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

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

else, she had to scribble notes or type messages on her phone and show people

had this necklace, she could just type, and it would speak for her-no more awkward moments

a diamond this size

into her phone: "It's too

voice matched not just her words, but her

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

"How much was it?

haven't seen each other in years, and you're quibbling over a

kindness stand and typed two words:

things. "Just remember-don't get the necklace wet, and try to get some sleep. Don't forget

goodbye and watching as he

his car disappeared down the street, she turned

when a warm, strong

Jessica looked up.

met Timothy's, his gaze brooding

pressed against his solid chest, but

the box with the

speak, and with one hand trapped, she couldn't

the lid with his

matched the ring he had once bought

knit