Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy started forward, ready to greet them.

But Mrs. Zimmerman had already walked up to Henry. “You said your mother is

the housekeeper?”

“And who are you?” Henry asked, having never met Mrs. Zimmerman before.

She’d spent most of the past years living abroad, only returning occasionally—

and never with a chance to meet Timothy’s son.

Jessica quickly stood and slipped her arm through Mrs. Zimmerman’s. “Mom, why

are you up so early? You should have rested longer.”

“I was worried about your grandfather and Daisy,” Mrs. Zimmerman replied. “I just

checked on your grandfather. He’s lucid, can move his arms and legs—just a bit

weak, but he should be fine.”

Henry remembered when Sallie had taken him to the Zimmermans’ estate; that’s

when he’d learned his mother was actually part of this family.

So, the elegant woman in front of him must be Mr. Zimmerman’s mother—his

grandmother.

He looked up shyly. “Grandma.”

The word made Mrs. Zimmerman’s heart tremble for a split second; blood ties

couldn’t be ignored. But then she remembered this boy had called his own mother

the housekeeper. That anger flared up again.

child who doesn’t respect his own mother has no right

so lacking

Zimmermans would never tolerate

with hurt. He’d already apologized to

him. Now, he’d tried to reach

again.

and Henry immediately ran

around his father’s leg.

Timothy only made Mrs. Zimmerman’s

coldly, “Take your

any further.”

quietly. “If a child acts out,

it out on me. I’ll accept whatever you have to

Henry

realized his mistake;

learn. If they

out, it would only wound

more deeply.

lifted Henry up, gently patting his

don’t call me Mom, either,”

Zimmerman Snapped. “I’ve already

about your

from Vince. If you know

on the father,

son and

son calls

the housekeeper?

how you were raised?”

get even

holding Henry tightly, and headed for the

about