Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 495

It was exactly her style.

Her mother must have decorated the bedroom based on what she remembered Jessica loving as a child, assuming her tastes hadn't changed with time.

"Salome, I'll go run you a hot bath. You'll feel so much better after soaking for a while," Mrs. Zimmerman said.

Jessica quickly caught her mother's hand. "Mom, you're not in the best health. I can take care of these little things myself—I'm all grown up now, not a little girl anymore."

Mrs. Zimmerman smiled gently. "But you were only six when you went missing. I missed out on taking care of you all these years. Let me make up for lost time, just for today-let me look after you."

This wasn't just about looking after her. This was a mother's fierce, overwhelming love for her child.

"Mom, you're so good to me," Jessica choked out, her voice trembling.

Mrs. Zimmerman's smile deepened as she walked into the bathroom. She turned

on the faucet, adjusted the temperature, and started filling the tub.

Jessica grabbed some clothes from her suitcase and stepped inside. Mrs. Zimmerman sat on the edge of the tub, turned to her, and said, "Salome, you've always loved the scent of gardenias. I bought a special gardenia bubble bath just

for you."

She squeezed some of the fragrant liquid into the water and swirled it with her hand, filling the tub with delicate bubbles.

Jessica's eyes stung with tears.

Some things about a person never change.

She'd loved gardenias since she was little-her grandmother had planted two bushes by the front door and another in the backyard. When they bloomed, the whole house would be filled with their sweet scent.

After marrying Timothy, she found out he preferred the smell of orchids. Out of habit, she'd swapped out all her scented products for orchid-scented ones.

The bath was ready.

your back. You always wanted me to do that for you when you were little. And at bedtime, you wanted me to scratch your back to

Zimmerman's smile grew even softer as she

her voice rough with emotion. "All

moment she spoke, tears

mother, too. Henry Lawson was her whole

her own life was slipping away, she found herself thinking most

Henry hadn't broken her heart, she probably

gently wiped away Jessica's tears. "Oh, sweetheart, why are you crying again? Of course I missed you. Isn't that

lived with the Lawsons-years

for her. That was enough to

long ago, even her

it was to be loved-how

was so fierce that, even after twenty years apart, Jessica felt no embarrassment

the bath, letting the warm

came out, Mrs. Zimmerman had already drawn

gently stroking her hair. "Close your eyes, Salome. I'll stay right here with

she could stop herself, Jessica whispered, "Salome loves Mommy so

as she fought back tears. She answered

Jessica closed her eyes.

Riverside City.

hospital for Timothy.

room was empty.

on being

calling Timothy, but his phone

tried his

Timothy come into the

"No, he hasn't."

Told

haven't heard from