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.

speak wasn't the worst thing, Jessica thought. At least she

Sallie

took out her phone and typed a

If your

What really mattered?

only six months left to live, Jessica thought, nothing really mattered anymore. Just then, Phelps entered the room as

gripping Phelps's arm in exasperation. "Grandpa, Jessica is hopeless. The whole

Phelps cut her off.

arm and left, closing the door behind

learned that Sheila really had left because his great-grandpa was ill, still felt glum. He

front of a painting, fiddling with his smartwatch,

Sheila" flashing

watch: "Sorry, the number

distract him. "Hey, your dad tells me you're a whiz

"I don't want