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."

The

because, after they'd reconnected, he'd begged her to teach him, finding

to scribble notes or type messages on her phone

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

diamond this size

"It's

her own cadence and inflection—exactly the way she imagined herself

her hand. "Silly, the diamond's just a replica. I was worried you'd

Jessica typed, "How much was it? Let

years, and you're quibbling over a little gift? Are you

his kindness stand and typed

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

goodbye and watching as he

down the street,

stepped inside when a warm, strong hand caught

Jessica looked up.

met Timothy's, his gaze

against his solid chest,

the box with the

and with one

lid with his thumb, studying the necklace

ring he had once bought a

knit