Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Sallie walked over to Henry's side and saw he was on the verge of tears. Furious, she shouted, "Jessica!"

Jessica had turned away just as Henry called out for her. Now, hearing her name, she glanced back and looked up, her eyes meeting both Sallie's and Henry's.

The moment mother and son locked eyes, Henry called out again, "Mom!"

But the carousel kept spinning, and soon Jessica's seat was moving away from them.

Daisy tugged at Jessica's sleeve. "Auntie, I saw Henry calling you."

"He's with his aunt. She'll look after him." Jessica's reply was calm.

When it came to big decisions, Jessica could think about Henry's future, but when it came to the daily effort, she was done giving. If a child isn't even wanted by his own mother, what hope does he have?

Henry stared at Jessica, his gaze unwavering, but she only had eyes for Daisy. He could feel the anger boiling up inside him—this was his mother.

Seeing Jessica ignore them, Sallie turned to Herbert, who was busy filming with his phone, capturing videos with laser focus.

With a biting tone, Sallie remarked, "Jessica's got the Zimmerman family's child with her, and you're still following her around like a puppy. What's going on in that head of yours?"

Herbert barely glanced at her, his voice cold. "Mind your own business."

He turned his attention right back to Jessica and Daisy, not giving Sallie another thought.

soft, broken whispers slipped

her love, all her tenderness, every gentle smile he hadn't seen those in so

at her. He'd explained it, again and again: she would always be his mother. Outside, he only pretended Miss

"Come on, you're a big boy now. No tears. Did you know your dad never cried when he was

on?" Timothy approached, his voice

getting better-he still leaned on a cane,

Henry around to face Timothy, who immediately noticed the boy's tears. Pointing to

saw Jessica and Daisy spinning past, Jessica doting on

into a

"Henry's called for her over and over, and she just ignores him. She's fawning over someone else's child and has completely forgotten she has

do you mean, someone else's child? Daisy isn't

if Daisy's a Zimmerman,

come before her own son? Jessica's neglect is what's caused this. I saw her with Henry once, when you and Sheila took him out, and Leven warned her, but

Timothy said quietly, his voice heavy. "It's not all

the fault lay with him and Henry too;

she came with, Timothy! You might not care about your reputation, but the Lawson family still has

Timothy notice

the carousel slowed to a stop. Herbert began

the kids, keep your