Herbert’s call was from his mother, reminding him to come home for dinner.
Jessica’s call, on the other hand, came from Vince.
But Vince hung up almost immediately after dialing—he hadn’t called to talk, just to nudge Jessica to check her messages.
[Jessica, are you still alone at your apartment?]
It was the night of the Thanksgiving Day. Vince figured that if Jessica wasn’t joining the Lawson family, she’d probably be spending the holiday by herself, so he wanted to invite her over to the Zimmerman house.
While Herbert was on the phone, Jessica could tell from his tone that it was Mrs. Reynolds on the line. As soon as Herbert hung up, she quickly motioned for him to hurry home and waved him goodbye.
Once Herbert’s car had pulled away, Jessica texted Vince back.
She didn’t want Herbert’s personal life or career to be affected because of her, so she told Vince the truth—she was spending the holiday alone at her apartment.
Vince’s intention was clear: he wanted Jessica to come over for a family dinner to celebrate the holiday together.
Jessica didn’t refuse. Vince told her to wait for him at the apartment complex entrance; he’d be there soon.
Afterward, Vince called Larkin to let him know that Jessica had agreed to join them.
Larkin was delighted, and immediately brought out the gift he’d been saving for Jessica.
Now, only Larkin and Vince lived at the Zimmerman house. Ever since Mrs. Zimmerman had fallen ill, she’d been receiving treatment overseas, and Vince had taken over running the family business. Their father was abroad with their mother, leaving the house feeling a little empty. That’s why Larkin especially hoped Jessica could join them for the holiday.
Vince picked Jessica up, but couldn’t help feeling puzzled.
On a night like this, Jessica should have been at the Lawson estate with Timothy, yet here she was—alone.
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