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.

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 back to help you

grew even softer as she

emotion. "All these years... is it these memories that kept

moment she spoke, tears spilled

was a mother, too. Henry Lawson was her

cancer diagnosis, when her own life was slipping away, she found herself thinking most about

she probably would never have stopped worrying

and gently wiped away Jessica's tears. "Oh, sweetheart, why are you crying again? Of course I missed you. Isn't that what mothers do when their children aren't by

lived with the Lawsons-years

cared for her. That was enough to help her forget all

not long ago, even her son's love slipped

understand what a blessing it was to be loved-how it made her heart feel soft

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

into the bath, letting the warm water and steam blur

Mrs. Zimmerman had

lay down, and Mrs. Zimmerman sat at the bedside, gently stroking her hair. "Close your eyes, Salome. I'll stay right here

Jessica whispered,

eyelids trembling as she fought back tears. She answered in the same way she always had: "Mommy loves Salome, too. Now go

Jessica closed her eyes.

Riverside City.

to the hospital for Timothy.

his room was empty. When

on being discharged

but his phone

his

Timothy come into the

"No, he hasn't."

you? Told you where he