Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 93

Jessica forced a faint smile.

No matter how tactfully Sallie put it, the message was always the same— Jessica's muteness was a disappointment.

She should try harder.

But Jessica had been trying, day after day, to prove herself worthy of Timothy. She'd done everything she could think of. If only the Lawsons could show her a little more respect, maybe Henry wouldn't have grown so distant, so ashamed of having a mother who couldn't speak.

But what could she do? She was voiceless, powerless.

That's why she was so willing to support Carlisle and the others they worked so hard to prove that even without a voice, they could live, work, and create just like anyone else.

Sallie, meanwhile, felt she'd done all she could for Jessica. She'd given her advice, offered reminders, and now, if Jessica couldn't appreciate it, she'd just have to deal with the consequences herself. As for Sheila, Sallie was sure their grandfather would step in.

With that, Sallie left.

Jessica made her way to Henry's hospital room.

He'd had surgery just before dawn; now that the anesthesia had worn off, he probably still hurt. Even in his sleep, his small face was scrunched up in pain.

deeply, that he clung to Sheila and seemed embarrassed by his own mother. Every

that night. She kept watch

Morning came.

opened his eyes, he saw Jessica dozing beside his bed, her head resting on her arms. Something tugged at

remembered being sick as a little boy, opening his eyes to see his mother slumped in the same

didn't love her.

in Riverside City, and naturally, everyone assumed

to find out that his mom was

"Mom..." he whispered.

up at the sound of his

stay here all

Jessica nodded.

her phone and typed into a text-to-speech app: "Henry, are you hungry? Do

from the phone, and Henry noticed the ring

voice was pleasant enough, but it was still artificial, a reminder that his mother would never

language, Mom. I know how to read it. Dad gave you that talking ring so you

dull ache throbbed in

"I'll go get you something to eat. You just lie still, okay? You just had surgery, and you don't