Lou was taken aback. She hadn't expected Georgie to pinpoint it so precisely and so quickly. "What!? Sweetie, no. He's not. I'm fine, alright?" Lou tried to reassure.
Georgie didn't want to press on too much. She was about to let it go when she saw Lou adjusting her hair, bringing locks of it to the front.
Lou never does that…
While Lou adjusted her hair, Georgie caught sight of the bruise again. This time it was much clearer, and it was definitely real. "Mom— is that a bruise?"
Lou stopped. She had seen it. "Sweetheart, it's not what you think. Please don't worry."
Georgie saw the panic in her mother's eyes. They betrayed what she was saying. Georgie could tell how afraid Lou was. "Leave him," Georgie said firmly.
"I can't. This is...this is right for me."
Georgie couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Mom, are you insane? Dad never, ever raised his voice with you, and now you're just accepting this? All of this!? And how long has this been happening? Mom, answer me."
Lou avoided answering the question. "Georgie, how do I explain to you— fights happen in relationships. People can't always get along, right? This is nothing to worry about. Just let it go."
"He's abusing you!" Georgie let out angrily. "You want me to let that go? I'm going to tell Amy. She'll know what to do. You clearly won't do anything about it."
Georgie headed for the door, when Lou reached for her arm and gently spoke to her. "Sweetheart please don't say anything. I'm begging you." There was a pleading in Lou's voice.
"Don't say anything? And what, just wait it out until someday he decides to kill you? What will I do then? The day he loses control, mom, is the day where everything will be over. And— just answer me this: what if I came home everyday with new bruises and marks all over my body? How would you feel? Would you just sit around, and not say anything?"
Lou was about to answer. But she stopped and looked down. Georgie had a point. If Georgie had ever come home with bruises like hers, Lou would go ballistic. She wouldn't stop until she found out who hurt her daughter, and she wouldn't rest until she brought them to justice.
"Right. That's what I thought," Georgie said.
"Honey I'm begging you, don't say anything to Amy about this. I'll sort it out, there's nothing for you to worry about." Lou reasoned. She paused a moment. "Come here." Lou brought Georgie into an embrace, her hand resting protectively around her daughter's head.