Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Vince climbed into the car. Herbert started the engine, glanced over at him, and

for a long moment, the two men locked eyes in heavy silence. Finally, Herbert

spoke, his voice tinged with a desperate plea. "Can you just... not fight me over

Natalie? I've loved her since we were kids for fifteen years."

"Vince's answer was cold and final. "I'm not the one you're fighting with. It's

Timothy."

"You're saying you don't like her?"

Anyone could see Vince's feelings for her.

"Just drive. We can talk while you're at it."

Herbert pressed the gas, and the car rolled forward.

"Vince's voice was low and steady. "How much do you actually know about

Natalie's childhood?"

"There you go again, asking about her. And you say you don't like her!"

Herbert was clearly annoyed.

Vince's expression darkened. "You claim you've loved her for fifteen years, but

you never did anything about it. You just let her marry Timothy and suffer through

all that-how is that fair to her?"

Herbert's knuckles tightened on the steering wheel, lips pressed so hard they

turned white.

He didn't know.

He never imagined things would turn out like this.

When Jessica filed for divorce, when she talked to Marquis about everything that

happened...

Every time Herbert thought about it, he felt tears sting his eyes-something he'd

never admit, not even to himself.

The girl he wanted to protect most ended up being hurt by Timothy in the worst

ways.

He blamed himself.

kept in touch, but he never told

wanted to wait until he'd found a cure for

confession of love.

the time he came

only

paused, then pressed on. "Is she

the brakes. "What are you getting at? If she wasn't

her grandmother would have

her?"

"So you're saying she

she is. She even

""What kind of birthmark?"

"Vince's voice trembled.

grew wary. "I can't

in a private place. Back in grade school,

clothes torn, and Herbert had rushed over when he heard. That

only reason he'd ever

and she had that birthmark, her family

know.

in this town-no one

grew impatient. "Come on, Herbert,

the brake and kept driving. "I'm not telling

"Why not?"

Vince was losing it.

can't, and that's final.

Vince's frustration boiled over. "Stop the

made

again, his own

You say you're not my

keep

I supposed to

you?"

that birthmark was on her chest-there was no way

Vince that.

through his photos, and shoved

face. "Do you recognize this

shrank in shock. Wasn't that Natalie

in the picture was wearing

could never have

of Natalie's clothes

simple, picked out

elderly grandmother. The prettiest

she ever owned had

Herbert's own mother,

his request.

Do you