Page 117 of Saving Tatum (Trace + Olivia 4)

I nodded. “I know, but I can’t leave yet.”

His jaw clenched and he mumbled something about me being too stubborn for my own good. He was probably right.

I headed back downstairs and Jude followed. I half expected my dad to have left, but he was still there.

I threw the letter at him and warned, “So help me God if you ruin that letter I will kill you slowly and painfully.”

Jude chuckled behind me, but I was dead serious. That letter was my last tie to my brother and I wouldn’t let him destroy it.

He picked it up carefully and ran his fingers over the now yellowed pages. His eyes scanned every word, and then went back to read it again, and again.

“No,” he whispered putting the letter down on the table. “No,” he repeated, shaking his head.

His eyes were troubled and for the first time in a long time he looked human. There wasn’t an angry snarl on his face, or a fake smile. Just…shock.

“No,” he whispered yet again. He pulled the chair out and sat down once more. “I…I can’t believe this. What have I done?”

“Believe it,” I snapped.

He put his head in his hands and sobbed. Like gut-wrenching, body shaking, sobs.

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

I even rubbed them and blinked several times to make sure it wasn’t a mirage.

Nope.

The man was crying.

I hadn’t heard him cry since the night the cops showed up to tell us Graham was dead.

I stood shell-shocked, clueless as to what I should do.

Jude came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me, laying his head on top of mine.

Minutes past before my dad wiped his eyes and lifted his head to look at me. “I’m so sorry, Tatie.”

An apology.

I hadn’t expected that at all.

I didn’t know what to do, so I nodded my head and that seemed to be enough for him.

He stood and pushed the chair into the table. He handed me back the letter and said, “I need a minute. Excuse me.” He passed by us and headed down the hall to where his office sat.

Jude guided me into the living room and sat me down. My mom had moved from the window to one of the chairs and now stared at the ceiling.

I clutched the letter tightly between my fists like it was the only thing keeping me from falling to pieces.

Jude sat down beside me and brought my body into his arms. I wrapped mine around his neck. I didn’t cry. I wasn’t sure there were any tears left in me at this point, but I needed to be held. I needed the comfort another person’s arms provided.

Jude murmured sweet things in my ear, but I couldn’t comprehend any of them. I was in a state of shock from the events that had transpired. He rubbed my back soothingly, but the gesture did nothing to calm me.

From where I sat on his lap I could see my father approach.

I stood up hastily and smoothed down my shirt, just to have something to do with my hands. I felt fidgety and nervous. I had no idea what to expect from him, because his reaction hadn’t been anything like I anticipated.

He stood in the doorway for a moment, rubbing his jaw absentmindedly.

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