After saying his piece, Father Benedict gently gestured toward the porcin
teacup. "The tea''s getting cold, my friend. Please, have some."
Timothy finished thest of his tea, warmth lingering only in memory.
Father Benedict rose from his seat. "There''s much to be done in the abbey today.
I can''t keep youpany for long, but please, make yourself at home. Stay as
long as you wish, and leave whenever you''re ready."
"Thank you."
"Peace be with you."
With that, Father Benedict left the quiet sanctuary.
Timothy sat there for a long while, lost in thought. Before stepping outside, he
slipped all the cash he had into the donation box by the door.
Driving home, Timothy reyed Father Benedict''s words in his mind. He wished
he could do as the priest advised—let go of his pain, his obsessions. But he
couldn''t. He wouldn''t. He''d rather drown in the ache than live without Jessica. The
pain was still something he could bear. What did it matter if life was a little harder?
He couldn''t imagine a world without her.
Little did he know, worse pain was waiting for him in the days toe.
Timothy returned to The Gilded Whisper Estates.
Sallie had no way of knowing where to look for him, so she''d simply waited
anxiously at the estate. When she saw him walk through the door, she hurried
over and grabbed his arm, her voice trembling on the verge of tears. "Why didn''t
you let me know you were discharged from the hospital? I tried calling you, but
you wouldn''t pick up. You have any idea how worried I was? I searched for you all
morning—I was about to call the police!"
"I''m not a toddler, Sallie. You didn''t need to panic."
"I know you''re not a child, but you''re still recovering. After everything that''s
happened, you just disappear and stop answering your phone—how could I not
be worried? I even thought you''d flown overseas to find Jessica. I called Vince,
and he chewed me out!"
Timothy gently disentangled himself from her grip and crossed to the sofa. Sallie
followed, sitting across from him.
"What did Vince say to you?" Timothy asked.
"He used me of selective amnesia."
"Well, he''s not wrong. Why are you upset?"
Sallie shot up from the couch, indignant. "You''re my brother! When someone
gives me a hard time, you should be on my side—not sarcastic! You think Vince
didn''t say anything about you?"
"What did he say?"
"He said whether you live or die, it''s got nothing to do with the Zimmerman family
anymore!"
Timothy''s expression darkened, shadows settling over his features.
Sallie finally realized her words had gone too far. She sat back down, her voice
softer now. "He was just upset—he didn''t mean it. You two have been close since
you were kids. You always looked out for him. He''s not the type to forget old ties
that easily."
"That''s the mildest thing he could''ve said," Timothy muttered. "He probably wishes
I''d disappear for good."
He didn''t bother defending himself or ming Vince.
Sallie pursed her lips. "None of this would''ve happened if we''d known Jessica
was Salome. If we had, we never would''ve let her suffer."
Timothy looked up at her, his gaze steady. "Even if she wasn''t Salome, she didn''t
deserve to be treated that way."
"So, you''re ming me for making
her miserable? Like you never did? I
admit I was part of the problem, but
there''s no way my attitude alone
pushed her to divorce you and give
up custody of Henry. What really
hurt her was what she suffered from
you and your son. That''s what made
her walk away from this family."
Timothy said nothing, his eyes cast down.
Sallie bit her lip, then sighed. "I''m
sorry. I didn''t mean to upset you. I
just worry about you. I stick up for
you, and you still don''t back me
up—so yeah, I got a little annoyed.
Jessica cared about you and Henry,
that''s why she was so hurt. That
means there''s still hope for you two.
If you really tried, maybe she''de
back."
Jessica cared about you and Henry, that''s why she was so hurt.
The words echoed in Timothy''s mind. She cared—so she was hurt, and then she
left.
She''d let go.
Did that mean she was past the pain now?
A wave of panic gripped Timothy. He was afraid Jessica had done exactly what
Father Benedict had urged: let go of the pain, let go of him.
He understood the priest''s meaning. If you can let go, you won''t feel pain
anymore.
But if Jessica had really let go, did that mean she no longer cared? He hadn''t let
go—how could she? If she was truly over it, she''d never love him or Henry again.
He couldn''t ept that.
Suddenly, Timothy stood and strode toward the door.
"Timothy, where are you going?"
"Overseas. I''m going to find Jessica."
Sallie hurried after him. "I''ming too. I need to apologize to her myself—
maybe I can help convince her toe home."
Timothy didn''t argue. Sallie owed Jessica an apology, too.
On the way to the airport, Sallie called Naylor Lawson. "Could you pick up and
drop off Henry from school for a few days?"
"I''m handling Henry''s school runs now? And what''s Timothy doing? Doesn''t he
want to see his own son?"
"We''re heading overseas to find Jessica. Henry''s your grandson—are you really
going toin about watching him?"
Naylor broke into a warm chuckle.
"Of course, I''ll help. You two go.
Bring Jessy home. While you''re
working on things abroad, your
grandfather and I will see what we
can do here. Let''s all give it our best
shot and get her back—maybe throw
her the wedding she deserves."
Timothy and Sallie boarded a flight to Aetherion.
After more than ten hours in the air, the siblings stood together at the gates of
Zimmerman Manor.