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."

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

have spoiled him rotten. Never taught him how to

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

said

the angrier he got. He added, "If Vince

none of us would have

mother,

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

apart on

practically

to explain, "Larkin, you're wrong about

Timothy and Sheila

you stand up

her marriage?

now?" Larkin, normally so gentle, looked stern and

she couldn't speak, because she was

you bullied her."

but the words

nothing to say. The family had always

enough for Timothy. Even she herself had

"You Lawsons have no integrity, picking and choosing

and has a

overnight. With all your fortune and

you be more

a mute girl. Aren't you ashamed if word gets

was clear the Zimmermans were

Sallie could understand. After

had happened,

blame the

angry? But thinking of

had looked last

herself to go

before. I came

apologize to Jessy."

Henry a little tighter. "Henry has been missing his

We just

to

want your apology.

wouldn't

for so

living with

she's made

more to

was only angry on her

I went