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."

he shouldn't be afraid to hear people talk about it.

rotten. Never

mute and couldn't scold

ever said a word to

more Larkin thought about it, the angrier he got. He added, "If Vince

would have

mother,

bitter laugh. "You Lawsons really know

keep Timothy and Sheila apart on

practically

felt miserable. She tried to explain,

support Timothy and

true, then why didn't you stand up

family and defend her marriage?

stern and cold. "I

couldn't speak, because

you bullied her."

but the

family had always thought

good enough for Timothy. Even she

have no integrity, picking and choosing

speak and has a new name, your

your fortune and

shouldn't you be more generous and help

girl. Aren't you ashamed if

clear the Zimmermans were furious-maybe even hated

Sallie could understand. After

that had happened,

the Zimmerman

angry? But thinking

looked

herself to go on. "We

before. I came here today

apologize to Jessy."

Henry a little tighter. "Henry has

days. We just want to

want to see

want your

wouldn't

for

living with the

she's made