Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica curled her fingers tightly.

"Of course I'm sure." Henry replied cheerfully, "If I give this to Miss Sheila, I get to see it too. And if Miss Sheila knows it's because of me that she got this piece, maybe she'll like me even more."

The fabric Jessica was holding suddenly slipped from her hand and hit the floor with a dull thud.

Timothy and Henry both turned around.

When Henry saw Jessica, his eyes lit up. He hadn't seen his mother in days, and he missed her. He was about to jump up and run to her, but then he remembered -Mom never seemed too happy that Miss Sheila was living with them. If Mom came back, she'd probably send Miss Sheila away, and then Miss Sheila wouldn't be able to take him to the paper crafts competition.

Part of him wanted his mom to leave again.

So he stayed put on the couch, not moving an inch.

Maybe if he acted cold, Mom would decide to leave.

Jessica bent down and gathered the fabric into her arms. She hadn't expected to find Timothy at home. Neither of them spoke to her, and as she was about to head to her room, Timothy stopped her.

"Pack up. We're going back to the manor."

return early-his grandfather had asked for her homemade chicken soup. It was already late; she wouldn't have time to make it. Jessica tucked

don't want

down at

manor, Henry obediently trotted off to

into the bedroom. He got up, followed, and closed the door behind

putting the fabric away when Timothy caught her slender

Their eyes met.

with a chill. "What's that

free and turned her face away, refusing to look at him for even a second longer. She couldn't speak, and even if

felt a flush of anger

before. Is it because that guy outside

turned, furious, her eyes red as

to this, and yet

a

like sunflowers. In seven years

warmth. But today, she was

"If you care so much about that