Jessica raised her hand, her tone calm and distant. "I have things to do."


    "Go ahead, then," Timothy replied, making no attempt to stop her.


    They hardly exchanged a handful of words, yet there was no anger between them for once, a rare and fragile sort of peace.


    Perhaps that was why Timothy didn''t dwell on it. He simply assumed she''de for a follow-up on her throat.


    Afterward, he headed to the DNA testing center and handed over the paperwork.


    He''d provided a hair sample, but even with rush processing, it would take two or three business days.


    The staff told him they''d text when the results were ready, so he coulde pick up the paternity report in person.


    With that done, Timothy had the driver take him to Jessica''s apartmentplex.


    When they arrived, he didn''t get out. Instead, he sat in the car, staring up at her floor from the parking lot.


    He stayed there for a full hour before finally telling the driver to take him back to the Howard family home.


    Abell and Sandra, unable to contain their eagerness to see Jessica, were waiting when Timothy returned. As soon as he walked in, Sandra approached him. "You''re well enough to use a wheelchair now. Why don''t you go and bring Jessica home?"


    "She''s still upset. It''s not that easy," Timothy said. He wanted to bring Jessica back, but she simply hadn''t given him the chance.


    Sandra looked at him sternly. “If she''s upset, then apologize. Married couples should never let a grudgest overnight."


    But their problems weren''t as simple as a quick apology.


    "We''ll see," he said quietly.


    Sandra pressed on. "You''ve been married for seven years, and you still won''t let me meet your wife. Your mom never got the chance to meet her, but you should at least let your grandma see her let me help your mother, in a way, by meeting her daughter-inw."


    Mentioning his mother brought a familiar ache to Timothy''s chest.


    When she was pregnant, she''d written many letters, all meant for him and his sister. Her greatest


    regret had been not living to rain et


    them,not seeing them grow up, get married, and start families of their own.


    Timothy''s dark eyes grew distant and troubled.


    In


    Sitting nearby She sensed there was something unusual about his feelings for Jessica. He''d hidden his marriage for seven years, never once bringing Jessica to meet his grandparents. Now, though, be seemed hesitant, conflicted. It was clear he didn''t want to keep Jessica a secret anymore-but he still hadn''t agreed to bring her over, probably because Jessica refused.


    "Grandma, I''ll find time to apologize to her," Timothy said atst.


    "Why wait?" Sandra insisted. “You should go now. The longer you leave it, the worse it gets. Go on, don''t put it off."


    He''d juste from Jessica''s ce, hadn''t even made it upstairs.


    Vince was right-she needed space. He shouldn''t push her too hard.


    Today, he hadn''t gone overboard, and she''d even shown him a rare moment of kindness.


    "Grandma, I''m in no shape to go chasing after her. If she doesn''t want to see me, there''s nothing I can do. Let''s wait a bit. I promise, you''ll meet her soon, okay?"


    He had a point. Sometimes, words weren''t enough to fix a marriage Sometimes, you needed a hug, a kiss-or even more. And given Timothy''s condition, the chance of a sessful apology seemed slim.


    So Sandra didn''t push him any further.


    In front of Timothy''s adoptive parents, She kept her distance, sitting quietly and saying nothing. She wanted to take care of Timothy, but kept those feelings to herself.


    Timothy returned to his room. Bncing on one leg, he eased himself onto the bed andy back, then called Vince.


    "What''s up?" Vince answered bluntly.


    "My grandparents want to meet Jessica. Can you help me figure something out?" Timothy asked.


    Vince groaned. "Timothy, Herbert already sees me aspetition-don''t tell me you don''t?"