Goodbye, Mr. Regret

When Timothy saw Vince calling again, his eyes darkened; he tossed his phone aside in annoyance.

After a while, he reached for the phone and finally answered.

"Timothy, I got in touch with Jessica," Vince began.

Timothy's voice was cold and low. "Is she going to the party?"

"She refused."

"So you want me to help convince her?"

"No, no, it's not that," Vince hastily clarified. "She texted me, said you two are getting divorced."

Timothy's knuckles whitened as he gripped the phone tighter.

"She's that close to you?" he asked.

met once," Vince

yet she felt comfortable enough to spill news about their

said, his voice steady but icy, "why are you actually calling

at the party with you. So... how about you just don't come the day after tomorrow? Pretend I never invited you, act like you never heard about Grandpa's birthday. That way, I can try to talk her

After all, what he was suggesting was awkward, and he knew

were glacial. "Vince,

my granddad is. It's not easy to find an artist who does the kind of paper cutting he loves. I'm

want, and toss me aside just as easily. And

talk to him this

had been far too tolerant of him, letting Vince get away with

A real man knows how to be patient and considerate. That's

like he could

to piss me off. Is it because I didn't snap at you two years ago? You

want you and Jessica to show up, both scowling at each other across the table? How about this —after the party, I'll tell her you made such a big sacrifice by not coming. Maybe she'll be touched and change her