Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica sat beside her on the antique wooden settee.

The two of them faced each other across a small coffee table, which was scattered with all sorts of delicate paper cuttings.

"Jessica, I'm just not satisfied with any of these decorations," Latonia sighed. "It's

a pity your grandmother passed away years ago. The neighbors told me you're quite talented too. Could I trouble you to make some for me?"

Jessica nodded silently.

She didn't speak a word.

Latonia had heard from Herbert that Jessica still hadn't regained her voice.

Latonia led Jessica around the villa, asking her to help spot the best places for the decorations. Jessica took her time, studying the rooms, and snapped photos on her phone of the spots that needed some color.

Communicating in gestures and notes on her phone, Jessica let Latonia know she could finish everything in about two days.

Latonia, who hadn't seen Jessica in so long, insisted she stay for dinner.

Afterwards, Latonia had Herbert drive Jessica home.

Once Jessica climbed into the car, Herbert glanced over. "Where do you live?"

need to buy some materials-could you drop me at the fabric market on the south

For paper cuttings?" Herbert was

smiled and

Your house has a classic look-if I use ordinary paper, it just

wrists poised, making her sign language almost

himself looking forward to seeing her

from her grandmother as a child, often

Now, it seemed, she

even surpassed her

the fabric market, but

tried to wave him off, insisting

be hard to communicate with the sellers.

letting

had barely stepped inside when Jessica spotted

carefully inspecting bolts

confrontation, Jessica ducked down another

Timothy were twins, both twenty-nine this

brother, Sallie was single-a hard-charging career woman. After college, she'd used her degree to launch a boutique