.

But words like that he'd never have said them to her before.

And now, she didn't want to hear them.

"It's pointless, Timothy. No matter what you do now, I'm going through with the divorce."

"I know," Timothy replied, lowering his voice so he wouldn't disturb Daisy. "I just wanted to do something for you before it's all over. I know you've been helping out with the housework, making donations, giving Carlisle and the others a chance. I know all of it."

Jessica lifted her chin, her eyes shining with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall.

what if

anything I say right now, but could you just calm down and think

lot over the years. How am I supposed

gaze, then quietly repeated the words he'd once said

throw away our marriage? Throw away your family?" His voice was low and hoarse. "How can

the exact tone he'd used the first time he

explain things to you. Every time I tried, something else interrupted. And by the time I finally got the chance, you wouldn't listen anymore. Jessica, can you

was a sincerity in Timothy's voice she hadn't heard in

until the divorce was looming, had he ever

meant nothing to her. Her response was cool and distant: "How can you blame it on interruptions? You rushed to her side every time something happened, like nothing else

just let me explain, you'll understand. We're married. No matter how much I care about her, she's always an outsider to us. Seven years ago, she saved my life. I think I mentioned this before. And yes, back

I might marry her—”

Lawson!" Jessica's whisper was sharp, her words

in hearing about your past

just begun to heal. She didn't want

matter if you

my wife. We're in this together. There's no reason for

BUTS