Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Yates spoke with an easy, indifferent air. "Figure out who you're looking for before

you accuse me of stealing your woman."

Vince couldn't help but silently give Yates a nod of approval.

It was the kind of question Timothy simply couldn't answer.

He could only try to find his wife, Jessica.

But when he arrived at the Zimmerman house, there was no one named Jessica.

He asked for Salome, but Salome had nothing to do with him.

Timothy's expression darkened. "So you're against me too?"

"No," Yates replied calmly, "I'm just trying to protect my fiancée. Timothy, if you

can't answer that question, you should go. Your wife isn't here. The only people in

this house are Vince's sister, Mrs. Zimmerman's daughter, and my fiancée."

Inside the house, Jessica and Mrs. Zimmerman emerged from the study. Zachary

set a steaming dish on the dining table and called out, "Salome, your brother and

Yates are outside. Go call them in for dinner."

"Okay."

Jessica opened the front door, surprised to see snow quietly falling outside.

Wonder lit up her delicate features.

She tilted her head back, gazing up at the sky.

toward the front

she could, a familiar figure unexpected and

Timothy's eye.

he realize just how much

"Jessy!"

name, spoken in that familiar yet foreign voice,

She turned toward

outside the iron fence,

as if it had

a moment, her heart pausing before settling back

steady beat.

the doorway, calling out to Vince

to

go," Vince said, wrapping an arm protectively around

two siblings turned to head back

his feet, gripping the

wait-please! I need to talk to

Jessica stopped, turning back.

off his coat and draping it over

she might get chilled

to say, say it.

her eyes as soft and as cold-as

gentle, almost melodic, but every word landed

like a stone.

she had waited for him at

nights and days

seeing her face felt like an impossible

"I'm sorry."

else? Dinner's getting cold,"

tone as detached as if she were speaking

at

me you'd stay