Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Yates spoke with an easy, indifferent air. "Figure out who you're looking for before

you accuse me of stealing your woman."

Vince couldn't help but silently give Yates a nod of approval.

It was the kind of question Timothy simply couldn't answer.

He could only try to find his wife, Jessica.

But when he arrived at the Zimmerman house, there was no one named Jessica.

He asked for Salome, but Salome had nothing to do with him.

Timothy's expression darkened. "So you're against me too?"

"No," Yates replied calmly, "I'm just trying to protect my fiancée. Timothy, if you

can't answer that question, you should go. Your wife isn't here. The only people in

this house are Vince's sister, Mrs. Zimmerman's daughter, and my fiancée."

Inside the house, Jessica and Mrs. Zimmerman emerged from the study. Zachary

set a steaming dish on the dining table and called out, "Salome, your brother and

Yates are outside. Go call them in for dinner."

"Okay."

Jessica opened the front door, surprised to see snow quietly falling outside.

Wonder lit up her delicate features.

She tilted her head back, gazing up at the sky.

She hadn't even looked toward the front gate yet.

before she could, a

Timothy's eye.

did he realize just

"Jessy!"

familiar yet

She turned toward

kneeling just outside the iron

if it

eyes froze for a moment, her

steady beat.

doorway, calling out to

me to

go," Vince said, wrapping an arm protectively around Jessica's

siblings turned to head back

to his feet, gripping the wrought-iron gate

wait-please! I need to talk

Jessica stopped, turning back.

let go, quickly shrugging off his coat and

worried she might

something to say, say it. Everyone's waiting for us to eat,"

as soft and as cold-as the falling

voice was gentle, almost melodic, but every word landed on Timothy's

like a stone.

waited

so many nights and days they could have

seeing her face felt like an

"I'm sorry."

message received. Anything else? Dinner's getting cold,"

tone as detached as if she were

at

you'd stay home

month of

up yet. I've come