Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Hollis Greene?"

"Vince's first thought was of him.

"Yes," Jessica answered.

The siblings had come to the same realization.

Vince was now certain Jessica was his sister, but he still needed to find out how

she had ended up with the Greene family.

Jessica remembered nothing about her life before the Greenes. Her grandmother

had told her that she'd suffered a severe fever as a child, and that was why her

memories were lost.

As she grew up, she didn't pay much attention to it. After all, most people only

remember fragments from when they were six; some remember a lot, some just

bits and pieces.

There was no memory of Vince in her mind, no warm images of a childhood spent

with an older brother.

She'd never even known she had a brother, so she had never missed him.

Her connection with Vince was only a month or two old, so naturally, her feelings

for him could not run as deep or intense as his for her.

Still, she wanted to understand everything.

Vince, meanwhile, could hardly wait to take Jessica back to Riverside City, to

bring her home, to tell their grandfather that he'd found Salome, to tell their

parents their daughter had come back.

Vince led her to the car, opening the door for her. But as Jessica glanced over,

she remembered Herbert. She quickly walked over to him. "I'm heading back to

Riverside City in a hurry. Are you coming?"

Herbert smiled. "I'm going to visit my family, so I won't be back for a while."

would want to bring Jessica home,

would take time. He didn't want to intrude

the daughter of the Zimmerman family, and her plan to

family,

time

Let's keep in touch

settle down."

travels," Herbert said. "I hope you're reunited with your family

Vince leaned over and fastened her seatbelt for

and Dad will be so happy to see you," he said. "I'll call

them back. When Mom sees you, I know she'll

better."

don't remember any of you. I don't know how to

sister, or a daughter."

smiled gently. "That's not your problem to

rest is up to

the brother and parents you

our neglect that led to

because of

weighed heavier on him with every

I get lost?"

He didn't want her to recall

up more pain.

got separated from us, but let's not go into that now. We can talk about

out his phone. "Let me call Mom

anxious. "Please

with you yet. I

what to say.

one to

do it this way: I'll meet

first, then I'll visit

thoughtful as ever,"

a touch of pride in

do as

then

He'll be

he hears you're back."

plan was to meet Hollis, have him tested for compatibility as

if he was

Hollis wasn't her biological father, so there was no need to

after this.

fulfilled the role

father by blood, there would at least have been that

she felt nothing binding

drove, Vince told Jessica stories

come to trust Vince deeply; now

was her brother, it all made sense-why she'd felt so