Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 46

"Mabel, thank you for always caring about me. It's just... this family doesn't need me anymore."

Mabel stared at the message glowing on her phone screen, her heart sinking. Mrs. Carter must have overheard what young Henry said earlier.

She hurried to reply, "Please, Mrs. Carter, don't overthink it."

A bitter, weary smile tugged at the corners of Jessica's lips.

It wasn't just in her head. She really had seen it all with her own eyes.

"Oh, that's right!" Mabel suddenly remembered what happened after Henry came home from school. She quickly added, "Mrs. Carter, you're still very important to Henry. When he got back from school today and saw what you brought home, he realized it was a ring—a ring Mr. Carter bought especially for you at the Oakwood charity auction. It was his way of showing he cares. Henry was afraid if you returned it, Mr. Carter would be upset, so he asked me to help him keep it a secret from his dad."

Mabel hoped this might persuade Jessica to stay.

Jessica looked at her, uncertain.

vulnerable when they're sick. He waited and waited, and when you didn't come, he might

give way inside

was still so young-too young to understand the complicated mess between adults. But he did know enough to

go to him. But the moment she heard him calling

hesitated, maybe she would've arrived sooner. Maybe then Henry wouldn't have called Sheila

only had six months left. No matter how much he hurt her, she couldn't just let go

a message to Mabel, letting

ushered Jessica out the door, hoping

the children's emergency room. While the doctor

After the checkup, the doctor recommended

while later, a nurse came in with the medication for Henry's IV. To Henry's surprise, the nurse was his

she ruffled Henry's hair and said softly, "Be brave, Henry. It'll sting a bit, but you'll be

clung to

afraid—my mom's here with me,"