Chapter 31

"It makes me sick to my stomach what he did to me," I said walking out of the stall.

"Literally," Melissa said.

"Yeah." I walked over to the sink and turned on the water. I made my hands into a cup and scooped water into my mouth to wash the taste away. I had thrown up. It was gross. Melissa was by my side, making sure I was okay.

When I was ready to leave the bathroom, Melissa made sure it was safe and it was. We both walked back to the table together. John had Little Johnny in his arms.

"Okay, I want to get the hell out of here," I said.

"Fine by us," Boog said.

"Yeah," John said.

John gave the baby to me. I was very happy to have him on my arms. He had a binky in his mouth. John grabbed the carrier and diaper bag. All five of us were then out the door and walked to the parking lot. John and I headed straight home. Melissa and Boog went home themselves.

"I can't believe I ran into that son of a bitch," I said as John walked into in the living room. He had just put the baby to bed.

"I know, Baby Doll," John said, sitting on the sofa with me. "I was shocked as well."

"I'm not going to sleep tonight just so you know."

"Tell me what happened," John said.

"What?!" I said looking at him.

"Tell me what happened. You never gave me a detailed account of what happened to you as a child. You were able to give me a detailed account of what happened to Melissa when she was raped. She gave Boog a detailed account of what happened to her…"

"…SERIOUSLY, you want to know the exact details of what happened between me and Joseph?!" I asked, shocked.

"I want to better understand, Trish," John replied. "Don't think of me as a sick individual. We've been together for over a year, you know I'm not that way. I just want to know."

I sat back and thought for a minute. I nodded my head. I had not told John details of what happened to me, because I did not want to freak him out. I had told past boyfriends and they were freaked out by it. They did not understand me after I told them. I knew John would be an exception. Plus it was good to talk about sexual assault. It was good for the victim to talk about it.

"Do you want exact details?" I asked.

"I don't want graphic details," John said. "I just want to know the sequence of events. When did it happen? How long did it go on for? Did you tell your parents or did they catch him in the act?"

"Oh, he was caught in the act. But I'll get to that later."

"Okay," John chuckled.

I chuckled too. We were chuckling over a bad situation.

I was so nervous to talk about it. John knew I was. He grabbed my hand. "It's okay, sweetheart," He said. "When did it start?"

"Okay, well, it only happened one time, but my parents walked in on us. We were in my bedroom. There was a party going on. My parents were hosting the party. My dad invited friends and coworkers. It was a Halloween party.

"Joseph had louvered me into my bedroom. It was craziness in the living room and around the house. He said he had something to show me. He had a new toy for me. It was a doll I had wanted, but my parents wouldn't get it for me. I was so excited that I ended up grabbing my other dolls and we started playing together. But as we started to play, Joseph said something. He said, 'I gave you a present, Patricia. Now you have to give me something in return.'

"'What would you like?' I asked. He said he wanted a kiss and I have him one. I gave him one on the cheek, but he said no. He wanted a kiss on the lips. Then he kissed me like a man and woman would kiss. Then the next thing that happened was he took of my clothes. Then he took of his.

"He made me touch him and he touched me. He made me do oral sex…"

"…Where were your parents all this time?" John asked.

"They eventually came looking for me. I was quietly crying, because I didn't want anyone to come in. I was scared and didn't know what to think." I said as tears streamed down my cheeks.

"Of course, you didn't. You were just a child, Trish."

Trish nodded. "My parents wondered where I was and where Joseph was. Christie said she had seen us go into my room. My parents not thinking anything went to see what we were up too. We all trusted Joseph. But my parents heard me crying quietly and they also heard moaning." More tears streamed down my cheeks.

"Oh, my God, that sick son of bitch!" John said.

I nodded my head. "My parents found us. The police were called. I was taken to the emergency room to be examined. I went through a rape kit with medical swaps and pictures. It was awful. Then you know I had to testify in court against him. That was awful too."

I was still crying, but not crying hard like I had when I told John about Melissa.

"I'm so sorry, baby," John said. He grabbed hold of my hand. I knew he was hesitant to touch me.

I shook my head. I leaned forward and gave him a passionate kiss on the lips. I then wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned into him. John wrapped his arms around me and kissed me forehead.

"If there's one thing for sure," I said. "I know that all most of the good guys in the world are in Boston."

John chuckled. "Who are all those guys?"

"You, Randy, Phil, your dad and brothers. Someday Little Johnny will be one of them, along with any brothers he has."

"I want the next one to be a little girl, because I'm sick of all the males in this family. I love our little boy, but we need some Cena girls."

"There's Chelsea," I said. "I'll be a Cena in August and Ally will one eventually."

"Yeah, I can't wait for that wedding."

"Dan is pushing for a civil ceremony."

"Ally might actually go with it, because she wants to get married right away. They have been engaged for only five months."

"Yes, but they were together for two years before getting engaged."

"Whatever," John said. "We've only been together a year and we have a baby and are engaged."

"Yes, but each relationship is completely different."

"So when are we going to be an aunt and uncle?"

"You mean when are Christie and Jake going to have a baby?" I asked.

"Yes," John said.

"They just started trying. After Little Johnny was born and they saw him via pictures, video, and Skype, they decided they wanted one of their own."

"Good, so maybe in a year, we'll be an aunt and uncle."

"I hope so. My God, Melissa nearly gave me a panic attack today. She said she wanted to change Little Johnny's diaper for practice."

John laughed. "Well, Melissa should have a job here when she graduates. She'd have the money to take care of the baby if she turned up pregnant at graduation or something."

"Don't say that. I want my baby sister to have a serious relationship in person longer than two, three months before she starts having babies."

"Excellent point. I want to Boog to finish college before Melissa gets pregnant."

"So after May, it'll be okay for her to get pregnant?" I asked.

"Yes," John replied.

I laughed. "You know both of us want this and that for our younger siblings, but they need to be able to make their own screw ups and such."

"Very true. Anyway, how are you feeling?"

I shrugged. "I'm better, which is thanks to you."

"Glad I could help."

"Me too."

John laughed. He leaned forward and kissed me. "I love you."

"I love you too." I gave him a kiss and hugged him. John embraced me tightly.

I felt safe and secure with John. I hoped and prayed to God that I never saw Joseph ever again, but that bastard lingered in my memory. He also knew where to find me: Boston, Massachusetts. However, if he showed up at Cena's again and Boog recognized him, there would be hell to pay. On the other hand, Joseph did have a right to eat at Cena's. He did not do anything wrong, except sexually abuse a child. But that child was a grown woman now, a grown woman that knew how to defend herself and take care of herself. Plus her fiancé was a police officer, and she had no just her fiancé to protect her, but her fiancé's four brothers, and her two male friends, who were personal trainers and knew how to kick ass. That woman was me.

I was going to face whatever life brought at me. I would either face it with fear or with courage. But if I ever saw Joseph again, especially in the following days or weeks, I was going to face him with courage and confident. I was not going to let that son of bitch get the best of me ever again. Bring it on, Joseph Richardson! Patricia Stratigias is no longer a fearful and scared child. She is a proud grown adult woman.