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 with

am I really

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

had been terrified of

You shouldn't come into the kitchen

through a fire once. She's afraid of it. You're

not

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

just didn't want

filled with tears as he hugged her tightly, his voice trembling. "Miss Sheila, you're too good to me. Please don't ever go into the kitchen again,

legs buckled. Without hesitation, he

your backpack. We're eating out

When she

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

What would people think?

Mrs. Carter found out, it would break

come open the car

shuffled over reluctantly, opening the door with

"Mrs. Carter isn't home. Why