Hester's feelings on handing Jessica over to the insane asylum at Callen Park.

A.N: Just a short I thought of after watching Bryce Courtney's 'Jessica'. Then I red the book and it just sort of developed…

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Bryce Courtney's 'Jessica', the plot, the movie/series thing, the characters, anything. They belong to Bryce Courtney and some other people respectively. I just loved their work!

Read the book or if you can, watch the 2-part TV series. Awesome stuff!


Guilt

She felt torn in two as the man stamped the paper. She knew she should pronounce her daughter innocent. It was in someway her fault that she had allowed her to grow like a man, act indecently. No matter what she did there was no way to get away from the fact that Jessica was her daughter. She could have demanded Joe keep away from her, so she would have the two perfect little girls she would have liked. She knew quite well Jessica was not mad. She was doing this for the family. For the bastard son of Jessica's that would be brought up properly like a man. For her Heathwood family honor and by extension the Bergman's as well, through Hester had never really considered herself to be one. For her darling Meg, who did everything right and deserved only the best. For herself, to get out of the rut that stupid Joe had put her in, to get what she deserved. Jessica would be fine. Hester told herself that in someway she was doing this for her sake as well. It would get her out of the way, keep her safe, and keep them all safe from shame. After all, it wasn't as if she was giving her youngest daughter away to be murdered right? Not even she would sink that low to get rid of Jessica. She carried no love for her, but that didn't mean she didn't care somewhat. This was just until she disappeared. Hester didn't care how. Inside the asylum she would be as good as dead to the community and Hester, Meg and Joey could live in Riverview in peace. It was for the sake of everyone. She was a good christen woman and followed that as best she could: this was best thing for everyone.

Jessica owed it too her. Treating her like she did, getting pregnant to Billy Simple, nearly killing Meg's chances with Jack. This was the best option. The slut deserved this. Hester smiled to herself. After Jessica was gone everything would be perfect.

Well almost everything, it might have looked better for Meg and Joey if Jack had lived through the war, but at least this way he wouldn't get in the way.

Hester shivered at the thought that Jack had actually intended to take Jessica as his wife instead of Meg. Yes, it was defiantly better he was gone. Obviously the man was mad. How could he have preferred to take her, who might as well have been a man over her darling Margaret?

Still, she was sending her youngest daughter to a mental asylum. Even she knew there was something wrong with that…maybe she should have just done with her as she done with Joe.

Hester shook herself.

She didn't kill Joe remember? The medical report stated that he died of a heart attack. That was a normal thing. It had nothing to do with her. After all, knowing the pathetic Bergmans, it was probably hereditary.

She glanced over at the paper as it slid slowly away from her. It was the right thing, she told herself. It was for the good of everyone. Her family wouldn't have any more trouble. Hester smiled.

After all, Jessica was more Joe's daughter then hers.


R&R

… # Rei Ant # …