Goodbye, Mr. Regret

It was a photo of Jessica and Daisy together.

The caption read: "Daisy has a new godmother. Blessings."

At the same time, Sallie saw the post pop up on her feed. Annoyance flared in her chest.

What exactly was Vince playing at?

She knew Daisy was Vince's cousin's daughter. After her parents passed away, the Zimmerman family had pretty much taken Daisy in as one of their own, and Larkin's intention was that Daisy would be under Vince's name, as his daughter from here on out.

Now Vince couldn't wait to have Daisy call Jessica her godmother-clearly, the man just wouldn't give up.

"Aunt Sallie, what are you looking at?"

Henry had come over and caught sight of Jessica's picture. In her arms, she was holding a little girl about his age.

"It's nothing," Sallie said, quickly locking her phone.

"But Auntie, I saw my mom! Can I just see it for a second?"

"There's nothing interesting about it. You'll see your mom when you get home anyway."

But Henry felt a pang seeing his mother holding someone else. He pleaded, "Just let me see. Please?"

Sighing, Sallie handed over her phone. Henry took it carefully.

He recognized the girl at once-his mother was holding Daisy.

He'd met Daisy before.

His mom was smiling at Daisy with a tenderness he hadn't seen in a long time.

And both of them were holding apples in their hands. It was Christmas Eve, so his mother must have given Daisy an apple as a little holiday gift.

Every Christmas Eve, his mom would always save a big, shiny red apple just for him.

But this year, she was with somebody else.

given him an apple at

fell. He scrolled through, seeing several more

smiled at him like that

those pictures, Henry felt something heavy

family, you know. Your mom is kind to her because our families are close. But remember, every mother

could tell Henry was upset, so she tried

her, his voice barely above a whisper. “My mom hasn't spent time

her arms, heart aching. "It's your dad's fault. He and your mom are having a rough patch. Once they make up, everything will

for a while, then had one of

went to her room

see what

saw it," Timothy replied, sounding

you going to do something? Vince

stealing your wife right

Timothy

Salome Zimmerman. It didn't matter what Vince tried-Timothy wasn't

Vince

she might be with

Jessica ignored him, then maybe Vince getting close was for

you might as well let Henry start calling Sheila 'Mom' too! If that's how you really feel, maybe stop lecturing your son

l.ne

talk nonsense in front of the kid," Timothy said, his patience. thinning. "Sheila and I were never together, and never

the call, his phone screen still

And looking at Daisy in the picture, she did bear a

was

photos like this, who knew if someone else might

crossed his mind, a comment

Salome. Or is it just me, or does she look a bit like Timothy's wife

Timothy immediately called Yates.

me on Christmas Eve? What, are you inviting me

your comment under

aren't we? I bet even Vince has seen it by now.

it. Don't

to his phone, ready to delete the comment-only to