Beautiful Scars: Breaking Free (Christian Romance)

Chapter fifteen

Mary......
The Truth....
I walked out feeling a bit hopeful, I kept telling myself that it was going to be okay. I scanned the crowd looking for John but didn't see him. I left the building then a familiar voice called. "Mary? Mary" I turned to Mrs Patterson.
"My you look lovely, but your make up i-its, are you alright?" she said asking concerned.
"I'm fine Mrs Patterson, I'm just looking for John."
"oh.... Uh, I was told a bit about what happened. We don't see you differently okay, we're not judging you, I'm not judging you. Just know that, okay? "
"Okay Ma'am" I said with a smile. Just like her daughter, trying to let me know that they're not holding anything against me. How the heck did I get so lucky to meet this family.

I was about to walk back into the building, then I heard John call. I turn back and Saw him running towards me.
"Hey. I-I'm...uh, are you-"he stuttered catching his breath.
"I'm fine John." I said saving him from his stutter.
"Mary, I'm really sorry about what I said, I shouldn't have." Mr Patterson said a bit ashamed.
"It's okay Mr Patterson."
"You gave a good first impression, I never should have-"
"it's alright, sir. But not all first impressions tell the truth so-"
"yours did Mary, yours did."
"Th-thank you." He smiled and nodded as his wife held his arm, I mean ex-wife.
Hold up, Exes don't act all cute and romantic.
"They're getting back together." John said as if he read my mind.
"Wow... Uh congratulations. That's good."
"Thank you Mary," Mrs Patterson said gratefully. Come to think of it I've always seen her as Mrs Patterson, even when divorced. Well I don't know her last name, Oh well.

"Can we go some place private?" I said to John.
"Sure, I mean, this place isn't exactly-"
"how bout the limo."
"oh...okay. let me just....get the kiss-uh I mean keys, keys, yes keys. "
I laughed as I waited for him to collect the keys.

We sat in the limo quite for a moment.
"Sorry about my Dad, he-"
"it's fine, he apologized." I said cutting in.
I could tell that he wanted to ask questions and get honest answers, but he wasn't sure how to ask. But can I trust him? I mean come on, he has defended me and helped me out in ways I didn't deserve. And, And he loves me, right? I mean he's showed it. And I can't deny that I feel the same way......He deserves to know the truth. At least a little.

"I'm sorry about Stella." John said nervously.
"It's fine" I sighed.
"John.." I began.
"What I'm about to tell you, promise me you won't try to do anything, nor say a word to anyone, even to Alice."
"What do you mean not do anything, I-"
"promise me John, if you want to know the truth, just promise me you won't try to do anything."
"Okay," he sighed.
We sat silent for a minute.

"I, I do remember Emily. But at the time she was working at the strip club...I was sixteen"
"What?" John said as worry gracefully played on his face.
"Luke.....Luke is actually my uncle."
"Luke? How did, I don't, I don't understand." He said confused and concerned.
"When my parents passed, well when my Dad passed on. I was ten, and My brother was eighteen. A few months after my Dad's death, my brother was so busy,  he never had time for me. "
I said as the painful memories starting Flooding in.
"Ten year old me, wanting to play and live a normal life as a kid. But he didn't have time for me I can't blame him though. He had a lot of responsibilities that was given to him unexpectedly.....I never blamed him, but I just wanted a little time at least. I lost my Mum, and then my Dad. I just wanted a little hope, a little love to be shown. I needed comfort, a little time created. But no, I couldn't get it." a tear escaped and John reached to wipe it away.

"He decided to send me here to my uncle." I continued.
"An Uncle my Dad barely spoke about. An uncle in a different country.
He could have at least sent me to a boarding school. Or another relative.
I just like to think he wanted me here in America to have a better life I guess." I took a deep breath and continued.
"Wait you said a different country?"
"Yeah I was born in Nigeria. I miss it honestly.
"I'm sorry" He said.
I sighed then continued.
"Luke. Luke has a strip club, as you know....but he also runs a prostitution organization, illegally of course. And I've been a slave for what now, nine and half years, what am I saying, ten. Well four while working with him but the other six years weren't any better. I'm probably not the only one forced."
John Looked at me worried, and a flash of anger grew across his face.
"And you expect me to keep shut about this?"