She thought vindication would feel like triumph.
Instead, she felt exhausted.
Then Idan came toward her.
This time, nobody stopped him.
He wrapped both arms around her waist.
Clara bent and held him.
“I told them,” he whispered.
She kissed the top of his head.
“You were very brave.”
“I should have told sooner.”
Clara pulled back.
“No.”
She placed a hand against his cheek.
“Adults were supposed to protect you from carrying this. You were never supposed to save me.”
Idan began crying.
Clara held him again.
Across the courtroom, Adam stood alone.
His mother had already been escorted into a private consultation room with her attorney.
For several seconds, Adam watched Clara holding his son.
Then he approached.
Clara stiffened.
He stopped several feet away.
“I don’t know how to apologize.”
Clara looked at him.
“That is because there is no sentence large enough.”
He lowered his eyes.
“I failed you.”
“Yes.”
He swallowed.
