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."

heart skipped. The

Herbert only knew it because, after they'd reconnected, he'd begged her to teach him,

with everyone else, she had to scribble notes or type messages on her

awkward moments or delays waiting for someone to read her words. It would save her time, make

this size

"It's too valuable. I

just her words, but her own cadence and inflection—exactly the way

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

was it? Let

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

letting his kindness stand and typed two words: "Thank

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

and

street, she

a warm, strong

Jessica looked up.

Timothy's, his gaze brooding

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

box with

and with one hand trapped, she couldn't even

with his thumb, studying the necklace

matched the ring he had

brows knit with