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."

dares to do it, he shouldn't be afraid to hear people talk about it.

him rotten. Never taught

and couldn't scold him, but what about you? What

No one ever said a word

more Larkin thought about it, the angrier he got.

us would have known. He's been

mother, hasn't

let out a cold, bitter laugh. "You Lawsons really

Timothy and Sheila apart on the surface, but

practically matchmaking

miserable. She tried to explain,

Timothy and Sheila being

didn't you stand up for Salome?

and defend her marriage?

gentle, looked stern and cold.

because she couldn't speak, because she was an orphan,

you bullied her."

wanted to protest, but the words stuck in her

say. The family had always

good enough for Timothy. Even she herself had been guilty

Lawsons have no integrity, picking and choosing

that Salome can speak and has a new name, your attitude

fortune and social standing,

outstanding man, shouldn't you be more generous and help

girl. Aren't you ashamed

the Zimmermans were furious-maybe even hated

Sallie could understand. After

had

the Zimmerman

being angry? But thinking

had looked last

herself to go on. "We

before. I came here

apologize to Jessy."

Henry a little tighter. "Henry has been missing his mom

We just want to

to see you,

doesn't want your apology.

cared, she wouldn't have

all this for so

living with

she's made it

wants nothing more to do

I was only angry

why I went