Chapter 12 - JULIAN FINALLY EXPLAINED THE MAKEUP BAG
Julian asked for mediation.
Audrey agreed because property and business reimbursement issues remained.
She did not agree because she wanted closure.
Closure was a marketing word.
She wanted documents signed correctly.
Near the end, Audrey asked one personal question.
“The makeup bag.”
Julian looked down.
“What about it?”
“Tell me exactly what you were thinking.”
His attorney shifted.
Audrey’s attorney said nothing.
Julian rubbed both hands together.
“Mom was coming.”
“I know.”
“The lender call was after lunch.”
“I know.”
“I thought if she saw your face…”
Audrey waited.
“She’d ask questions.”
“About what?”
“Why you were bruised.”
“Good.”
Julian closed his eyes.
“And then she might start asking what happened between us.”
“Also good.”
“And then she might question whether you really agreed.”
Audrey’s chest tightened.
“So you wanted me covered because the bruises made the consent story less believable.”
“Yes.”
Silence filled the room.
Julian cried.
Audrey did not.
“Did you plan to hurt me the night before?”
“No.”
“Did you plan the argument?”
“No.”
“Did you expect me to sign?”
“Yes.”
“If I still refused?”
Julian stared at the table.
“I don’t know.”
Audrey waited.
“That’s not true.”
He looked up.
“I thought Mom could convince you.”
“And if she couldn’t?”
“I thought once the lender was on screen, you wouldn’t embarrass everybody.”
There.
Public pressure.
Family pressure.
Financial pressure.
Julian had planned layers.
Maybe not violence.
But coercion.
Audrey asked:
“When you shoved me into the headboard that morning, were you trying to scare me into cooperating?”
Julian took a long time.
“Yes.”
Audrey looked away.
The answer hurt.
It also clarified everything.
Julian said:
“I never thought of myself as abusive.”
Audrey almost laughed.
“Most people probably don’t schedule it in their calendar.”
He flinched.
“I loved you.”
“I know.”
“You say that like it makes it worse.”
“Sometimes it does.”
Julian cried.
Audrey continued:
“You loved me and still believed you had the right to frighten me when my answer threatened your plan.”
He nodded.
No defense.
Then he asked:
“Was anything between us real?”
Audrey looked at him.
“Our marriage was real.”
His face crumpled.
“So was what you did.”
Understanding one did not erase the other.
May you like
That was the most mercy Audrey could give him.
It was also the truth.
