Goodbye, Mr. Regret novel Chapter 223

“Mr. Zimmerman, I’m sorry about last night—I really thought Timothy wouldn’t show up.”

Vince shook his head. “No, I should be the one apologizing. I’d already spoken to him, and he said he wasn’t coming. Someone else in my family must have invited him behind my back.”

The truth was, when Vince called Timothy and told him not to come to his grandfather’s birthday dinner, he’d only done it to take a jab at Timothy. He never really intended to keep Timothy away. He’d said it because he couldn’t imagine Timothy leaving Jessica’s side, but he also didn’t want Jessica to realize he was lying. In the end, he still wanted to be close to her.

He couldn’t say exactly why, but there was something different about seeing her compared to everyone else.

“By the way,” Vince added, “the gift you gave my grandfather—he absolutely loved it. He came here today looking for you, actually. There are two things he wanted me to pass along.”

Jessica looked up at him, giving him her full attention.

“First, Lorenzo asked me to see if you’d consider applying for heritage preservation status for your craft. Second, my grandfather wants you to be his goddaughter. He wanted to ask you last night, in front of everyone at the party, but you left early, so he didn’t get the chance. He also has a gift for you, but he hasn’t had the chance to give it yet.”

The reason the gift hadn’t been given was simple—Larkin wanted to see Jessica again, and have a proper conversation with her.

Jessica thought for a moment. Applying for heritage status seemed like a good idea; it would help fulfill a wish her grandmother once had.

But as for becoming Larkin’s goddaughter… that was more complicated.

He thought highly of her, and it would seem cold to refuse. But if she agreed, knowing she had only six months left to live, she’d just be bringing more grief to another family.