It was Henry calling.
Timothy answered, putting the phone on speaker—after all, Jessica would want to hear their son’s voice too.
“Dad, where did you go? Did you forget I have the kids’ arts and crafts competition today?”
Both Timothy and Jessica were well aware of Henry’s big day.
After their recent family event, Henry had insisted Sheila accompany him, not wanting the other kids to tease him about his mom being unable to speak.
“I’m on my way to pick up your mom. We’ll all go together, the three of us.”
Jessica shot Timothy a sideways glance, raising her hand, ready to refuse. But before she could, Henry’s voice piped up from the phone, “Dad, I already asked Miss Sheila to come with me. Remember? We agreed she’d keep me company! She’ll be here soon—we’re just waiting on you.”
Thinking back, Timothy felt a twinge of guilt.
He hadn’t put a stop to it the first time, and now Henry’s impatience with his mother was starting to show—something Timothy found harder and harder to ignore.
But Henry had already arranged for Sheila to be there, and she was probably about to arrive. Backing out now would only make things awkward.
“I understand,” Timothy replied. “I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
He tucked his phone away and turned to Jessica, looking a bit sheepish. “I’ll take Henry to the competition first,” he said. “Once it’s over, I’ll come back, and we can talk about the wedding arrangements, alright?”
Jessica silently urged him to hurry up and leave—she didn’t want him delaying her own plans any longer.
Timothy let go of her hand and stepped into the elevator.
The doors slid shut, cutting off the view of his handsome face.
Jessica glanced down at the ring on her finger.
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