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?"

signed quickly, her hands moving with practiced grace. "I'm not heading home. I need to buy some materials-could you drop me at

For paper cuttings?"

smiled and signed

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

nimble and wrists poised, making her sign language almost

found himself looking forward to seeing

from her grandmother

she had blended old traditions with a modern

even surpassed

but instead of leaving, he

him off, insisting she

be hard to communicate with the sellers. Let

letting him

inside when Jessica spotted Timothy's older

carefully inspecting

a confrontation, Jessica ducked down another

and Timothy were twins, both

hard-charging career woman. After college, she'd used her degree