Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Daisy tore open the first gift bag, her eyes going wide with excitement. "Wow, it's a platinum gift card for Wonderland Park!"

Jessica knew Timothy had arranged this for Daisy.

Clutching the card, Daisy grinned and announced, "Godmom, Santa Claus is so good to me! I get to go to the amusement park today!"

She reached for the second bag. "Goddess, this one's for you to open."

Jessica untied the ribbon and peeked inside. It was the Royal Pearl Necklace- Timothy's birthday gift to her, the one that had been broken when Sheila dropped

it.

But now, it looked different.

Ten of the pearls had been set with delicate emeralds, arranged from smallest to largest, giving the necklace a modern, elegant flair.

Jessica realized Timothy must have had the damaged pearls repaired after the accident at the hospital. This necklace had belonged to his mother—a family heirloom-and yet, he insisted on giving it to her again.

"Godmom, Santa really knows how to pick gifts. That necklace is so beautiful," Daisy said with awe.

If it had been anything else, Jessica might have accepted it without a second thought. But this necklace was different; it was his mother's. Accepting it would mean something more.

"It is beautiful," she agreed softly.

But she didn't want it—not like this. So Jessica carefully placed the necklace back in its bag and set it on her vanity.

"There's one last bag," Daisy chirped.

glanced at it and said, "Let's leave that one for now. Why don't we get ready and head

and games, Daisy

with a dress for Daisy-a lovely princess gown with a

styled her hair into neat curls, finishing the look with a touch of her own lipstick-a

is going to be the prettiest princess in

her reflection, her

quite like having

Vince and Timothy were in the

furrowed as he took in Daisy's transformation. He'd never really noticed before, but now, looking closely,

It was...dangerous.

likeness between Daisy and Jessica. The thought had

at Timothy, Vince teased, "You know, Daisy really looks like you. If no one said otherwise, people would think you

you need a daughter? If you're short one, we

a mom anymore, and she wanted one so badly. Last night, snuggled up with Jessica, listening to a bedtime story, she'd felt almost like she had her mother back a soft, sweet warmth she'd missed

of the Zimmerman family. If you moved to the Lawsons, your great-grandfather

daughter, they'd have

that, Timothy. If

crouched down, cupping Daisy's cheek. "Godmom has to travel abroad soon. Once everything's settled

to disappoint Daisy, but her own life was in too much upheaval right now to

nodded. "Okay. I'll

called

join them. But Jessica smiled and said, "Vince, there's a great

rolls. They're famous for those,