Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy arched an eyebrow, staring irritably at the razor in his hand.

"Whatever. I'll just make do."

After Henry got up, father and son sat down together for breakfast.

Henry had barely tasted his chicken noodle soup before he grimaced and called out, "Mom, did you put too much salt in this?"

No answer.

He tried again, a little louder. "Mom?"

Timothy replied calmly, "Stop calling, your mom isn't home."

Immediately, Henry tapped at his smartwatch, trying to call Jessica, but her phone was switched off.

Lowering his voice, Henry said, "Dad, do you think Mom's upset and ran away?"

"She didn't."

With both him and their son at home, Timothy was certain Jessica wouldn't just leave.

"Good. I still think Mom's breakfasts taste better, though."

Neither of them really enjoyed the meal that morning; it just didn't compare to what they were used to.

"Dad, last night Mom made Miss Sheila so mad she left. Is she coming to see me today?"

"She twisted her ankle and is in the hospital. She probably won't be able to visit today."

tightened with worry. "Oh no, Miss Sheila hurt her foot? That must really hurt. Dad, can you call school for me? I

firm. "No. School comes

dropped his head, not daring to push further, and mumbled, "Can I go see Miss Sheila after school,

"That's fine."

and flung his arms around Timothy, standing on tiptoe to plant

school, come pick me up early,

ruffled Henry's hair and stood up, personally taking him to

bedroom with her cleaning supplies. Normally, Mrs. Williams took care of the room herself, so it was already spotless. Mabel couldn't understand why Mr. Williams had specifically asked her to clean

to let in

the place was immaculate, she

the wind was

bed, a cancer diagnosis letter was pushed even further out

before, Jessica had

she'd tidied up the house, the sun was already

turned off her phone, wanting nothing more than a

was the liver cancer, or maybe it was just the relief of having nothing to worry about for once, but she slept deeply didn't wake until eight

switched her phone

nonstop with text

her texts first—several missed calls,

figured Mabel was probably calling

she'd have called

she just let

had transferred her two million

humorless laugh. He needed her out of the way again.

had sent her two messages-one from the morning,