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 sshing


    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."


    Even though she was barely holding herself together, her words came out with surprising force.


    Vince understood. She didn''t want anyone to find out about her cancer. His voice was steely as he turned to Timothy. "Didn''t 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 are you still standing there?"


    Timothy hesitated, torn, but after a long moment he finally turned and left the room, his steps heavy with regret.


    As soon as he was gone, Vince helped Jessica over to the bed next to Daisy''s and eased her down. "I''m going to get the doctor."


    "No, don''t. I have my medication. I''ll be fine once I take it. I just left my bag in Grandpa''s room-could you grab it for me?"


    Vince nodded and 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 home to rest for a while? Your mother''s not well-she shouldn''t be staying up all night here."


    "Alright. I''ll go get Jessy."


    Vince fetched Jessica''s bag and returned to the room. He poured her a ss of water and handed it over.


    Jessica took her meds, swallowing them with a sip of water.


    "Dad wants me to get you and Mom home. Are you up for it? If you''re not, stay here and I''ll just take Mom."


    "Take Mom home first. If she sees me like this, she''ll only worry and insist I go to the doctor."


    Vince''s voice softened. "Alright, I''ll take Mom and thene back for you. Jessy, don''t be scared. The test results wille quickly, and once they''re in, I''ll take you abroad for the surgery. You''re going to get better. I promise."


    He''d only just found her again—he couldn''t bear to lose her now. No one in the family could.


    Vince returned to Larkin''s room and told Mrs. Zimmerman that Jessy had already met Daisy and had even taken her as her goddaughter. With Daisy running a fever, Jessy was worried and wanted to stay at the hospital.


    Neither Zachary nor Mrs. Zimmerman protested, so Vince took Mrs. Zimmerman home to rest.


    Meanwhile, Timothy 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 went back inside.


    He knew he probably should''ve said hello to Mrs. Zimmerman, but this wasn''t the


    time. She''d just gotten off a long flight and needed to rest.


    He made his way back to Daisy''s room and pushed open the door.


    Jessica was lying in bed. The moment she saw him, her expression tightened.


    ??


    Timothy ignored the look and didn''t go straight to her bedside. Instead, he picked up the bowl and towel from the floor, took them to the bathroom, and rinsed them out. He filled the bowl with fresh water and went to Daisy''s bed, gently checking the damp cloth on Daisy''s forehead-it was warm again. Quietly, he reced it with the fresh one, then finally turned to Jessica.


    He dragged a chair closer, wanting to be nearby.


    He couldn''t help but notice how pale she still looked.


    Vince was so attentive, but if Jessica was really unwell, why hadn''t he called for a doctor or insisted she rest at home? Timothy frowned, puzzled, but said nothing. It couldn''t be too serious-if it were, he figured Vince would be just as frantic as he was.