Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"You threatened to jump off the balcony just to make me watch cartoons with you?"

Henry's dark eyes met hers. "Why not? Think about it, Mom-when was the last time you watched cartoons with me?"

Jessica's lips froze mid-reply.

Why didn't she watch cartoons with him? Was he really pretending not to know the reason?

Henry nudged her, impatient. "Come on, sit down! This one's even made by Miss Sheila herself. She's amazing. Let's watch it together, and then you have to help me cut out the characters for my scrapbook. I want to make a picture book for Miss Sheila."

To Henry, Sheila was everything a person should be: understanding, gentle, endlessly considerate.

She'd even called today, asking him to bring his mom home, all for the sake of harmony in the family.

If he could just keep Mom at home, then Miss Sheila wouldn't have to worry anymore; she might even come back to stay at The Gilded Whisper Estates.

With his paper-cutting contest coming up soon, he needed Sheila around more than ever.

Jessica felt as if a thorn had lodged in her throat, making it hard to breathe.

She raised her wrist, voice tight. "You already know how to make picture books now?"

brows drew together

first

of guilt stabbed through

the first one he finished on his own would be

annoying? Always asking questions! Can't you just sit and watch with

ignored him, walked over to Mabel, and quickly typed

called me threatening to jump if

family's treasure—if anything happened to him, every staff member in The Gilded Whisper Estates would be out of

get more people

to the back, gathering the indoor staff and warning them that young Henry had threatened to throw himself off the balcony. They needed to keep a

Jessica saw the house was

"Mom!"

you lately? Why can't you just stay home like you're supposed to? Even Miss Sheila's worried-you know, she

language. "You're saying Sheila told you

across the sofa, arched an eyebrow. "You're never home anymore. She's afraid to come over-she thinks you don't like her. She even told me to talk to you, to

her lips together, lost in