Here is chapter 17.

"Make sure to feed her at six." Maria told Torrie. "I know Maria." Torrie replied, feeling annoyed. "And make sure to have her in bed by 8:30." Maria added.

"Will you relax girl? I got this." Torrie reassured. Maria smirked. "You better."

"You be a good girl for auntie Torrie. Okay Fredricka?" Maria said to her daughter.

They then heard honking from outside. Both women let out a groan. "I don't want to keep John waiting. We'll be back by nine."

"You and John go have some fun."

Maria hurried over to John's car. "Well it's about time." John joked.

"This is just what we needed. Some time alone just the two of us." Maria said.

"Yeah. It had been a while since we both had time to ourselves." John said.

A few minutes on the road Maria asked "You made sure you got the reservations right?"

John grinned and gently patted her thigh. "Relax babe. I made sure to call several hours in advance."

Maria smiled brightly and put her hand on his, rubbing it with her thumb. "You're the best."

They went inside an Italian restaurant and ordered a vegetarian lasagna.

John would occasionally lightly rub Maria's legs with his foot, causing her to giggle.

John couldn't help but grin.

After dinner he then drove over to the local park where he had visited a bunch of times as a child. He leads her over to the fountain in the center of the park.

He held her by the waist and stared deeply into her eyes. How could he have been so blind all these years?

"I love you Maria." he replied. He could see a tear coming out of her eye.

"I don't know why I never told you I felt. Maybe I was afraid you didn't had any feelings towards me." "Really? All these years I didn't think you had any feelings towards me." Maria replied.

They looked up and saw a full moon and stars.

Then they looked back at other. They stared at each other before he leaned forward and kisses her. She started kissing back.

Soon he slip his tongue into her mouth and they're were tongue lashing.

He then started kissing her neck, causing her to moan loudly. A few moments later they stopped.

They looked at each other feeling a little heated up. "We should head home." she suggested. "Yeah. Good idea."

He was driving. Both of them were really anxious.

But once they got back to John's place there was a police cruiser parked in John's driveway.

A couple of officers were talking to Torrie.

They noticed she had a big bruise on her head, which was covered by a frozen bag of peas.

Torrie then noticed John and Maria. "Oh my God." she shuddered.

"What happened?" John asked. "I was just in the kitchen fixing up a bowl of ice cream when I heard something. Once I stepped out of the kitchen I got hit with something and I got knocked out." Torrie explained.

Maria's eyes suddenly went wide. "Where's Fredricka?" she asked, sounding a little worried.

Torrie started to sob. "I don't know. I looked everywhere but I couldn't find her."

Maria's jaw dropped, and tears started to form in her eyes. She started crying. John took her in an embrace, and she cried into his chest.

"Mike took her!" she shouted. "Who are you talking about ma'am?" the officer asked.

"Maria's ex husband. He was abusive towards her. So she left him. But he's been after her for awhile." John said. All three told the officer everything.

"We'll put out an ABB for this guy. We'll let you know if anything happens."

"Please find my daughter. She's so young." Maria pleaded. "Don't worry. We'll find her. Safe and sound." The officer said before he and his partner left.

All three went inside John's house. Torrie sounded sad saying "I wish I could've done something. If I had known he would-" John cut her off.

"No. Don't blame yourself. You couldn't have known this would happen."

John held Maria tightly as she cried some more. "I hope Mike doesn't hurt her." Maria whimpered.

"We will get her back. If I have to search all over town to find him, I will." John said.