Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica's hands were full, making conversation impossible.

But Herbert could already guess what she wanted to say.

"Wondering why I'm here?" he asked with a half-smile.

Jessica nodded.

"I came to visit my grandfather's grave, and thought I'd stop by your grandmother's too. I can't even count how many meals she made for me when I was a kid."

Of course, the real reason was to keep Jessica company.

He knew today was the Thanksgiving Day, and Jessica would be here to pay respects to her grandmother and mother.

Herbert reached out, taking the offerings and flowers from Jessica's arms. “Let's do this together."

He loaded the items into the trunk, then opened the car door for her.

Once they were inside, Jessica began sharing her morning's speech therapy practice. She admitted it was still tough—even the simplest sounds wouldn't come out right.

show your nerves have healed much more than before, which is why you're suddenly making some sounds. You'll recover

hope she hadn't seen in years. If her body was healing on its own, maybe her chances of speaking again were

thumb into her palm-a

signing, Herbert would have to take his eyes off the road to watch, and she didn't want to be

followed Herbert's car all

out and walked together to the grave

debating whether to call President Lawson. But he'd been told simply to pick up Mrs. Lawson and bring her home-nothing more. If he reported that she was visiting the cemetery with

paying their respects, Secretary

President Lawson asked me to drive you back to Riverside City as

instinctively signed, **Tell him I'm

helpless. "Mrs. Lawson, I don't understand sign

tell President Lawson

that, Herbert put his arm around Jessica's shoulders and steered her toward

up, his tone urgent. "Mrs. Lawson, President

She took out her phone and sent