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."

slowly lifted her head, her

I really so

memory flashed across Timothy's mind-a fire,

had been

You shouldn't come into the kitchen

as he looked at Henry. "Miss Sheila went through a fire once. She's afraid of it. You're not to ask her to cook for

not Henry's fault. He never asked me

Sheila, you're so afraid of fire,

just didn't want you

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,

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

We're eating

the yard, Mabel was sweeping up leaves. When she saw Timothy

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

What would people think?

Carter found out, it would break her

open the car

over reluctantly, opening the door with a

her coolly. "Mrs. Carter isn't