Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Sallie walked over to Henry's side and saw he was on the verge of tears. Furious, she shouted, "Jessica!"

Jessica had turned away just as Henry called out for her. Now, hearing her name, she glanced back and looked up, her eyes meeting both Sallie's and Henry's.

The moment mother and son locked eyes, Henry called out again, "Mom!"

But the carousel kept spinning, and soon Jessica's seat was moving away from them.

Daisy tugged at Jessica's sleeve. "Auntie, I saw Henry calling you."

"He's with his aunt. She'll look after him." Jessica's reply was calm.

When it came to big decisions, Jessica could think about Henry's future, but when it came to the daily effort, she was done giving. If a child isn't even wanted by his own mother, what hope does he have?

Henry stared at Jessica, his gaze unwavering, but she only had eyes for Daisy. He could feel the anger boiling up inside him—this was his mother.

Seeing Jessica ignore them, Sallie turned to Herbert, who was busy filming with his phone, capturing videos with laser focus.

With a biting tone, Sallie remarked, "Jessica's got the Zimmerman family's child with her, and you're still following her around like a puppy. What's going on in that head of yours?"

Herbert barely glanced at her, his voice cold. "Mind your own business."

He turned his attention right back to Jessica and Daisy, not giving Sallie another thought.

whispers slipped

him alone. All her love, all her tenderness, every gentle smile he hadn't

she'd embarrass herself in public, that people would laugh at her. He'd explained it, again and again: she would always be his mother. Outside, he only

tears. "Come

approached, his voice

better-he still leaned on a

noticed the boy's tears.

and Daisy spinning past, Jessica doting on

into a hard

over and over, and she just ignores him. She's fawning over someone else's

shot back, annoyed, "What do you mean, someone else's

Daisy's a Zimmerman,

son? Jessica's neglect is what's caused this. I saw her with Henry once, when you and Sheila took him

not fair," Timothy said quietly, his voice heavy. "It's not all on

Henry too; it

with,

now did Timothy notice Herbert

then, the carousel slowed to a stop. Herbert began waving at Jessica and

your voice down," Timothy

out from the