“Dad,” he sobbed, “I swear I didn’t steal Mason’s watch.

I swear I didn’t.” And Julian, on a screen from a hotel room in Dallas, closed his eyes as the tears ran down his own face, and he said the words our son needed most in all the world to hear.

“I know, buddy,” he said.

“I know you didn’t.

I believe you with my whole heart, Lucas, every bit of it.

You are not in trouble.