Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Mabel, thank you for always caring about me. It's just... this family doesn't need me anymore."

Mabel stared at the message glowing on her phone screen, her heart sinking. Mrs. Carter must have overheard what young Henry said earlier.

She hurried to reply, "Please, Mrs. Carter, don't overthink it."

A bitter, weary smile tugged at the corners of Jessica's lips.

It wasn't just in her head. She really had seen it all with her own eyes.

"Oh, that's right!" Mabel suddenly remembered what happened after Henry came home from school. She quickly added, "Mrs. Carter, you're still very important to Henry. When he got back from school today and saw what you brought home, he realized it was a ring—a ring Mr. Carter bought especially for you at the Oakwood charity auction. It was his way of showing he cares. Henry was afraid if you returned it, Mr. Carter would be upset, so he asked me to help him keep it a secret from his dad."

Mabel hoped this might persuade Jessica to stay.

Jessica looked at her, uncertain.

Mabel pressed on, "He's trying to protect you. Henry just had a fever, and when he needed someone, he called for you. Kids are so vulnerable when they're sick. He waited and waited, and when you didn't come, he might have said things he didn't mean. Please, don't take it to heart."

Jessica felt something give way inside her.

Her son was still so young-too young to understand the complicated mess between adults. But he did know enough to want her and Timothy to get along.

Earlier, when she learned Henry was sick, she'd hesitated, unsure if she should go to him. But the moment she heard him calling out for her "Mom!"—she couldn't hold back any longer.

If only she hadn't hesitated, maybe she would've arrived sooner. Maybe then Henry wouldn't have called Sheila instead.

No matter how distant Henry grew, or how much he seemed to push her away, he was still her little boy. She only had six months left. No matter how much he hurt her, she couldn't just let go of the child she'd cherished for six years-not overnight.

Jessica sat in silence for a moment, then typed out a message to Mabel, letting her know she was going to the hospital to see Henry.

Mabel called for the driver, then cheerfully ushered Jessica out the door, hoping this visit would help mend things between Mrs. Carter and Mr. Carter.

Meanwhile, Timothy and Sheila were with Henry at the children's emergency room. While the doctor examined him, Sheila held Henry close, fussing over him with gentle care.

Fortunately, it was just a typical fever, though his temperature was a little high. After the checkup, the doctor recommended an IV. Timothy, wanting Henry to be as comfortable as possible, requested a private room.

A little while later, a nurse came in with the medication for Henry's IV. To Henry's surprise, the nurse was his classmate's mother. She smiled and greeted their little family warmly.

As she prepared the injection, she ruffled Henry's hair and said softly, "Be brave, Henry. It'll sting a bit, but you'll be fine."

Instinctively, Henry clung to Sheila.

"I'm not afraid—my mom's here with me," he declared.

Jessica had just reached the doorway and overheard those words.noveldrama

The nurse began the IV. Henry pressed his face into Sheila's shoulder, snuggling

into her with the easy affection of a real mother and son.

Timothy stood off to the side, but didn't say a word to correct him.

The nurse finished taping the IV in place, then grinned at Henry. "You have such a beautiful mother."

"Of course!" Henry replied proudly. "And she has the nicest voice, too." Jessica turned away.

As she passed a trash can in the hallway, she dropped the box of delicate pastries she'd brought for Henry inside.

She wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and disappeared into the night.