Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Sallie's voice was loud and sharp, startling Henry into tears. He ran to Phelps, clutching his great-grandfather's leg. "Grandpa, Aunt Sallie's being mean to me!"

Phelps had always doted on his favorite grandson, Timothy, and naturally, he adored Henry as well. He shot Sallie a disapproving look. "What are you doing, snapping at a child like that?"

Honestly, he was a little surprised. Jessica hadn't even come over to comfort her

son.

With a sigh, Phelps crouched down, pulled out a handkerchief, and gently wiped the tears from Henry's face. "It's true, your great-grandpa is sick. If you don't believe me, I can call him right now and you can ask for yourself."

Henry sniffled and nodded. "Okay."

Taking Henry's hand, Phelps led him out to the living room balcony.

Sallie, meanwhile, dragged Jessica firmly into the master bedroom.

"What is wrong with you?" she demanded. "Can't you see your son is about to be won over by that woman, Sheila?"

Sallie looked at Jessica's impassive face and felt a surge of frustration. Any other woman would be fighting tooth and nail right now to keep her husband and son, to draw the line against the other woman. But Jessica didn't even seem to care enough to type a response on her phone.

wasn't the worst thing, Jessica thought. At

something!" Sallie

and

trying to drive me crazy? If your husband and son being taken away don't matter,

What really mattered?

live, Jessica thought, nothing really mattered anymore. Just then,

arm in exasperation. "Grandpa, Jessica

cut her off. "Go

his arm and left, closing the

his great-grandpa was ill,

found him standing in front of a painting, fiddling with his smartwatch, trying to make a

Sheila" flashing on the tiny screen. Sallie's face

sounded from the watch: "Sorry, the number you have dialed is

a whiz with the

shook his head. "I don't want to.