As they slipped in the car, Mickey handed him the sandwich. “Wow, how did you know I was hungry?”
“I didn’t. I just felt like buying one for you.” Stephan smiled as he took a big bite. Mickey loved watching him while he ate; he was a raw and down to earth person, even though he was so rich. “So, ready for the dinner tonight?”
“Yes,” Stephan answered.
“Let me take you home; you can have a shower and change, and then we’ll leave for Sarai’s home. Okay?” Mickey again confirmed, trying to read his mind.
“All right, Mickey.” He forced a smile onto his face.
“Do you want to share something? Are you uncomfortable going for this dinner?”
Silence…
Stephan didn’t answer her question and now Mickey was worried. “Stephan, are you okay?” she asked again, placing her hand on his shoulder as she lowered the speed of car.
“It’s not like that I don’t want to meet your friends. But… I don’t know how to explain it to you.”
“It has something to do with your secrets you were talking about?” Stephan nodded his head in affirmation. “So, you want to share?” Mickey asked as she parked her car in front of her house. Before he could answer, Sarai called.
“Hey Mickey, dinner is almost ready. Please come as soon as possible.” Mickey could hear the noise of utensils behind Sarai. Before answering, Mickey looked at Stephan, and Stephan motioned for her to say yes.
“Stephan, are you sure that you want to go to this dinner? It’s okay if you don’t.”
“Yes, Mickey, don’t think too much,” Stephan said as got his towel and clothes out of his suitcase and then headed to the bathroom.
“All right. We’ll continue where we left off while driving back,” Mickey said, looking into his eyes.
Stephan was ready, and they jumped back into her car. “So, now you can continue, Stephan,” Mickey said, placing her hand on his.
“First, I want to tell you that I love you so much. You may not even want to see my face after this. My truth can traumatize you for life, and I can lose you forever.” Stephan sighed heavily.
“Now you’re scaring me, Stephan, but trust me. I’m strong enough to handle anything in this world, unless until you’ve hurt someone. And if there is something that you couldn’t control, you can tell me without any fears or doubts.”
Stephan nodded as he knew it was not going to be as easy as Mickey thought.
“Mickey, I was born in here in Colorado, and I know this place very well.” Mickey suddenly looked at Stephan as her mouth fell open. “Yes, Mickey, and don’t be surprised. I lied about my parents, too. My parents and brother didn’t die in an accident; they were murdered by my uncles.” He paused as the ugliest and scariest memories from his childhood flashed back in his mind. His breath grew heavy and quick as his eyes glowed for a fraction of second. He looked out the window so Mickey was not able to even notice.
“They were trying to kill me, too.” Mickey looked at him with shock but couldn’t say anything. “Thomas worked here for my dad, and he was my dad’s most trustworthy employee. He somehow saved me, and managed to escape to Australia.”
“I am so sorry, Stephan. Deep down in my heart, I always knew there is a lot of pain inside your heart and it reflects in your eyes. I can see that, and I know you are a very good person.” Mickey squeezed Stephan’s hand and offered him the bottle of water she had bought for him before going to airport. Mickey’s words gave him more strength and confidence. “Are they still alive? I mean your uncles…”
“Maybe, I don’t know. We never came back to Colorado; the day we bumped into each other was the first time I came back here after the incident.”
“You didn’t try to get justice for your family?”
“We always wanted to; we still want to take revenge. I was so young, and they were very strong, Mickey, big in numbers, while there are only two of us. Thomas preferred saving my life in place of fighting back. And Thomas and I have been working on a plan for a long time, and we are almost ready for it now,” Stephan said as Mickey parked outside of Sarai’s home.
“Revenge? What do you mean? Aren’t you going to the cops for help?” Now it was the time to reveal the biggest truth, the one he was afraid of telling her. He kept silent for a minute to gather right words to explain to her. He didn’t want to feel the pain of losing someone he loved again, as he already had lost so much. He had been lonely for a long time after Aiyana, almost seventy years.
Before he could say anything, Sarai shouted from the main door, “Hey guys, come on in.”
Mickey sighed, “I am sorry Stephan. But we need to get inside. Let us get in and enjoy the dinner first. Okay?” Stephan just nodded and he knew it would not be easy for him to gather the courage to start again from the beginning.
They stepped out of the car as Sarai came to receive them. “Hi, Stephan. I am Sarai, Mickey’s best friend,” Sarai said before Mickey could even introduce them to each other.
“Hey Sarai. It’s nice to meet you.”
“So fast,” Mickey murmured.
