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.

she could, a

Timothy's eye.

he realize just how much he'd

"Jessy!"

that familiar yet foreign

Jessica's ears. She turned

Timothy, kneeling just outside the iron fence, his

it

for a moment, her heart pausing before settling

steady beat.

calling out to Vince and Yates,

me to come

said, wrapping an

turned to head back

feet, gripping the wrought-iron gate with both

I need to talk to

Jessica stopped, turning back.

let go, quickly shrugging off his coat and draping it over

might get chilled

you have something to say, say it. Everyone's waiting for us

soft and as cold-as the falling

was gentle, almost melodic, but every word landed

like a stone.

a time, she had waited for him at

many nights and

her face felt like

"I'm sorry."

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

as detached as if she were

at

you'd stay home

of reflection. The

up yet. I've come