Page 162 of Shamed
We all silently watch her inspecting each bead and the shells attached to them like she’s a jeweler examining diamonds.
That is, until Campbell breaks the silence. “How are you doing?”
His voice is quiet, so as not to draw attention to previously mentioned little ears, and he sounds much more serious than he usually is.
“I’m fine,” I answer just as quietly.
“Bullshit.” Campbell stands again, walking to me with a weird fucking look on his face. “But maybe this is something that will make things better.” Reaching into his pocket, he produces another envelope and holds it out to me.
“What the fuck is with you and my mail?” I snatch it from him, brows pulled taught.
“Well, I wanted to make things a little more dramatic. Plus, I saw who it was from, and I know you said you weren’t expecting anything, but . . .”
My heart triples speed when I drop my eyes, trailing them over the envelope addressed to me from the governor’s office. I look back up at Cam, whose mouth is pulled to one side in an unsure but hopeful smile, then to Remi, whose mouth is parted as she stares at the envelope in my hand.
“Shouldn’t you and Poppy be leaving right away?” I mumble, my voice suddenly sounding rough. “She’s going to be late for her first day of school.”
“If you think I’m going to leave before you open that letter, you’re crazy.”
I look back at it, my chest feeling tight and hands clammy. I don’t want her to be disappointed. Idon’t want to be disappointed.
But what else could it say?
Knowing my luck, it would be that I’m being charged for yet another crime I didn’t commit, though I know those things don’t come in the form of a letter.
It’s an irrational fear to not want to open it. But at the same time, I’m dying to know what’s inside.
“Jacob.” Remi’s tone suggests that if I don’t do it right now, she’s likely to rip it from my hand and tear it open herself.
I collapse into the armchair Campbell just vacated, my legs feeling suspiciously weak, then glance at my daughter across the room.
Fuck it.
I tap one end of the envelope, then rip the seal open.
My eyes scan over the words, reading them again and again until I’m sure what I’m seeing is right. The words start to blur, a burn building in the back of my throat.
Disbelief steals my voice while everything inside me feels like it’s buzzing.
Dipping my chin, I try to blink away the sting in my eyes, but it’s no use.
When long seconds pass in silence, Remi steps closer. “What does it say?”
I can’t speak yet, I can barely swallow, so I lift my hand, offering for her to take it while keeping my head lowered.
There’s a soft gasp right before a soft sob escapes my wife. “Oh my god.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, hating when I hear her cry, even when it’s happy tears.
“Let me see,” Campbell demands.
I finally lift my blurry gaze to Remi, watching as Campbell snags the letter from her hands, and she brings them up to cover her mouth, tears already cascading down her cheeks.
A second later, Remi falls to her knees in front of me, lifting her hands to cup my cheeks while her tear-filled gaze locks with mine, chin wobbling. “Finally.”
It’s the only word she says before her cheeks spread into the biggest smile I’ve ever seen, then she’s wrapping her arms around me.
In a daze, I pull her in tighter, my voice still trapped inside. I’m in shock, still at a loss for words.
