Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Timothy, if she won't answer your call, it won't make a difference if you ring me instead. Even if I hand her the phone, she still won't pick up."

"She might not have heard it. We agreed-tonight, six o'clock, dinner at The Silverthread Eatery."

Vince checked his watch-it was already eight.

If Jessica had actually promised Timothy, she would have shown up. Or maybe

she had said yes just to avoid a confrontation, never intending to go.

"Stop waiting for her."

They were both sharp; Timothy wasn't that naïve.

"She promised me. She's never lied to me before. She'll come, I know she will- just tell her for me."

Vince frowned. Had that recent surgery dulled Timothy's senses? This was so obvious-how could he not see it?

"I'll go check. Gotta go."

Vince headed upstairs and knocked on Jessica's door.

"Come in."

He opened the door and found Jessica hunched over her computer, fully absorbed.

As he moved closer, he saw she was working on an animation. There was no sign she intended to leave for dinner-besides, she'd already eaten at home tonight.

"Jessy, Timothy's looking for you. He even called me."

Jessica let go of the mouse and glanced at Vince. "Ignore him."

"He said you agreed to dinner."

"I did. But I lied. He's promised me so many things and never followed through, every single time. Why should I go? I'm afraid if I do, I won't be able to come back."

"Alright. Got it."

Vince left the room. Jessica picked up her phone.

There were missed calls and messages from Timothy. She glanced at them, then set the phone facedown.

Vince called Timothy back.

"Stop waiting, she's not coming. She said she's afraid if she goes, she won't be able to come back."

"Tell her she won't get stuck. She can leave whenever she wants."

Vince lost his patience. "Timothy, think about it-how many times have you made promises and not kept them? Is it really so strange she doesn't trust you anymore? Are you just going to sit there and guilt-trip her until she gives in? That old trick again-using her sense of responsibility to trap her?"

Timothy took a shaky breath. "That's not it. I told her-it's just a farewell dinner, Henry's here too. We even got her a gift. Tomorrow we finalize the divorce. One last dinner together, as a family."

But as each minute ticked by, anxiety clawed at him. He tried to keep himself calm.

"I don't want to talk to you anymore. You're just trying to make me feel guilty."

"I'm not, I swear. I just want to wait for her. If she won't answer my calls, just let her know I'll be here until she comes."

Vince sighed and ended the call, but still relayed the message to Jessica.

He added, "You don't have to go if you don't want to. I'll swing by later and drive him home."

"Okay. I'm not going."

She wouldn't go. She wasn't falling for it. Not this time.

No matter how much it hurt, she'd made it this far-she was finally breaking free,

and she wasn't about to let herself be locked up again.

Timothy returned to the private dining room, where Henry, having finished his dinner, was slumped over the table, fast asleep.

Seeing his son like that, Timothy felt a sharp, physical ache in his chest.noveldrama

This was his failure.

If it weren't for him, Jessica would never have left them. She used to treat the two of them as her whole world-no one loved Henry more than she did.