Somehow he made it back to the kitchen, set the mail aside and took four deep breaths and sat down.

It took a while for Fred's hands to stop shaking, for his heart to resume a metronome beat. He watched talk and game shows the rest of the morning and soaps in the afternoon. He forgot to make himself lunch, and when Fiona finally walked in the door he was torn between rushing her to open the letter or asking her to make him a sandwich.