Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Sallie knew perfectly well that their family was in the wrong, so she kept her tone

gentle and conciliatory. She brought Henry over to Larkin, smiled, and said,

"Larkin, this is your great-grandson, Henry."

Henry looked confused. "Aunt Sallie, why is he my great-grandfather too?"

"Because he's your mom's grandfather," Sallie explained patiently.

But Larkin turned away, his face stony. "I don't want a great-grandson who calls

another woman his mother. Take him away. I don't even want to look at him."

Henry was already six years old-well old enough to understand exactly what

Larkin meant. He knew he shouldn't have gone around telling people Sheila was

his mother. Now, with it being called out so bluntly, he felt his cheeks burn with

shame. He squeezed Sallie's hand tightly, seeking comfort.

Sallie quickly tried to reason with Larkin. "Larkin, Henry's still young. He can be

led astray easily, but he can just as easily be steered back onto the right path. No

matter what's happened, he's Jessy's biological son. He hasn't seen her in days,

and I brought him here today so he could see her."

She knew Timothy wasn't going to reach out to Jessica anymore. As her older

sister, she couldn't stand it. Someone had to try to get Jessica to see Timothy.

"Six years old is hardly a baby," Larkin snapped. "At that age, he can't even

recognize his own mother? If it weren't for you Lawsons looking down on our

Salome, would any of this have happened? I'll be honest with you-Jessy doesn't

want to see him, none of us Zimmermans do. Take him away."

Henry remembered how his mother had ignored him that day, giving all her

attention to his little sister Daisy. Now his great-grandfather was rejecting him too.

Tears streamed down his face as he broke into helpless sobs.

Sallie frowned. "Larkin, he's just a child. There's no need to say such harsh things

in front of him."

If he dares to do it, he shouldn't be afraid to hear people talk

him rotten. Never taught him how to

mute and couldn't scold him, but what

ever said a word

thought about it, the angrier

none of us would have known. He's been

mother,

let out a cold, bitter laugh. "You Lawsons really know how

Sheila apart on

you're practically

felt miserable. She tried to explain, "Larkin, you're wrong

and Sheila being

then why didn't you stand up for Salome? Why didn't you

her marriage? And you

Larkin, normally so gentle, looked stern and cold.

she couldn't speak, because she was an

you bullied her."

the words

had always

Even she herself had been

sneered. "You Lawsons have no

Salome can speak and has a

With all your fortune and

man, shouldn't you be more

Instead, you bullied a mute girl. Aren't you ashamed if word gets

was clear the Zimmermans

Sallie could understand. After

that had happened,

the Zimmerman

being angry? But

looked

herself to go

before. I came here

apologize to Jessy."

a little tighter. "Henry has been missing his

days. We just

want to see

want

wouldn't have put

all this for so many

living with

she's made it