Goodbye, Mr. Regret

It was deep winter in Aetherion, the kind of cold that bit through your coat and made Riverside City seem almost mild by comparison.

Timothy and Sallie set out close to noon, under a sky so blue it almost felt like a promise. By the time they reached the Zimmerman family home—after more than ten hours on the road and a jump across time zones-the sun was already sinking. Here, the sky was leaden and gray, the wind howling through the bare trees, carrying the threat of rain. Maybe it was just their mood, but the world itself seemed unwelcoming.

The Howard family home wasn't far from here, and in their rush to leave, neither Timothy nor Sallie had bothered to pack. Sallie wore only a camel wool coat, thin protection against the biting wind as she pulled the collar tighter and reached for the doorbell.

A housekeeper answered the door, spotted Timothy and Sallie, then turned and disappeared back inside.

Vince, having received Sallie's call earlier, had been on edge, worried Timothy might actually show up. He'd told the staff clearly: if anyone from the Lawson family came, don't let them in. Not under any circumstances.

Sallie's anxiety slipped into her voice. "Sage, what are you doing? Open the door!" But Sage ignored her, scampering off down the hallway. She found Vince in the living room. "Miss Lawson and the eldest Mr. Lawson are here."

"I'll deal with it."

Vince didn't want the staff letting them in-once they crossed the threshold, it'd be much harder to get them out.

But he knew Timothy. If Timothy had come all this way, he wouldn't give up that easily.

Right now, the Zimmermans' home was filled with rare warmth. Jessy had only just returned, and their parents, especially their mother, were visibly happier, even healthier. Jessy was showing her mother how to make paper snowflakes, their laughter echoing from the study.

Their father was in the kitchen, cooking dinner himself.

the Zimmerman family felt so close, so at peace.

insistently, shivering in the wind, her thin coat no match

Finally, Vince appeared.

face cold and

denied anything. Even when she was at

in the wrong. She had no choice but

we know you don't want to see us. We're here to

Vince's gaze was

icy as he looked

Timothy. "Jessy doesn't need

care, especially

She doesn't

you. Don't come here and ruin her mood, or ours. Don't expect me to forgive you just because we used

them, tossing Timothy's hair, tugging at

of his suit jacket. Still,

muffled by the wind.

veit

you. And between you and this family. Don't expect forgiveness, not from her, not from me. If you had even a shred of conscience-if you remembered how kind my mother was to you you'd never have done something so