Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Dad." Henry looked up, his voice small and wounded. "But I think Mom doesn't like me anymore."

"There's no mother who doesn't love her own child."

Timothy had wanted to sit down and really talk to Henry for a long time, but the chance never seemed to come. Lately, the house had been in chaos, and after his injury, everything just felt even more overwhelming.

"Do you really mean that, Dad?"

“I do. But love goes both ways, Henry. When she feels your love for her, she'll show it back."

Henry thought for a moment. "When we have dinner, I'll apologize to her."

Timothy ruffled his son's hair, a gentle smile on his face. "That's my boy. Don't be rude to your mom again, alright? Otherwise, I'll be upset with you. Now, go do your homework."

Henry slung his backpack over his shoulder and headed to his room. He sat at his desk, but his mind drifted back to the way his mom had spoken to him just now.

Honestly, as long as she was talking, that was already a good thing.

His mom was beautiful, and she was amazing at making paper art. Just last month, she'd been the head judge at the children's paper-cutting contest...

But thinking about that contest made Henry's brow furrow. That day, she'd embarrassed him on purpose in front of everyone, and he'd ended up not winning a prize.

His head spun with messy feelings. He forced himself to stop thinking about it and opened his books to start on his homework.

Out on the balcony, Timothy lit a cigarette and sighed.

Raising a child and holding a family together were turning out to be so much harder than he'd ever imagined.

Back when Jessica was around more, he never had to worry about any of this. The house just seemed to run itself.

He'd never realized how much time and energy it actually took to keep everything together.

Tonight, he promised himself, he'd find a way to sit down and have an honest talk with her.

It wasn't long before dinner was ready.

Mabel, their housekeeper, came over to let Timothy know. He nodded, gesturing for her to call Jessica as well.

Mabel knocked gently on Jessica's door.

"Dinner's ready, ma'am."

Jessica didn't really want to face Timothy and Henry, but after a moment's thought, she realized she shouldn't let them dictate her mood.

From now on, she told herself, she'd live as if the two of them didn't exist.

She'd focus on her own life-and that was enough.

With that thought, she finally stepped out of her room.

Mabel's face lit up. "I'm so glad to hear your voice again, ma'am."

"Mabel, thank you."

Jessica gave her a warm, grateful smile.

Mabel had always treated her kindly. Now that Jessica could speak again, the first

thing she wanted to say to Mabel was thank you.

"No, thank you, ma'am. Come on, let's eat while it's hot."noveldrama

Jessica walked to the dining table. Timothy and Henry were already waiting.

Mabel stood to the side, setting out the dishes.

The house was thick with unspoken

tension. Each member of the little family was lost in their own thoughts, the warm, loving

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atmosphere nowhere to be found.

Jessica kept her head down and quietly began to eat.

Timothy caught Henry's eye and gave him a meaningful look. Henry picked up his

fork, speared a piece of chicken, and placed it on Jessica's plate.

"Mom, I'm sorry for earlier. Please don't be mad at me, okay?"

Jessica looked up at Henry, then at Timothy.

She said nothing and went back to eating.

Henry's brows drew together in frustration. He'd apologized first-what else did she want from him?

After all, she'd made mistakes too, but she'd never apologized to him.

Timothy felt helpless. This wasn't going as easily as he'd hoped. He'd thought Jessica would soften if Henry apologized, but she seemed just as unmoved as she'd been with

him.

"Jess, can we just leave whatever's going on between us out of things with our son?"

He's just a kid. He apologized to you.

Timothy couldn't hide the irritation in his voice.

Jessica suddenly set her bowl down; the clatter sounded sharp in the quiet room.

Her eyes were cold as she looked at the two of them. "Just because I don't say a word, you can't handle it?"

How many times had she been on the receiving end of their coldness?

She remembered the time Henry told the nurse she was just someone they'd hired to help out,

be found a woman who didn't

because he liked things quiet and

talk.

Neither Timothy nor Henry could say a word.

Jessica finished her meal in silence, then stood up and left, leaving the two of them staring after her.

"Dad, I think Mom's really mad this time."

He remembered saying something similar the first time Jessica left home-asking

if she'd left because she was angry.

Back then, Timothy had been so sure she'd come back, as long as he and Henry were still here.

But somewhere along the way, she'd stopped being the woman he thought he knew.

Timothy had always believed that with Henry, there was still something tying them all together. Now, it seemed like even Henry meant nothing to her anymore.

"I'll take you to your grandfather's tonight. You'll stay there for a while."

With Henry around, neither of them could make Jessica happy. It was only making things worse. Best to send Henry away for now-solve one problem at a time. "Dad, do you not want me anymore either?"

"Don't be silly. Once I've made things right with your mom, you'll come back."