Chapter 12 - WHEN THE CUFFS CAME OUT
Diane screamed before the handcuffs even touched her.
"You are not arresting me in my daughter-in-law's kitchen!"
Officer Ortiz's voice stayed calm.
"Turn around and place your hands behind your back."
"For what?"
"Assault."
Diane stared at Ryan.
"Do something!"
Ryan looked helpless.
She had trained him to believe every problem could be solved by making someone else give in. Tonight, nobody cared about her approval.
She turned toward me.
"Claire, tell them this was a misunderstanding."
"Claire!"
The officer cuffed her.
That was when Ryan snapped.
He shoved past the second officer and moved toward me.
"Fix this!"
Marcus stepped between us instantly.
Ryan pointed over his shoulder at his mother.
"She is sixty-three years old!"
"She swung a metal object at me."
"You weren't seriously hurt."
The sentence landed harder than his grip. Apparently, his standard for loyalty was whether I had needed a hospital.
I stared at the man I had slept beside for five years.
"Is that your defense?"
His face changed slightly.
He knew he had said the wrong thing.
"That's not what I meant."
"It is exactly what you meant."
Officer Ortiz told Ryan to step back.
He did, but his eyes stayed on me.
Then he lowered his voice.
"Please. Don't press charges."
Diane twisted in the officer's grip.
"Ryan, stop begging her!"
He ignored his mother.
"Claire, she's my mom."
I looked down at my wedding ring.
The diamond caught the kitchen light.
Five years earlier, Ryan had promised there would never be "sides" in our marriage. Tonight I learned which side he meant.
I pulled the ring free.
Ryan's eyes widened.
"Don't."
I dropped it at his feet.
The ring hit the tile with a tiny metallic click.
"She can protect herself in court."
May you like
Then Officer Ortiz escorted Diane toward the front door.
And Ryan looked down at the ring like it was a body.
