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 have said things he didn't mean.

felt something give way inside

understand the complicated mess between adults. But

she learned Henry was sick, she'd hesitated, unsure if she should go to him. But the moment she heard him calling

hadn't hesitated, maybe she would've arrived sooner.

her little boy. She only had six months left. No

moment, then typed out a message to Mabel, letting her know she was

then cheerfully ushered Jessica out the door, hoping this visit would help mend things between

emergency room. While the

fever, though his temperature was a little high. After the checkup, the doctor recommended an IV. Timothy, wanting

came in with the medication for Henry's IV. To Henry's surprise, the nurse was his classmate's mother. She

ruffled Henry's hair and said softly, "Be brave, Henry.

clung to

not afraid—my mom's here with me,"