Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Vince answered the call.

Timothy Lawson's voice came through the line.noveldrama

"You're helping Jessy look into Mayfield. Do you know why she's after him?"

Jessica Greene frowned; Timothy seemed awfully interested in this matter.

She couldn't let him find out the truth.

Vince's reply was curt. "Stop calling me about this. I'm not telling you anything."

He hung up.

Turning to Jessica, Vince reassured her, "Don't worry, Jessy. I won't let him in on any of this."

“But getting justice for my grandmother won't be easy,” he added. “Timothy showed me Mayfield's file today. Turns out Mayfield's been living in Cloverdale for who-knows-how-long, and he's made quite a name for himself. I'd bet all those shady things he did in the past are well covered up now."

Jessica shook her head slightly. "No secret stays buried forever. It's not up to him to decide what stays hidden."

Vince nodded. "Yeah."

Jessica agreed, but she knew it wouldn't be easy.

And with Mayfield being Sheila Howard's biological father, she had no doubt Timothy would do anything to protect Sheila if he ever learned the truth.

That's why Timothy could never find out.

Their car pulled into The Gilded Whisper Estates.

Daisy stirred and woke up.

Timothy, hearing the car pull in, stepped outside just in time to see Jessica climbing out with Daisy in her arms. Vince got out as well, reaching to take Daisy from Jessica.

But Daisy tightened her arms around Jessica's neck. "Uncle, I don't want to go home. I want to stay with my godmother tonight.”

Jessica smiled. “Vince, why don't you let her sleep over at my place tonight?"

"She doesn't have any clothes with her."

"It's fine-Henry's pajamas will fit her well enough for one night. You can bring her some clothes tomorrow."

Vince hesitated, then nodded. "Alright."

He knelt to Daisy's eye level. "You be good for your godmother, okay?"

Daisy nodded vigorously.

Just then, both of them turned and saw Timothy standing in the doorway.

Vince shot Timothy a cool glance, then got back in his car.

Jessica carried Daisy inside. Daisy recognized Timothy at once and greeted him sweetly, "Good evening, Mr. Lawson."

Timothy smiled. "Daisy, your godmother is my wife. You should call me 'godfather' from now on."

Daisy opened her mouth to oblige, but Jessica quickly interrupted, "Daisy, your godmother is getting a divorce. You don't need to call him godfather."

Timothy's brow furrowed in exasperation. "Do you really need to say that in front

of the child? She doesn't even know what divorce means."

Daisy piped up, matter-of-fact, "Sure

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I do! Divorce means my godmother doesn't want you anymore, and you'll both live your own lives. If she's divorcing you, I'll just keep calling you Mr. Lawson." Then she glanced up at Jessica, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Godmother, after you get divorced, you should marry my uncle. He smiles way more than Mr. Lawson and he's much kinder, too."

Honestly-the Zimmermans. Each one more outrageous than the last.

Jessica laughed, tapping Daisy's little nose. "You have a point, kiddo. Such a grown-up. Now, time for a bath and then bed."

As Jessica pushed open the master bedroom door, a wave of sweet apple fragrance greeted her.

The bedroom was filled with beautifully arranged red apples, their glossy skins shining in the atmospheric glow of string lights. A Christmas tree stood proudly on the balcony.

"Wow, godmother! Your room is gorgeous! Look at all these apples. If we eat one a day, it'll take a year to finish them!"

The Christmas spirit filled the room, and Jessica's lashes fluttered.

If only all this had happened a year ago, maybe things would have been different. But now, she no longer needed any of it.

She glanced over at Timothy. He said nothing, simply turned and walked away.

He was probably afraid she'd tell him to stop, or accuse him of being ridiculous.

Jessica set Daisy down. Daisy picked out the roundest, reddest apple and held it up. "Godmother, you should eat this one. It looks delicious."

"I'm still full from dinner, sweetheart. Why don't you have it?"

Daisy patted her tummy. "I'm too full, too. Let's save it for tomorrow."

"Alright."

Jessica surveyed the mountain of apples-there were far too many to give away

in one night.

She said to Daisy, “Wait here while I find you some pajamas.”

"Thank you, godmother."

Jessica headed to Henry's room to look for clothes. Meanwhile, Daisy wandered over to the Christmas

tree, noticing two pretty gift bag

hanging from its branches. She wondered if Santa would sneak in tonight and fill them with presents.

Tomorrow morning, she wanted to open the gifts with her godmother and see

what Santa had left.

The next morning-

The moment Daisy woke up, she dragged Jessica over to the tree. "Godmother, let's open the presents! Santa must have come-hey, I saw only two bags last night, but now there are three! Santa definitely came while we were sleeping."

Jessica hadn't noticed the extra bag-she knew Timothy had set up the tree, but

she hadn't paid attention to the gifts. Still, Daisy was eager to open them, so

Jessica reached up and took down the first bag.

She handed it to Daisy. "You open the first one, okay?"