When I get back to the session, they’re all done with the role-plays and ready to bounce. In the back, a clean-shaven Black guy in his mid-twenties enters.

“Welcome.” I wave him in. “We’re about done, but I can give you handouts and a calendar for the upcoming workshops.”

“I’d appreciate that.” He steps closer. “Tracy Beaumont, correct?”

I nod. He doesn’t look like the typical person who joins my sessions. More like a reporter with his white-collared shirt under a dark blue suit jacket.

I gather the last of my handouts and wait until everyone leaves before approaching him. Curiosity building.

“I’m going to cut right to it.” He leans forward. His face looks serious, and he nods as he speaks. “I’m taking your dad’s case.”

“What do you mean, you’re taking my dad’s case?” I touch my temple, shaking my head. “Who are you?” I repeat his words, but they’re not pulling together to make sense. Did he just say what I think he said?

“Let’s start over.” He clears his throat. “I’m Steve Jones from Innocence X.” Steve sticks his hand out. “I’ll be representing your father.”

WELL, I’LL BE DAMNED

“You’re Steve Jones?” I squint my eyes at him.

“Yes.”

“From Innocence X?”

“Yes.”

“Bullshit.”

“I—” Steve pauses. “My dad is Stephen Jones, founder of Innocence X. I’m his son.”

“Oh.” It finally clicks. I couldn’t put his young face together with the man I’ve been writing letters to for the past seven years.

“Innocence X is taking his case?” My mouth hangs open. I have to repeat what he said, over and over again. This is impossible. Years of writing, believing, sometimes it felt like I was writing a journal to myself instead of letters to Innocence X.

I’m heaving in and out, crying in joy. Steve pats my shoulder, and I throw my arms around him in a hug. He fumbles around like he don’t know what to do, either. When he realizes I finally get it, he hugs me back.

“Does my mama know?”

“After all your letters, I thought you deserved to know first—well, after your dad, of course.”

I pause to catch my breath.

“You’ve met with my dad?”

“A few exploratory phone calls. Met with him in person this morning. He agreed you should hear directly from me. Then I’ll contact your mother.”

“Can I call her?”

“Yes.” Steve laughs. “Let’s do that.”

When Mama answers, I put her on speaker and blurt everything out, ending with “He’s taking Daddy’s case.”

Mama wails on the other side of the phone.

“What’s happening, Mama?” Corinne’s excitement bounces through the phone.