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."

her head, her

am I

memory flashed across Timothy's mind-a fire, seven

Sheila had been terrified of

not your fault. You shouldn't come into the

as he looked at Henry. "Miss Sheila went through a fire once.

not Henry's fault. He never asked

aching. "Miss Sheila, you're so afraid of fire, but you still did this for

just didn't want

tears as he hugged her tightly, his voice trembling. "Miss Sheila, you're too good to

to her feet, but her legs buckled. Without hesitation, he

backpack. We're eating

up leaves. When she saw Timothy carrying Sheila outside, her

yesterday, Sheila had insisted she was simply Timothy's sister-in-law. Now,

What would people think?

Carter found out, it

open the car door,"

shuffled over reluctantly, opening the door with

Carter isn't home. Why didn't you