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

Lawsons have spoiled him rotten.

couldn't scold him, but what about

No one ever said

Larkin thought about it, the angrier he got. He added, "If

would have known. He's

mother,

bitter laugh. "You Lawsons really know

keep Timothy and Sheila apart on the surface, but

you're practically matchmaking

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

support Timothy and Sheila being

true, then why didn't you stand up for

as a family and defend her marriage?

Larkin, normally so gentle, looked stern

Salome because she couldn't speak, because she was

you bullied her."

protest, but the words stuck

nothing to say. The family had always thought Salome, mute

enough for Timothy. Even she herself had been guilty of

have no integrity, picking and choosing

and has a

all your fortune and

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

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

clear the Zimmermans

Sallie could understand. After

had

the

But thinking

had looked

herself to go on.

I came

apologize to Jessy."

a little tighter. "Henry has

We just

doesn't want to

want your

wouldn't have put

all this for so many years.

living with the

and she's

more to

I was only

why I went to your