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.

hadn't even looked toward the front gate

she could, a familiar

Timothy's eye.

then did he realize just how much

"Jessy!"

yet

She

the iron

it had

for a moment, her heart pausing before

steady beat.

calling out to Vince and Yates,

to

Vince said, wrapping an arm protectively around Jessica's

siblings turned

his feet, gripping the wrought-iron gate with

I need to talk

Jessica stopped, turning back.

quickly shrugging off his coat and

she might get chilled

to say, say it. Everyone's waiting

and as cold-as the

but

like a stone.

a time, she had waited for him at home every

wasted so many nights and days they could have spent together.

even seeing her face felt

"I'm sorry."

received. Anything else? Dinner's

as detached as if she were speaking

at the

you'd stay