Page 153 of Shamed
I only pull back when I hear a door open, lifting my gaze to see Jayne’s father standing in the doorway. There’s immediate recognition, a likeness in the shape and color of his and Jayne’s eyes, but that’s where the similarities seem to end.
He gives me an assessing look before switching his attention to Jayne.
“Hi, Dad.” We step a little closer, Jayne’s hand squeezing my forearm like it’s keeping her grounded. “I’d like you to meet Mase. Mase, this is my father.”
I hold out my hand with mixed feelings, well aware of his past behavior and relationship with Jayne. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Lapmor.”
There is no hesitation on his part; he takes my hand with one of his and pats my arm with the other. “Jennifer has had nothing but good things to say about you. I’m grateful you’ve been there for my daughter.”
“Of course.”
No one else was, I think, but then stop myself because I know he has suffered as well, and according to Jayne, he’s learned from his mistakes.
It took a day or two after the initial conversation with Jayne for it to fully sink in for him that it was Dylan who was the real culprit. He told Jayne it makes him feel sick every time he thinks about how close he was to him for so many years.
He acknowledged his part in moving things along in Jacob’s case, using his connections and money to have things done quicker than usual. He’s willing to accept responsibility and admit it publicly to back Jayne, and I respect him for that.
Jayne’s father leads us through the door into a spacious office with an overly large, expensive-looking desk situated in the corner beside a floor-to-ceiling window. Two chairs sit on the other side of the desk, and two more sit opposite a sofa against the far wall, where an older version of Jayne sits, drinking a coffee.
I may have had reservations about Jayne’s father, but this woman . . . I don’t like her at all.
She extended the trip she was onafterfinding out her daughter had reappeared, instead of rushing back to see her and make sure she was okay.
And even now, instead of getting up and greeting us like Jayne’s father did, she’s sipping a coffee while looking at her phone.
What type of mother does that?
It has me wanting to call my own mom, just to tell her how much I appreciate and love her.
Finally looking up, Jayne’s mother smiles. “Jennifer, darling. You’re looking well.”
I think Jayne has only seen her once since she arrived back from her trip, and though she’s told me all about her, seeingher with my own eyes makes me understand their distant relationship even more so.
Even with the aloofness, Jayne leans down to give her mom a brief hug.
“And this must be the boyfriend.” She eyes me over Jayne’s shoulder. “I’m Candace.”
“Hi.” My smile is polite but barely there.
I gesture for Jayne to sit in one of the two chairs, then drag the other seat closer to hers and sit, holding her hand.
Jayne’s father takes the remaining seat on the sofa beside his ex-wife. There seems to be no residual tension between the two of them, and I can’t help but wonder if there was ever any love there.
He doesn’t appear to know anything yet, either, since he’s looking at Candace just as expectantly as we are.
“Well, this is actually going to be pretty quick, but I think you’ll be quite happy,” her mom begins. Jayne and I share a brief relieved smile, then turn back to her. “So, it looks like you don’t need to do anything at all. Jacob is in prison again for attempted sexual assault on another woman named Remi.”
My smile drops while the beating in my chest slows. Everything seems to slow as my mind catches up.
Jacob, in prison again?What the fuck?
In slow motion, I face Jayne, seeing the color leech from her face while her grip on me tightens. “Wh-what do you mean?”
There’s confusion on her mother’s face as she looks at her daughter. “What do I mean? It’s pretty self-explanatory, dear. You probably did everyone a favor by putting him away when you did. He might have hurt others, even if he didn’t hurt you.”
Jayne shakes her head. “No. No, that can’t be right. You must be mistaken.”
“I’m not mistaken. I thought you’d be happy with that news. Now you don’t have to do anything, and we can forget it all. Dylan is dead. Everything is taken care of.”
