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.

thought. At least she didn't have to answer questions

Sallie pressed, frowning

phone and typed a line: "It doesn't

drive me crazy? If your husband and son

What really mattered?

months left to live, Jessica thought, nothing really mattered anymore. Just then, Phelps

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

off. "Go keep

let go of his arm and left,

learned that Sheila really had left because his great-grandpa was ill, still

in front of a painting, fiddling with his smartwatch, trying

came closer and saw the name "Miss Sheila" flashing on the

from the watch: "Sorry, the

dad tells me you're a whiz with the Rubik's Cube. Why don't you show me how

"I don't want to. I just miss Miss