Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Miss Sheila? Is that really you?"

Sheila turned, catching Henry's gaze.

For a moment, Henry forgot all about looking for his mother. Beaming, he scurried over to Sheila's side.

Sheila's brows knit together, her voice soft and apologetic. "Henry, last night over dinner, you mentioned not liking the school lunches. I wanted to make you something myself to take today, but... I think I messed up."

No sooner had she finished speaking than the acrid smell of burning filled the air then flames leapt up from the pan on the stove.

With a frightened gasp, Sheila dropped to the floor, curling into a tight ball.

Henry, alarmed, wrapped his arms around her and shouted, "Dad! There's a fire in the kitchen! Dad!"

As he tried to soothe her, he gently patted Sheila's back. "Miss Sheila, it's okay. Don't be scared."

Timothy hurried in, drawn by the commotion. Without missing a beat, he turned off the gas and clamped the lid onto the flaming pan. The fire sputtered out almost immediately.

But Sheila was still trembling, unable to move.

Concern shadowed Timothy's usually composed features.

He knelt down beside her and called, more gently this time, "Sheila."

head, her eyes shimmering

I

memory flashed across Timothy's mind-a

had been terrified of

You shouldn't come into the kitchen

at Henry. "Miss Sheila went through a fire once. She's afraid of

urgent. "Timothy, it's not Henry's fault.

looked up at Sheila, his heart aching. "Miss Sheila, you're so afraid of fire, but you still

just didn't want you eating poorly at

Sheila, you're too good

to her feet, but her legs buckled. Without hesitation, he scooped her up in his

We're eating out

was sweeping up leaves. When she saw Timothy carrying

had insisted she was simply Timothy's sister-in-law. Now, she didn't seem the

What would people think?

found out, it

open the car door,"

reluctantly, opening the

at her coolly. "Mrs. Carter isn't home. Why didn't you make breakfast this