Jackson stood by Emma's bed, his eyes full of concern as he looked at her. He could see how tired she was after the conversations and the veiled teasing from Anna. Even though Emma had tried to remain calm and maintain control during the conversation, Jackson knew she needed rest and time to recover. He decided it was time to politely but firmly end the visit.
"Emma," Jackson spoke softly, but loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, "the doctor mentioned that you need more therapy and rest to recover quickly. I think it's time for you to get some rest."
Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Lauren Anderson both turned to look at Emma, their eyes filled with sympathy. "That's right," Mr. Thomas agreed, "your health is the most important thing. You should rest more and not worry about hosting us."
Mrs. Lauren nodded in agreement. "Yes, Emma. You need to focus on recovering. We can visit you again when you're feeling better."