Two police officers walked in, shouting angrily at the mother-in-law: "Where do you think you are, brawling in public? Do you need a refresher course on the law?"
The mother-in-law instantly deflated like a punctured balloon, hanging her head and not daring to speak.
The police briefly summarized the case: Garrison had broken in attempting rape, and was caught red-handed by Vivienne's husband. The man beating him up was considered self-defense.
The mother-in-law was dumbfounded.
After explaining the situation, the police asked, "Now that the victim has reported it, we're preparing to file a case. Is there any possibility of reconciliation between both parties?"
I remained silent throughout. Garrison turned to Vivienne and said, "Why don't you tell the police what happened?"
Vivienne's face was as bruised as Garrison's. She didn't even look at him, instead gazing pitifully at her husband and saying, "I don't know. I'll go with whatever my husband says."