Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 26

Jessica hesitated, unsure if she should hand her phone to Herbert.

But Herbert had already slipped it from her grasp.

He tapped away in the app store, quickly downloading a new app.

After a moment, he typed a line into the app: "Little Mute, how does this voice sound?"

A stranger's female voice came from somewhere nearby.

"Do you like it?"

He typed again, the same gentle voice repeating his words.

Jessica realized the sound was coming from the necklace.

Her eyes lit up with surprise. She had never seen a necklace like this-it was fascinating.

And the voice sounded eerily similar to her own, as if it carried echoes of her past.

Jessica hadn't been born mute.

Herbert handed her phone back to her.

"With this app, you just type what you want to say," he explained. "The software can mimic your tone, too. And the more you use it, the more natural it gets."

skipped. The prospect was

because, after they'd reconnected, he'd

scribble notes or type messages on her phone and

could just type, and it would speak for her-no more awkward moments or delays waiting for someone to read her words. It would

a diamond this size couldn't

into her phone: "It's too valuable. I can't accept

necklace's voice matched not just her words, but her own cadence and inflection—exactly the way she imagined

pressed the necklace into her hand. "Silly, the diamond's just a replica. I was

much was it?

and you're quibbling over a little gift? Are you trying

letting his kindness stand and typed

you get some rest," Herbert said, gathering his things. "Just remember-don't get the necklace wet,

and watching as

the street, she

warm, strong hand caught her wrist, pinning

Jessica looked up.

met Timothy's, his gaze brooding and

hand pressed against his solid chest, but he was unmovable—tall, powerful,

bent down, sliding the box

one hand trapped, she couldn't

lid with his thumb, studying

ring he had once bought a

knit with