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 familiar figure unexpected and

Timothy's eye.

just

"Jessy!"

in that familiar yet

She turned

just outside the iron fence, his dark hair

it had turned

a moment, her heart pausing before

steady beat.

out

to come

Vince said, wrapping an arm protectively around Jessica's

turned

scrambled to his feet, gripping the wrought-iron

I need

Jessica stopped, turning back.

his coat and draping it over

might

have something to say, say it. Everyone's waiting

and as cold-as the

but every

like a stone.

upon a time, she had waited for him

many nights and days they could have spent together.

seeing her face felt like an

"I'm sorry."

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

as if she were speaking to a

day at the

me you'd stay home

month of reflection.

yet. I've come