Goodbye, Mr. Regret novel Chapter 244

Timothy and the rest of the Lawsons looked up just as Sheila approached, leading a small group behind her. Each person carried various offerings for the memorial.

“Miss Sheila!”

Henry’s face lit up, and he rushed toward her.

Sallie was quick to grab him by the arm. “Hold on, you little rascal. Where do you think you’re going?”

Sheila only smiled, not the least bit offended, and walked up to the group. She greeted Phelps with a gentle, “Uncle Lawson.”

Phelps’ expression darkened considerably.

Sheila then turned to Naylor. “Brother-in-law.”

Naylor offered a strained smile, clearly uncomfortable. “It’s been a long time.”

Sheila directed her companions to set the offerings in front of the grave. “Yes, it’s been years since I last visited. My father asked me to bring extra offerings this year for my sister.”

The space in front of the headstone was soon crowded with the gifts Sheila had brought.

Nola grinned. “Well, that’s a relief. Now big brother doesn’t have to run out and buy anything.”

Naylor thought privately that it was true—Jessica had forgotten to prepare anything, and Sheila’s timely arrival had spared them an awkward situation. He turned to Phelps and said, “Dad, since Sheila brought the offerings, why don’t we get ready to begin the ceremony?”

Without warning, Phelps tapped Naylor sharply behind the knee with his cane, causing Naylor to drop to his knees in front of the grave.

Pointing with his cane, Phelps scolded, “You fool! Who uses someone else’s offerings to honor their own ancestors, hmm?”

It was only then that Naylor remembered the old taboo—offerings for ancestors should never come from outsiders, and Sheila wasn’t a Lawson by blood. What she brought, the Lawson family couldn’t use.

Phelps, less stern than Sallie, crouched down to explain patiently, “Your aunt’s right. She’s your grandmother’s younger sister, so even your mother calls her Aunt. It wouldn’t make sense for you to call her ‘Miss Sheila’ or ‘Aunt Sheila.’ If word got out, people would laugh at us for mixing up the family tree.”

Henry was still young, but he could sense that, apart from his father, most of the family didn’t care for Sheila. He didn’t understand why; Sheila was always so kind to him. But he knew if he defended her, no one would be pleased.

To protect Sheila, Henry said nothing more and simply agreed with Phelps.

Fine, he thought. In front of them, he’d call her ‘Great Aunt Sheila,’ but in private, he’d still call her Miss Sheila.

Thankfully, Timothy was quick; soon, the proper offerings were bought and delivered.

By the time the memorial was finished and they returned to the Lawson house for lunch, it was already past one in the afternoon.

Phelps had kept his temper in check at the cemetery, not wanting to offend the ancestors. But once they were home, his face was thunderous.