Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 33

Jessica sat beside her on the antique wooden settee.

The two of them faced each other across a small coffee table, which was scattered with all sorts of delicate paper cuttings.

"Jessica, I'm just not satisfied with any of these decorations," Latonia sighed. "It's

a pity your grandmother passed away years ago. The neighbors told me you're quite talented too. Could I trouble you to make some for me?"

Jessica nodded silently.

She didn't speak a word.

Latonia had heard from Herbert that Jessica still hadn't regained her voice.

Latonia led Jessica around the villa, asking her to help spot the best places for the decorations. Jessica took her time, studying the rooms, and snapped photos on her phone of the spots that needed some color.

Communicating in gestures and notes on her phone, Jessica let Latonia know she could finish everything in about two days.

Latonia, who hadn't seen Jessica in so long, insisted she stay for dinner.

Afterwards, Latonia had Herbert drive Jessica home.

Herbert glanced over.

her hands moving with practiced grace. "I'm not heading home. I need to buy some materials-could

paper cuttings?"

smiled and

cutting designs. Your house has a classic look-if I use

moved with effortless elegance, her fingers nimble and wrists poised, making her sign language almost look like

looking forward to seeing her

her grandmother as a child, often

seemed, she had blended

she'd even surpassed

the fabric market, but

to wave him off, insisting

communicate with the sellers. Let me help with

letting him tag

barely stepped inside when

was carefully inspecting

confrontation, Jessica ducked down another

and Timothy were twins, both

her brother, Sallie was single-a hard-charging career woman. After college, she'd used her degree to launch a boutique fashion label,

down on Jessica, seeing her as nothing more than