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

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

to scribble notes or type messages on her phone

it would speak for her-no more awkward moments or delays waiting for

diamond this size

into her phone: "It's too valuable. I

her words, but her own cadence and

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

typed, "How much was it? Let

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

his kindness stand and typed two words:

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

waving goodbye and watching

his car disappeared down the street, she turned and

had barely stepped inside when a warm, strong hand caught her

Jessica looked up.

dark eyes met Timothy's, his gaze brooding and

to push him away, hand pressed against his

the box with the necklace

one hand trapped, she couldn't

the lid with his thumb, studying

ring he

knit