There were hundreds of organizations in our city that helped women of domestic violence, and none that helped men of domestic violence. Someone had to be their voice crying out, their defender against their oppressors, and their light in the darkness. Call me that dude because I was going to come through every time. It wasn’t something that I thought about before losing my father, but it had become a precious cause to me in the aftermath of his murder.
“I get that you’re the victim in this; I’m just saying that two wrongs don’t make a right. Get what you’re owed and keep it pushing, my guy.”
Professor Settles’s face turned red in anger. “Whose side are you on, mine or hers? They told me these cases were a special cause of yours.”
“You know that I’m on your side.”
There was just something about this case and his overall demeanor that didn’t sit well with me. I couldn’t put my finger on it, though.
“Then let’s do this.”
I sighed and stood from the bench, where we had been sitting outside of the conference room, and led the way inside.
I took a seat across the table from his ex-wife, Delaney Synclair, and her lawyer, Katina Monroe, before I slid a piece of paper across the table to the attorney and handed a similar copy to Judge Atkins.
I took in Delaney Synclair’s heart-shaped, baby face, the sorrow in her chocolate brown eyes, and the pout on those plump, heart-shaped lips. The woman was a gorgeous, dark-skinned beauty. She still had a look of pure innocence about her as if she needed to be protected from predators. It was hard toalign the woman we had drawn on paper with the one who sat before us. I didn’t want to feel sorry for her, but I did.
“Here’s the settlement we are offering.”
A small moue of disappointment could be seen on Katina’s face as she eyeballed the offer and its terms, but it was Delaney who verbally reacted.
“You have lost your goddamned mind, Clayton Settles! How dare you?” She balked.
Katina shoved the paper back across the table and replied, “This is insulting.” At the same time, she patted Delaney on the arm to calm her down.
We turned to the judge who already had a copy of the proposed settlement.
“Your Honor, considering the circumstances, my client believes that our offer is more than fair.”
“Very well. Let’s discuss this,” Judge Atkins replied.
We settled in for a debate that lasted fifteen minutes before the judge was ready to render his judgement.
“Professor Settles and Ms. Synclair, it is always a difficult day when a couple comes before me looking to dissolve what God has put together. I am from the old school, and I firmly believe that what God puts together, no man should put asunder. Nevertheless, I have a job to do. With all the evidence presented before me and the proposed settlement, it grieves me to declare that this marriage is beyond reconciliation. As a result of that, I will be finding in Professor Settles’s behalf. Professor Settles lost his job as a result of Ms. Synclair’s actions, and he has no income. Based on the documentation submitted to the court, he has attempted to find employment but has been unsuccessful, largely based on your efforts to discredit him with his previous employer, Ms. Synclair. Therefore, selling the house will allow him to recoup some funds to provide for himself for the next year.”
“But Your Honor,” Katina spoke up.
The judge held his hand up and levied a disapproving glance on Katina before he continued speaking. “I have heard both sides of the argument, Ms. Monroe. I am prepared to render my judgment, and I expect you to respectfully listen. Now, Ms. Synclair withdrew all the funds from their joint account, leaving him with a zero balance. According to these records, Ms. Synclair sold all of his personal items at a yard sale, and the court is ordering that she repay him the sum of thirty thousand dollars. I read over the statements from friends, family, students, and colleagues regarding Ms. Synclair’s physical and mental abuse against Professor Settles.”
“Your Honor, these allegations are untrue,” Katina spoke up.
“Be that as it may, we have documented statements and photographs to back up those claims. Your client has nothing. We also have witnesses testifying on video to the truth of the allegations. The court is prepared to offer you twenty thousand dollars in damages for lost time at work because of the abuse that you endured, Professor Settles. It is difficult to ascertain an amount to place on allegations of abuse.
“It is highly recommended that if you find yourself in a similar situation in the future that you report it to the police promptly and exit that relationship. Mrs. Synclair, I am recommending, but not enforcing, that you get some sort of counseling for your abusive behavior. I cannot help but wonder if some of the discord in the marriage came because of your extramarital affairs, Professor Settles. You need to learn the importance of the sanctity of marriage and get therapy.”
My heart tightened in my chest as I watched the tears roll down Delaney Synclair’s beautiful face. I was torn about whether to feel vindicated that the judge found on our behalf or not. Delaney was definitely being held responsible for her actions, but I couldn’t help but wonder if the entire story had been told.Something just wasn’t sitting right with me. Unfortunately for her, she had no proof to dispute Clayton’s claims, so like me, the judge was rooting for him.
The difference in our perspectives about the situations were simply that I wasn’t sold on Clayton’s story hook, line, and sinker. I had seen him with various women around the city. The problem was that I couldn’t say whether or not it came as a result of the abuse, or if the abuse came as a result of his cheating. Other than that, the man had never done anything to me, but some people you just didn’t like, and he was one of those.
“Thank you, Your Honor. Your decision has been very fair today,” Clayton stated.
“How dare you do this to me?” Delaney snapped.
Clayton sat back in his seat and smirked.
“I did nothing but tell the court what you did to me.”
“No! You’ve lied and got your family and friends to lie too. Tell the truth, Clayton.”
