Read The Remedy for Regret for Free Online Page B

right,” Blair says. “Thank you, Tess. I… I didn’t know who else to call.”
    For a moment I am deeply touched that Blair thought of me first, but then I realize that well-to-do Blair with her million dollar home, beautiful children and silver Mercedes has really never been subjected to weakness and powerlessness, not even when we were kids. She probably believes that most of her affluent St. Louis friends are just like her; unaccustomed to misfortune and therefore unable—unqualified—to help her. She knows I am familiar with grief. Of course she would call me.
    “Blair, I’m going to go now and call the airlines. You hang in there. I’ll see you soon,” I tell her.
    “Okay,” she says. “Tess, come as quick as you can.”
    “I will. I’ll see you tonight.”
    It doesn’t take long to explain to Antonia that I am going to need a few days off as she practically heard the whole conversation. She tells me to ring up the scarves while she calls her travel agent. By the time I close the cash register drawer, Antonia has secured a seat for me on a flight that leaves O’Hare for St. Louis at 5:10 p.m.
    Elena arrives as I am hugging Antonia goodbye.
    “Thanks, Antonia,” I say. “I’ll make it up to you.”
    “ Yez , you will!” she says with a wink and then adds as raises her hand in farewell, “ Ciao .”
    “ Ciao ,” I say back as I make my way out of the boutique.
    I am halfway home before I realize that Simon and I sort of have a date tonight. A date to talk. I inwardly groan as I realize how bad the timing is. I spend the rest of the drive home wondering how to explain things to Simon.
    But again, Simon is not home when I arrive. There is no note to let me know where he is. He must be planning on getting back before the time I usually get home from work, which is six o’clock. I’ll be in the air by then. His cell phone is sitting uncharged on his night table so I cannot call him.
    I yank out a suitcase and begin tossing things in it, pausing at the slightest sound to see if Simon is coming through the front door. By three o’clock I am anxious to get going. I have to get through afternoon traffic, drop my car off at the park and ride and make it through security at the airport. I can’t wait any longer.
    I grab a piece of paper and a pen to write a hurried note.
    Simon—I wanted to wait until you got home to tell you this in person, but I ran out of time. Blair called me this afternoon after she talked to you. Brad is in a coma, docs think he’s had a heart attack and they don’t expect him to live. I’m taking a flight that leaves for St. Louis at 5:10. I may be gone a few days, maybe a week. It depends on what happens next. I know we were supposed to talk tonight and I am honestly sorry about this. But Blair needs me, Simon. She asked me to come. I’ll call you tonight from Blair’s house. Missing you already—Tess.
    I read the note twice to make sure he will understand I want him here when I get back. Then I tape the note to the bathroom mirror, right over the note that reminds him that I love him.
    I grab the suitcase and my canvas bag, noticing for the first time since I got home that the light on the answering machine for our landline is blinking. I rush to it thinking it might be Simon letting me know where he is. I press the button. Instead of hearing Simon’s voice, I hear my Dad’s.
    Hey Tess, it’s Dad. You’re probably at work, but I just wanted to let you and Simon know that Zane and I are throwing a surprise 40th birthday party for Shelley on the twenty-ninth and am hoping you guys won’t mind the drive and can come. Or maybe you will want to fly in. Just let me know. You can call me back tonight; just don’t say anything to Shelley about the party if she happens to answer the phone.
    Well, talk to you later. Bye.
    I don’t have the time or the energy to consider how I feel about my stepmother’s upcoming fortieth birthday. The drive to Dayton, Ohio, where Dad and