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

have spoiled him rotten. Never

and couldn't scold him,

No one ever said

it, the angrier he got. He added,

of us would have known. He's been

mother, hasn't

cold, bitter laugh. "You Lawsons really know how to play the

Timothy and Sheila apart

you're practically matchmaking

tried to explain,

and

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

unite as a family and defend her marriage? And you have

looked stern and cold. "I think you

she couldn't speak, because she was

you bullied her."

but the words stuck in her throat.

family had

good enough for Timothy. Even she

have no

Now that Salome can speak and has a new

your fortune and social standing, and Timothy

outstanding man, shouldn't you be

bullied a mute girl. Aren't you ashamed

was clear the Zimmermans were furious-maybe even hated

Sallie could understand. After

that had

blame the

But

had looked last night,

go on.

I came here

apologize to Jessy."

a little tighter. "Henry has been missing his

We just

doesn't want to see

doesn't want

cared, she wouldn't

all this for so many years.

with

she's made