Too Close To Home

XI

"What do you mean, you know the guy that raped you?" Richard asked

"Not necessarily know him, know him per se. But that night, hearing his voice and looking at his eyes and this particular scar on his face, he reminded me of this guy who had tried to date Imani a while back. I remember her telling me about this guy who had worked at the state prison, and he was in transition to either start working for Atlanta PD or going back home to New York and work for their police department, whichever came first. Anyways, he had admitted that he had been eyeing Imani for some time now when she would have to go to prison, to court, or see her out. He seemed weird how he would look at Mani, but she would never pay attention to him." Ari begins to explain

"Is that all that happened? Did it go any further? Did she accept a date with him?"

"She didn't accept a date with him. He doesn't take well to being told no; he starts to send her flowers and all kinds of stuff. You know how Mani gets when people don't understand her meaning of the word no. I guess that pissed him off, and he quit the force and went back to New York. But I don't think he went back. I also think there's more to him leaving the prison." Ari finished 

"This is a lot to take in. How do you suggest we tell Mani? Because we do have to tell her." Richard asked

"Well, I contacted a good friend with whom I went to college. He works for the Charleston Special Victims Unit. You remember Drew, right?" Ari asked

"The guy that Imani had a huge crush on, and whenever you two would visit from school, she would lose her mind and turn into mush?" Richard laughed

"Yes, him. After college, he joined the force and returned home to Charleston to help his parents care for his grandmother after his grandfather passed. We kept in contact, and I told him what happened. He's still going strong in the force and has custody of his daughter." Ari explained

"How did he feel when you told him what happened?" Richard asked

"Hurt. He's talking to his captain to allow him to come down and work with Imani and the SVU to catch this guy." Ari told him

"Well, that should be great, and Imani gets to see her crush." Richard laughed

"Enough about me. Uncle Richard, I couldn't but overhear you tell Auntie that you failed us. What would make you think that?" Ari asked

"I didn't keep my promise to my best friend and sis-in-love as I promised. I figured I could do half as good as them, but your assault proved me wrong." Richard spoke as he wiped the tears before they fell

"Hold on, my rape and assault does not mean you failed at raising us. You were already helping raise us before our parents died, and excuse my French, but you were doing a damn good then, and you did even more impressive after their deaths. Do you remember when we spent time together, and people would see us and think we were father and daughter? You wouldn't try to correct them; you went along with it and would tell people I was your hummingbird. Look at us; we are all college graduates with great careers, and Imani is a great mother. She learned not only from her parents but from you and Auntie as well because, as I stated before, you both had a hand in raising us." Ari explained to him

"I guess you're right. I tried to put on this façade, but that night scared me. I didn't know what to expect. But I knew deep down you would be okay because you are a fighter. We haven't been able to talk much since everything happened. How have you been?" Richard asked

"I have my days. They aren't as bad as they were in the beginning. Therapy has helped a lot. Not to mention, this family is the best at everything, especially support." Ari explained

I'm proud of you. I've never expected anything less from you girls. You have made us proud." Richard told

"Thanks. Now that we have gotten the tears out of the way. How about buying your hummingbird some frozen yogurt?" Ari grinned as she used to do as a kid