Page 141 of Shamed
I think back to when I handed him that letter and told him it had my real attacker in it. I had seen his white-knuckled fist before he relaxed it at his side. He was angry. Furious, even.
But enough to kill Dylan?
I shake my head internally and face the window as well. “I did tell someone, but no, they wouldn’t.” That’s ridiculous even to consider.
Dad’s silent for several heartbeats before he wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Well, Dylan’s lucky that someone else already dealt with him before I did.” I tilt my head and our eyes lock. He must see the surprise in mine, because his lips briefly purse with regret. “You are my daughter, Jennifer. What he did and said to you . . . it may have been difficult for me to believe in the past, but things changed after you left.”
My eyes fill again, a single tear trickling down my cheek. Dad reaches up to swipe it away in one of the most fatherly gestures he’s ever done.
I didn’t realize just how much I needed him to be on my side.It almost doesn’t feel real.
“So, whydidyou decide to tell me now after so long?” Dad asks.
My lungs expand with a deep inhale.
The cuts on my arms and how I’ve spent the last couple of years come to mind. It’s not that I haven’twantedto before now. God, the truth was just dying to jump off the tip of my tongue.
But admittedly, it wasn’t until after Mase, then hitting the lowest point where I almost lost my life, that I found the courage to fight. I didn’t want him to win.
Now it seems I won’t have to fight Dylan at all.
“I want to try to clear Jacob’s name somehow. I know he’s already served his time, but maybe I can still help him.”
My dad slowly nods, his gaze remaining serious. “Your mother is no longer practicing law, and she’s overseas for another few weeks, but we can find someone else to get information from in the meantime if you like?”
Surprise has my mouth falling open. “Mom’s not a lawyer anymore?”
“No. She decided to retire about six months ago, then met someone who wanted to do some traveling.”
I try so fucking hard not to let any of that bother me. We were never close, so why would I expect her to put her life on hold when she didn’t know where I was or if I was okay.
“I think I’d like to discuss it with Mom, before anyone else, since it was her firm who represented me in the first place.”
“Okay.” Dad rubs the side of my arm. “Where are you living right now, anyway? Do you want to come stay with me?”
God, who is this man? Did my leaving really have this much of an impact on him?
Lips tipped up, I shake my head. “I’ll come visit, but I still have my own place.”
While I may be loving this version of my dad, I can’t imagine going back to live with him, especially not after everything that’s happened.
Disappointment curves his features downward, but he doesn’t try to argue.
“How about we get out of here and spend the day catching up? Then we can end it with dinner at my place.”
“That sounds great.” I hug him again, reveling in the feeling that I can actually do this now, then sigh. “I’ve missed you, Dad.”
One step closer.
*~*~*~*~*
It’s late evening by the time I leave my father’s place for the third time this week, and though the biggest hurdle is yet to come, I’ve been feeling lighter than I have in years.
Getting along with my father, talking with him, confiding in him . . . none of those were ever a possibility I dreamed of.
And now, I feel more confident than ever about coming forward and admitting my mistake publicly, with him standing beside me.
I know Mase offered to stand beside me as well, but he’s already done so many things for me, and at the time, I didn’t want to drag him further into my mess.
