Meanwhile, Stephanie and Simmi were just sitting down in the kitchen. They waited for the maid to finish washing the dishes and then Simmi spoke.
"Mom, why didn't you tell me that you were dating him?" asked Simmi looking her mom right in the eye.
"I don't know sweetheart. I just I didn't want you to feel like I had betrayed you because I know how much you like John. I didn't want you to feel like John had betrayed you," replied Stephanie, tears filling her eyes.
"But why, mom? You're my mom you're supposed to tell me everything that's going on with you. Including the beatings from Hunter," replied Simmi knowing her mom didn't know she knew that.
"What? Who told you that?" asked a worried Stephanie. She knew just how much Simmi looked up to Hunter.
"That's not the point, why didn't you tell me? I knew something was up last time I saw you. You had dark bruises all over your arms and back. I asked Grandpa Vince about it and he said they were just from work," replied Simmi.
"Oh, well I didn't think I could tell you. I didn't want you to hate Hunter for something he did to me. It just seemed out of the question. Everyone said it was better for you not to know. So I just left it out. Honey, I didn't want you to hate him because I know how much you love him," replied Stephanie taking a picture of Simmi and Hunter the previous Christmas, out of her bag.
"But mom, he was beating you! He was physically hitting you – a woman. That's not right, and I think you should've told me. I deserve to know how you guys are doing," exclaimed Simmi, breaking into tears. She had loved Hunter like a father. He had always been there for her. He helped her out with some advice on her first date, he helped her when she was failing high school and he been there during her mom and dad's divorce. Even before him and her mom were together.
"Yes, I realize that Simmi. But I loved him and I didn't really take into account that it was wrong, he would get drunk and then come home and just go nuts on me. I called John and that's when we got together. We knew that Hunter would one day just kill me," cried Stephanie.
"Oh…" replied Simmi.
"Honey, don't worry about it. It's over now and John would never hit me so nothing bad will ever happen. Now go talk to John, I know you want to," laughed Stephanie, watching Simmi blush.
"It's not my fault you have such a hot boyfriend!" laughed Simmi, getting up and giving her mom a hug and then walking out towards the dining room.
As Simmi walked out of the kitchen, Stephanie dried her face and drank some water. She felt so much better now that Simmi knew that, she knew that Simmi was probably very angry with Hunter but that's okay, she would get over it. She could hear Simmi begging John to go get ice cream and then heard them coming towards the kitchen. She watched the door opening and saw Simmi was on John's back piggyback style. John grabbed his keys, asked Steph if she wanted anything and then walked out again.
"I love you John," called Stephanie out the door.
"I love you too," called John from the hallway.
"I love you, what happened to the player?" mimicked Simmi.
"Hey!" exclaimed John, getting Simmi into his car.
"Players don't fall in love John," replied Simmi.
"Well this one did," exclaimed John, getting in and turning on the car.
"So where do you wanna go?" asked Simmi, turning on the radio. She flipped through a few stations when finally heard a good song. As she leaned against the window and listened to the song, John couldn't help but watch. She was exactly like her mother in everyway. The way she laughed, the way she talked, and the way she walked – every single way. He was amazed that she could even roll her eyes like her mom!
"Umm…Dairy Queen?" asked John, turning into the main road.
"Sure," yawned Simmi, closing her eyes and thinking about her boyfriend at home.
They had been together for 2 ½ years now, and they had only broken it off once. Everyone knew about him, Ryan. But no one knew about the drinking, stealing and drugs that Ryan had forced Simmi to do. Not her mom, not her dad and especially not John. The only person that knew was the one she hated the most right now, Hunter. He had promised her that he would never tell her mom about all of it. But now that he had broken the trust between them, Simmi wondered if maybe he had told her mom. Maybe she knew but didn't know how to bring it up. As Simmi yawned again, she noticed in her rear view mirror that a car was speeding up behind them. She didn't pay much attention to it as she closed her blue eyes again.