Goodbye, Mr. Regret

After a while, Henry picked up the phone.

"Henry, have you had dinner yet?"

Sheila's voice was as gentle and caring as ever.

Maybe it was because Henry wasn't in a great mood-he didn't sound nearly as cheerful as he usually did when she called.

His aunt had told him he should really call Sheila "Great Aunt" according to the family tree.

His mother had been furious about his behavior and was now completely ignoring him.

He should probably do as his aunt suggested.

"Good evening, Great Aunt," he said.

Sheila almost dropped her phone.

"Henry, what did you just call me?"

"Great Aunt. You're Dad's aunt, after all. I should address you properly."

Sheila had so many things she wanted to say to Henry, but his sudden formality left her speechless.

Wasn't he always closest to her? What had changed?

"Henry, it's true I'm your dad's aunt, but we were born the exact same day, month, and year. Technically, yes, I am your great aunt, but you've always just called me Miss Sheila, haven't you?"

"That was my mistake. I should have used your proper title. Is there something you needed, Great Aunt?"

in the country and had planned to get some information out of Henry. But with how things were

really. I just haven't seen you in a while. I missed you, so I wanted to check in and see how

well at all lately, actually. He'd cried more

didn't want to tell

seemed to dislike the closeness between him and Sheila, and if she found out, she probably still

mother-since she couldn't speak, he struggled with the embarrassment if others

was never about

fine. If there's nothing else, I'll say goodbye. It's

"Alright. Take care."

Henry hung up.

something was stuck in her

couldn't be

and he'd already

tossed

that she truly wanted Henry, anyway.

Henry didn't want to be close to her, he was nothing

arrived at the Zimmerman

then, night

lights were on inside Zimmerman Manor,

swered, and upon

it

really

us in a difficult

held up a portfolio. "I'm only here to drop something

The butler remembering how