Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"This is..."

Mabel hesitated, clearly at a loss.

But Henry's face was set in a stubborn frown, his eyes shimmering with hurt. It tugged at her heartstrings-he was probably just craving his mother's home cooking.

"Alright, I'll call Mrs. Lawson."

She dialed Jessica's number, but the phone was switched off.

Lowering her voice, Mabel said gently, "Mrs. Lawson's phone is off, Master Henry. Why don't you eat a little something for now? When she returns, I promise I'll persuade her to cook something special for you, okay?"

Henry's disappointment only deepened.

Whenever he was sick before, his mom would be at his side day and night. Now, he hadn't even been discharged, and she hadn't come to the hospital, hadn't made him anything to eat and now her phone was off, too.

What kind of mother was she being?

Unwilling to give up, Henry used his smartwatch to call Jessica himself. When all he got was the automated message that the phone was off, his tears spilled over.

send someone right away to look for Mrs. Lawson," Mabel said, her voice growing frantic. After all,

down the lunchbox and

tried calling

on the other end. Alarmed and worried, she asked,

Sheila..." Henry hiccuped between tears. "My mom... she hasn't come to see me

words dissolved into

charge her phone. Is there anyone with

But... I don't want Mabel." Henry's voice

Capital City right now, so I'll catch the earliest flight. It'll take me about three hours, but I'll be

to me," he sniffled, immediately calming down at her

how could I not come? Don't be sad, I'm booking

closed her laptop, and pulled out her suitcase. Leaving a note on the table, she headed out

Lawson and that her

Allen reported the

phone and kept her updated on his