“I should’ve called the police but I was afraid to. He told me that I had to take my daughter out of school and leave Durham.”
Again, a puzzled look formed on John’s face. “I’m sorry, Mimi, but I’m not following you. There must be something I’m missing. Why would Victor tell you to leave town when, as far as I can tell, he’s had no contact with you? It doesn’t make sense.”
“It all began nineteen years ago when I was a freshman.”
The countenance on John’s face changed again. “What are you talking about, Mimi?” His eyes searched hers.
“Victor raped me.”
John sat like a stiff piece of cardboard in his seat, his tongue tied to his lower jaw, afraid to move, although his eyes darted back and forth before finally penetrating Mimi’s soul. He recovered from the news, looked away, and then back at Mimi.
“Maybe my ears deceived me, but you didn’t just say that Victor raped you?”
“He raped me and I got pregnant. That’s why I fled. I couldn’t tell anyone; not you and especially not Brenda. You see, she was also pregnant.”
“Oh my God! You should’ve told me anyway.”
“I couldn’t, John. I was so ashamed.”
A scowl crossed John’s face. He banged the table with his fist and looked up at Mimi. “I could kill Victor.”
“I believe you would’ve tried to, but at what cost? You might’ve ended up in jail without the career you’re now enjoying.”
“Mimi, you were always the voice of reason. But tell me how did Victor know you were here and how did he find out you were pregnant?”
“John, this sounds like a scene out of a made for TV movie, but it’s the truth. I had no plans to ever return to Durham. My daughter’s the only reason I’m here. It was her desire to come to Central, and while I tried everything I could to discourage her, she prevailed, and I’m here. I hoped and prayed that I wouldn’t run into anyone I knew, and that I could remain in the shadows.
“As they say, this is a small world; you ran into me.”
“It is. But you don’t know the half. My daughter befriended a young lady who happened to be Victor’s daughter. Ready for this? They look like twins, except Afrika is a little darker than Asia.”
“And they’re both named after continents.”
“That’s only the beginning of their similarities. But what no one knows except you and Victor is that my daughter and her best friend are half-sisters. The girls don’t even know.”
“Damn, Mimi.” John exhaled. “This is reality TV at its best. I feel your pain.”
“Anyway,” Mimi interjected, “I’ve got Victor breathing down my neck on one hand and Brenda begging me to have lunch on the other. I’ve managed to dodge her because I’ve been trying to protect my secret. Although, if Victor has his way, I’ll never see her.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Initially, John, I thought about packing my stuff and getting the hell out of Durham. But the more belligerent Victor has gotten, the more determined I am to stay and face him head on. I’m sure he’s behind the trouble Afrika is having with her meal card. I need to leave so I can check on it.”
“What does your husband say?” John blurted out.
“Raphael? He offered to come home and take matters into his own hands.” Mimi didn’t tell John that Raphael had no idea that she was raped. What would John say if he knew he was the first person she’s shared her secret with?
“Seriously, Mimi, you need to get a restraining order on Victor. I worry that he might try something else.”
“While I was at Lake Johnson yesterday, he apparently stopped by my house. He left me one of his little hate messages in my mailbox.”
John sighed. It must have been clear to him by now why Mimi had called him so quickly. “Why don’t you go and take care of the matter with your daughter, and if you like, I can come by later—to keep you company in the event old dude decides to drop by and give you another warning.”
“That won’t be necessary, John. I think he has enough sense not to do something crazy.”
“He’s already begun, Mimi. You believe he’s behind your daughter’s mishap, and that was to get your attention, but what if he decides to take it to the next level?”
“You’re right.”
“Of course, I’m right. Look, let me make a couple of calls to let