Goodbye, Mr. Regret

It was exactly her style.

Her mother must have decorated the bedroom based on what she remembered Jessica loving as a child, assuming her tastes hadn't changed with time.

"Salome, I'll go run you a hot bath. You'll feel so much better after soaking for a while," Mrs. Zimmerman said.

Jessica quickly caught her mother's hand. "Mom, you're not in the best health. I can take care of these little things myself—I'm all grown up now, not a little girl anymore."

Mrs. Zimmerman smiled gently. "But you were only six when you went missing. I missed out on taking care of you all these years. Let me make up for lost time, just for today-let me look after you."

This wasn't just about looking after her. This was a mother's fierce, overwhelming love for her child.

"Mom, you're so good to me," Jessica choked out, her voice trembling.

Mrs. Zimmerman's smile deepened as she walked into the bathroom. She turned

on the faucet, adjusted the temperature, and started filling the tub.

Jessica grabbed some clothes from her suitcase and stepped inside. Mrs. Zimmerman sat on the edge of the tub, turned to her, and said, "Salome, you've always loved the scent of gardenias. I bought a special gardenia bubble bath just

for you."

She squeezed some of the fragrant liquid into the water and swirled it with her hand, filling the tub with delicate bubbles.

Jessica's eyes stung with tears.

Some things about a person never change.

She'd loved gardenias since she was little-her grandmother had planted two bushes by the front door and another in the backyard. When they bloomed, the whole house would be filled with their sweet scent.

After marrying Timothy, she found out he preferred the smell of orchids. Out of habit, she'd swapped out all her scented products for orchid-scented ones.

The bath was ready.

here. Let Mom scrub your back. You always wanted me to do that for you when you were little. And at bedtime, you wanted me to scratch your

Zimmerman's smile grew even softer

with emotion. "All

tears spilled silently down her

was her whole world-every

was slipping away, she found herself thinking

she probably would never have stopped worrying

sweetheart, why are you crying again? Of course I missed you. Isn't that what mothers do when their children aren't

lived with

her, cared for her. That was enough to

even her

understand what a blessing it was to be loved-how it made

love was so fierce that, even after twenty years apart, Jessica felt no embarrassment being vulnerable in front of

the warm water and steam

out, Mrs. Zimmerman had already drawn

sat at the bedside, gently stroking her hair. "Close your eyes, Salome. I'll stay right

she could stop herself, Jessica whispered,

eyelids trembling as she fought back tears. She answered in the same

Jessica closed her eyes.

Riverside City.

the hospital for Timothy. After

when she arrived, his room was empty. When she asked around, she

had insisted on being discharged early

Timothy, but

tried his

Timothy come into the

"No, he hasn't."

called you? Told you