Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica stopped Larkin, shaking her head. "Let's just leave it. I don't want to be

tangled up with their family anymore."

The more you try to sort it out, the messier it gets.

But Larkin's jaw tightened. "If I don't confront Phelps about this, I'll never be able

to swallow my anger. Don't worry, Jess. I'll handle this. No matter what, I'll make

sure your divorce from Timothy goes through smoothly."

It was in that moment Jessica realized: having family, for a woman after marriage,

was the greatest source of strength.

Her grandfather had lost his granddaughter for so many years, and now he knew

in advance all the hurt she'd suffered at the Lawsons' hands. There was no way

The'd stand by and do nothing.

Jessica didn't try to stop him again.

Vince put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Come on, I'll show you to your

room. You've had a tough day-just rest here tonight. Let us handle the rest."

"Alright," she agreed quietly.

She was drained, physically and emotionally, from the whole exhausting divorce

ordeal. The idea of rest was a relief.

Jessica followed Vince down the hall to her room.

Stopping at the door, Vince glanced back at her. "Even though you haven't been

home for years, Mom always kept your room ready. After you turned eighteen, she

even had it redecorated."

With that, he pushed the door open.

The room was awash in soft, feminine touches-blush-pink curtains, a crisp white

bed, a neat row of plush toys lined up above the headboard. On the wall hung an

oversized photograph. There was a picture frame on the nightstand too, holding a

photo of her as a little girl.

inside, her fingers brushing the frame as she picked it

childhood face, she felt a rush of emotions-grief, comfort,

-all at once.

didn't feel foreign at

down, it felt

the doorway. "Every year, Mom bought you

for the season. I checked-all the sizes should

find something, just ask. Grandpa and I

tonight. We'll have dinner

Jessica nodded.

wardrobe

clothes, tags still

was covered with jewelry

eyes stung

she did have a

pretended

she'd always been in

warmth seeped into the cracks of

found herself aching to

that she was a mother herself, she understood at least a

to love your child

her phone and

Bryants, letting Mr. and Mrs. Bryant

the

as soon as possible.

up-one headed

the Gilded Whisper Estates.

Yates, telling him to meet

Vince answered Jessica's call.

"Hey, Jess-"

said softly, "Big

for a

just learned today that they

she'd always called

remembered I'm

But I think I should start calling you that

I want to book a flight

mother was still sick; Jessica couldn't

soon as

ID," Vince said quickly. "I'll have my

you. You

"Yes. Tonight."

"Alright."

him a picture of her ID. Vince, hoping she'd

Grandpa, arranged for his assistant to book a

Whisper Estates. As soon as he stepped

his car, Yates strode

about?"

inside. You'll find out