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.

hadn't given him an apple at

through, seeing several more photos-his

smiled at him like that in

those pictures, Henry felt

his expression and gently took the phone away. "Daisy is from Mr. Zimmerman's family, you know. Your mom is kind to her because our families are

was upset, so she tried to comfort

a whisper. “My mom hasn't

him into her arms, heart aching. "It's your dad's fault. He and your mom are having a rough patch. Once they

then had one of the

her

you see what Vince

saw it," Timothy

"Aren't you going to do something? Vince

your wife right in

can't steal her," Timothy said, calm

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

Jessica was with Vince

suspicions that she might be with

Jessica ignored him, then maybe Vince getting close

at him, "If you're so calm about Vince making Daisy call dessica her godmother, you might as well

l.ne

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

ended the call, his phone screen still

looking at Daisy in the picture, she did bear a striking resemblance to how Jessica looked

anything was what worried

Vince kept posting photos like this, who knew if someone else might

crossed his mind, a comment popped

Or is it just me, or does

Timothy immediately called Yates.

me on Christmas Eve? What, are

your comment under Vince's

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

it. Don't

back to his phone, ready to delete