John had been trying to think of a way to bring up what Hallie had told him to Desiree. They were doing night shoots for the movie, so Desiree and Hallie were in their room. Desiree's cell phone rang.
"Hello?" She said.
"Hi." Eli said.
"Hi." "How's work?"
"Good I'm on my lunch break." "Have you put Hallie down for her nap yet?"
"No." "I'll put her on." "Hang on." "Hallie come here." "Daddy's on the phone." Hallie got up on the couch and Desiree put the phone to her ear.
"Hi daddy." Hallie said.
"Hi." Eli said.
"Miss you."
"I miss you to." "Are you being good for mommy?"
"Yeah."
"Good."
"Love you."
"I love you too." "Bye."
"Bye."
Desiree put the phone to her ear. "Are you managing ok without us?" She asked.
"Yeah." He said. "It's always so weird to be here without you guys." "I miss my girls."
"We miss you to." "I'll call you back tonight when I get back from shooting."
"Ok." "I love you."
"I love you too." "Bye."
"Bye." They hung up.
Desiree looked at Hallie.
"Time for your nap." She said. Hallie shook her head no. "Yes.
Twenty minutes after Desiree put Hallie down for her nap there was knock at the door. She went to answer it. It was John.
"Hi." She said.
"Are you busy?"
"No."
"Can I come in?"
"Sure." He went inside.
"Do you want a cup of coffee?"
"No."
"I'm gonna have one." They went into the kitchen. As Desiree reached up for a coffee cup, her shirt went up a little and John saw a faint yellow bruise on her back. It made him sick to his stomach. She poured the coffee and turned around. She noticed the worried look on John's face. "What?"
"Desiree, does Eli hit you?"
"What?" "Why would you think that?"
"Hallie told me." "She said he hits you and you cry."
"You know how kids are." "They have wild imaginations."
"How did you get that bruise on your back?"
"I fell."
"Tell me the truth."
"I am."
"Desiree you know you can trust me."
"John please, I don't want to talk about this." She said with tears in her eyes.
He hugged her. She started to cry. "It's ok."
"Please don't tell anyone." She said tearfully. "I don't want anyone to know."
"Desiree you need to leave him."
She looked at him. "I can't."
"Why?" "Did he threaten you?"
"No." She lied. "I love him." "He doesn't mean it when he does it, he doesn't."
"It's dangerous for you to stay, you and Hallie."
"He'd never hurt Hallie."
"He shouldn't be hurting you either."
"He's not always like that." "Things will get better, I know it." She had to keep telling herself that to keep her sanity.
"If you ever need anything, I want you to call me." "Promise me."
"I promise."