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.

his own mother has no right to call me Grandma.

consider someone so lacking in manners

never tolerate something like

eyes filled with hurt. He’d already apologized to his

tried to reach

again.

room, and Henry immediately ran to

around his father’s leg.

made

held it in and spoke coldly, “Take your son and

any further.”

“If a child acts out, the

me. I’ll accept whatever you have

Henry

had realized his mistake;

learn. If they kept

out, it would only

more deeply.

patting his back to calm

me Mom, either,”

Zimmerman Snapped. “I’ve already

about your plans to

If you

on the father, then

son and teach him

of son

housekeeper?

how you were raised?”

Zimmerman might get even

Henry tightly, and headed

was supposed to be about helping his son make