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."

Sheila hurt her foot? That must really hurt. Dad, can you call school for me? I want to go visit

tone was firm. "No. School comes

to push further, and mumbled, "Can I go see Miss Sheila after school,

"That's fine."

off his chair, ran over, and flung his arms around Timothy, standing on tiptoe to plant a kiss

school, come pick me up early, okay? So

and stood up, personally

came into the master bedroom with her cleaning supplies. Normally, Mrs. Williams took care of the room herself, so it was already spotless. Mabel couldn't understand why

window to let

though the place was immaculate, she still methodically wiped

wind

cancer diagnosis letter was pushed even further out of

night before, Jessica had returned to

the time she'd tidied up the house,

off her phone, wanting nothing more than a quiet,

or maybe it was just the relief of having nothing to

her phone

nonstop with text and app

texts first—several missed calls, some from Timothy,

was probably calling

have called back instantly to

she just let it

were also two bank notifications-Timothy had

He needed her

the morning, one from