The officer asked whether this had happened before. Clara nodded. “Many times.” Her voice broke. “He says it’s supposed to teach me respect. He says nobody will believe me.”
I covered my mouth.
The police documented Clara’s account and the visible evidence. Julian was taken into custody that morning while investigators examined the allegations. His polished expression finally disappeared when officers approached him.
He turned toward me. “Mom, tell them she’s exaggerating.” For one terrible second, I saw the little boy who once cried whenever he scraped his knees on the driveway.
Then I remembered Clara shivering beneath the shower.
“No, Julian,” I answered. “I’m going to tell them the truth.” His face hardened. “You would choose her over your own son?” I looked directly into his eyes.
“I’m choosing what is right.”
Clara collapsed into tears after he left. She kept apologizing, insisting that she had destroyed our family. I held her hands and told her she had done nothing wrong.
