Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Vince, I went to bed early, so I woke up early too. When I saw how beautiful the snow looked, I just had to come outside," Jessica said, her voice soft in the morning stillness.

A few snowflakes landed in her hair. Vince reached out and gently brushed them away, his eyes warm and full of affection as he gazed at his little sister. She was lovely-gentle, almost ethereal, her spirit as pure as the falling snow. He wanted nothing more than to gather her up, shield her from the world, and bring her every happiness she'd missed out on over the years.

"Jessy, let me build a snowman with you. When we're done, I'll head to the hospital. I promise I'll save you. I'll make sure you live," he whispered.

Jessica threw herself into his arms. The air was sharp and cold, turning her nose a rosy pink.

"Vince, I feel so happy right now. I never realized how many people truly love me," she murmured.

The truth was, Jessica had always longed for love.

Her adoptive mother died young, her father disappeared, and her grandmother's kindness faded when Jessica turned thirteen. The only person who'd quietly cared for her when she was young, Herbert, had moved abroad before her grandmother passed away.

Later, she met Ines, who gave her a warmth she'd never forgotten. Jessica was always grateful for that.

And then there was Timothy.

At her lowest point, he appeared out of nowhere-almost like a guardian angel. He draped his coat over her shoulders and pulled her into the car, holding her close as if she were something precious.

Scents linger in memory the longest. Even now, she could recall the cedar scent of his suit that day, the strength of his embrace. She'd never been held by a man before; only then did she realize how fiercely warm a man's arms could be.

She craved love. She wanted to give it and to receive it.

She poured so much of herself into Timothy, believing love would flow both ways.

But it hadn't.

Love, she realized, isn't always reciprocated just because you give it. The people who truly love you can't bear to see you give everything without return—they warm you with their own love, without conditions.

Her brother, her mother, her father, her grandfather-no matter how far she drifted, no matter if she failed to respond, their love for her never stopped. Now, the moment she stepped back into this house, their affection wrapped around her like a blanket.

Even on a day like this, with snow swirling and cold biting at her skin, Jessica didn't feel chilled at all. She was loved those feelings flickered inside her like little flames, chasing away the cold and filling her heart with gentle heat.

If your heart is warm, it can drive away even the sharpest cold. If it's frozen, even sitting by a fire won't help.

Vince let go of her shoulders and smiled, his gaze soft. "Because you deserve to be loved."

on, let's build

with a pair of garden shovels, usually used for turning the flower beds. He handed her one, and together, the siblings

a window, a cigarette between his fingers, watching Vince and

found himself

and his brow furrowed. He remembered the first time he'd seen her at the Red House. Why hadn't he stepped forward, the way Vince

He regretted it now.

be smiling at him the way she smiled at

think of it, he'd rarely seen her smile since

smiled. Even after all she'd been through-marriage, motherhood, twenty-six years of life-she still looked like a girl untouched by sorrow. Neither pain nor time nor hardship had left

just one snowman, but Jessica insisted on four. Two large, two

Two men, two women.

the snowmen took shape, Vince suddenly understood, feeling

his eyes.

was his sister, through

time

No-five.

was

her, "Why not make one for Yates? He'll be part of

answered, "Yates

Timothy doesn't

make him part

so our parents

too."

was hard to believe, but her childhood wish

part of their

But now...

was left

felt as if a thorn was lodged in

cruel? Even after learning who she really was, he used her own identity to threaten her, forcing her to

out some carrots. Jessica whittled four noses, large and small, and stuck them onto the

take a picture for me?"

the snowmen, her smile radiant and gentle.

needed to leave for the hospital. Once in the car, he sent the photo to Jessica, then posted it to

The most amazing