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.

it and said, "Let's leave that one for now. Why don't

games, Daisy forgot all about the

arrived with a dress for Daisy-a lovely princess gown with a matching tiara

look with

be the prettiest princess in

reflection, her

quite like having

and Timothy were in the living room, eyeing each

never really noticed before,

It was...dangerous.

Daisy and Jessica. The thought had stuck with Vince, and now,

like you. If no one said otherwise,

a daughter? If you're short one, we can just

wanted one so badly. Last night, snuggled up with Jessica, listening to a bedtime story, she'd felt almost

part of the Zimmerman family. If you moved to

they wanted a daughter, they'd have to

grinned. "Don't worry about that, Timothy. If Jessy wants it, I'm sure my grandfather would be

abroad soon. Once everything's settled and I'm stable, I'll give you an

want to disappoint Daisy, but her own life

I'll wait

Mabel called them

But Jessica smiled and said, "Vince, there's a great breakfast place called Velvet Fork. Let me treat you

their crystal rolls. They're famous for those, and I've been