Goodbye, Mr. Regret

It was a photo of Jessica and Daisy together.

The caption read: "Daisy has a new godmother. Blessings."

At the same time, Sallie saw the post pop up on her feed. Annoyance flared in her chest.

What exactly was Vince playing at?

She knew Daisy was Vince's cousin's daughter. After her parents passed away, the Zimmerman family had pretty much taken Daisy in as one of their own, and Larkin's intention was that Daisy would be under Vince's name, as his daughter from here on out.

Now Vince couldn't wait to have Daisy call Jessica her godmother-clearly, the man just wouldn't give up.

"Aunt Sallie, what are you looking at?"

Henry had come over and caught sight of Jessica's picture. In her arms, she was holding a little girl about his age.

"It's nothing," Sallie said, quickly locking her phone.

"But Auntie, I saw my mom! Can I just see it for a second?"

"There's nothing interesting about it. You'll see your mom when you get home anyway."

But Henry felt a pang seeing his mother holding someone else. He pleaded, "Just let me see. Please?"

Sighing, Sallie handed over her phone. Henry took it carefully.

He recognized the girl at once-his mother was holding Daisy.

He'd met Daisy before.

His mom was smiling at Daisy with a tenderness he hadn't seen in a long time.

And both of them were holding apples in their hands. It was Christmas Eve, so his mother must have given Daisy an apple as a little holiday gift.

Every Christmas Eve, his mom would always save a big, shiny red apple just for him.

But this year, she was with somebody else.

She hadn't given him an apple at all.

face fell. He scrolled through, seeing several more photos-his mother laughing, her smile bright

hadn't smiled at him like

felt something heavy creep

took the phone away. "Daisy is from Mr. Zimmerman's family, you know. Your mom is kind to her

was upset,

his voice barely above a whisper. “My mom hasn't spent time with

dad's fault. He and your mom are having a rough patch. Once they make up,

for a while, then had one of the maids take him

her room and

see

it," Timothy

frustration spilled out. "Aren't you

right in front of

her," Timothy said, calm as

Salome Zimmerman. It didn't matter

Jessica was with Vince tonight. That was a relief,

earlier suspicions that she might be with

Vince getting close was for the

at him, "If you're so calm about Vince making Daisy call dessica her godmother, you might as well let Henry start calling Sheila 'Mom' too! If that's how you really feel, maybe

l.ne

thinning. "Sheila and I were never together, and

phone

Daisy's cousin. And looking at Daisy in the picture, she did

was what worried

photos like this, who knew if

his mind, a comment

looking more and more like Salome. Or is it just me, or does she

Timothy immediately called Yates.

Christmas Eve? What, are you inviting

under Vince's

has seen it by now. Deleting it won't

it.

ready to delete the comment-only to

Vince had already replied.

a resemblance. Must be