Page 113 of Unbound

Carefully, he takes the album from my hands—probably because he’s worried I really will drop it—and moves me to the stairs. “Let’s go sit down.”

I don’t remember climbing the steps or walking through the house. All that registers is sitting on the couch, tucked into Walker’s lap, as he carefully extricates the envelope from the plastic.

Once it’s free, he slides the book to the coffee table and holds the letter between us. “Do you want me to read it, or do you want to?”

I swallow hard. I don’t know the answer to that. It’s not a love letter to Donna, I know that much. But what if there’s something worse inside? What if I learn someone else I’ve trusted is an awful human?

But I won’t put it on Walker to have to tell me, so there’s really only one way to do this.

“I think we should both read it.” That way I won’t have to explain it to him either. Because if it’s bad, I’ll probably be too busy throwing up again.

Hands shaking, I slide the flap open and ease the tri-folded paper inside free. After a deep breath that helps nothing, I flatten it out, the first tear falling at the sight of my dad’s perfectly preserved writing.

Then I begin to read and they only come faster.

Donna,

Thank you for all the hard work you put into confirming my suspicions about many of the items on the list I compiled. I’m amazed at the information you’re able to glean from men too stupid to see you for the intelligent, resourceful woman you are.

I hope one day my daughter will be as determined and brave as you have been. To be fair, it’s already looking pretty promising on that front. Sybil is smart and funny and filled with an amount of joy I envy.

Maybe one day when this is over, we can meet up for dinner. I’d love for her and my wife to meet you and your son, and I’d love for you to meet them.

Because they are the reason I’m doing this. My little girl shouldn’t have to live in a world where she’s considered a commodity instead of a person. You and my wife shouldn’t have to work twice as hard to be taken half as seriously.

I know it won’t happen fast, but I do know it will be worth it. For you. For my wife.

For Sybil.

All My Respect,

Shelley

Epilogue

Walker

“What the fuck are you doing?”

Sybil jumps to her feet, spine snapping straight. “Nothing.”

“Nothing.” I step into her periphery, hands on my hips as I take in the scene in front of me. “This doesn’t look like nothing. This looks like you were trying to get that raccoon to eat out of your hand.”

“I don’t think that was a raccoon. I’m pretty sure it was a dog.” Sybil’s eyes roll to the side as the not dog in question comes creeping back toward the patio. “Oh no. Where did that come from?”

“Do you know what the protocol is for treating someone who’s been exposed to rabies?” I don’t wait for her to answer. “Because I do. And you won’t like it.”

In the year since Sybil came rolling into my life under an assumed name with a murderous man hot on her heels, I’ve learned a lot.

I’ve learned the easiest way to find her in the house is to follow the trail of items she accidentally set down and forgot. The path to my wife is paved with her cell phone, whatever beverage she was drinking, a scrunchy, and frequently at least one sock.

I’ve learned a thing or two about something she calls a hyperfixation lunch. It starts with her being obsessed with the new ‘best meal ever’ and ends with me eating giant containers of cottage cheese for three straight weeks when she suddenly finds it disgusting. Usually with a mouthful of it half chewed.

I’ve learned her sense of self-preservation is even worse than I initially thought. Which is why I know how they treat rabies.

I’ve also learned that while loving another person is just as terrifying as I knew it would be—especially a person as committed to causing herself bodily harm as Sybil is—it’s worth every fucking second of fear.

“But Fluffernutter isn’t foaming at the mouth and he hasn’t been aggressive a single time.” Sybil gestures at the fat furball clasping his little five-fingered hands as he waits for a treat. “Look at him. He’s a sweet angel baby.”