Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Sallie knew perfectly well that their family was in the wrong, so she kept her tone

gentle and conciliatory. She brought Henry over to Larkin, smiled, and said,

"Larkin, this is your great-grandson, Henry."

Henry looked confused. "Aunt Sallie, why is he my great-grandfather too?"

"Because he's your mom's grandfather," Sallie explained patiently.

But Larkin turned away, his face stony. "I don't want a great-grandson who calls

another woman his mother. Take him away. I don't even want to look at him."

Henry was already six years old-well old enough to understand exactly what

Larkin meant. He knew he shouldn't have gone around telling people Sheila was

his mother. Now, with it being called out so bluntly, he felt his cheeks burn with

shame. He squeezed Sallie's hand tightly, seeking comfort.

Sallie quickly tried to reason with Larkin. "Larkin, Henry's still young. He can be

led astray easily, but he can just as easily be steered back onto the right path. No

matter what's happened, he's Jessy's biological son. He hasn't seen her in days,

and I brought him here today so he could see her."

She knew Timothy wasn't going to reach out to Jessica anymore. As her older

sister, she couldn't stand it. Someone had to try to get Jessica to see Timothy.

"Six years old is hardly a baby," Larkin snapped. "At that age, he can't even

recognize his own mother? If it weren't for you Lawsons looking down on our

Salome, would any of this have happened? I'll be honest with you-Jessy doesn't

want to see him, none of us Zimmermans do. Take him away."

Henry remembered how his mother had ignored him that day, giving all her

attention to his little sister Daisy. Now his great-grandfather was rejecting him too.

Tears streamed down his face as he broke into helpless sobs.

Sallie frowned. "Larkin, he's just a child. There's no need to say such harsh things

in front of him."

it, he shouldn't be afraid to

you Lawsons have spoiled him rotten. Never taught him how to

used to be mute and couldn't scold him, but what

said a word to

about it, the angrier

of us would have

his mother,

out a cold, bitter laugh. "You Lawsons really know how

apart on the surface, but

you're practically

tried to explain, "Larkin, you're wrong about us.

support Timothy and Sheila

stand up for Salome? Why

and defend her marriage? And you

Larkin, normally so gentle, looked stern and cold. "I

because she couldn't speak,

you bullied her."

the words stuck in

had always thought Salome, mute and

she herself had been guilty

no integrity, picking and choosing whom

and has a new name, your attitude

your fortune and

outstanding man, shouldn't you be

mute girl. Aren't you ashamed if word gets

clear the Zimmermans were furious-maybe even

Sallie could understand. After

that had

blame the Zimmerman

being angry? But thinking of

looked last night,

to go

I came here

apologize to Jessy."

hugged Henry a little tighter. "Henry has been

just want to

doesn't want to

want your

cared, she wouldn't have

all this for

living with the

and she's made it

nothing more to do

was only

why I went to your