Catalyst by Shelly Crane Page B

I didn’t move her again because Miguel wasn’t sure of the extent of her injuries. So, there she stayed on the couch in all her broken splendor.
                  Lily was anxious and pers istent to wake her . She didn’t understand what was going on and D anny wasn’t much better. He drifted our way every few minutes or so, peeking over the couch and pursing his lips. I assu red him I’d call him in his mind the second she woke up.
                  I didn’t leave her side. This surprised no one, including me. T his was standard conduct for me; Sherry watch. I just couldn’t leave her. So I stayed watch and held Lily for a while before she tottered off to more fun ventures, and fended off questions for and about Sherry.
                  Well after supper was done, Cain and Lillian came into the room looking dish eveled and incandescent. They walked hand in hand over to me and acted extremely happy. I tried not to take it personally on Sherry’s behalf.
                  “Hey, h ow she doing ?” Cain asked, sobering and sitting on the couch arm.
                  “Same. Miguel gave her some morphine so she’d sleep.”
                  “That’s good. She’ll be ok, man.”
                  “I know.” I looked up at him. “Thank you for going in after her.”
                  “Don’t thank me. I didn’t do anything you wouldn’t have.”
                  “This isn’t the first time you’ve saved her life.”
                  Cain ’s fac e changed. He looked down and made a noise in his throat like he was uncomfortable. Lillian squeezed his hand.              
                  “It’s fine, dude, r eally. So... Daddy .”
                  “Yeah, ” I laughed and smiled, embarrassed but I couldn’t quite put my finger on why. “She finally said it. And then she wanted to call Sherry mommy. It’s unreal.”
                  “It’s sweet,” Lillian said. “She wouldn’t want to call you that unless you were good to her, you know. Kids are smart.”
                  I laughed again, feeling a little semi-giddy.
                  “Thanks . She is smart. She’s incredible. Sherr y thought she’d never have kids and Lily is so perfect for her.”
                  Danny and Celeste came up and joined us, taking the chair near Sherry’s feet.
                  “Why did she think that?” Lillian asked quizzically. “I know Sherry didn’t think she was gonna be a spinster.”
                  “Not with that bone s tructure she wouldn’t have been,” Celeste blurted. “ Sherry is so petite a nd sweet looking. It’s not fair really if you think about it . I have the legs for a model but not the hips. If I can’t be a model, why can’t I at least be dainty and wholesome like someone I know?” She leaned forward a bit on Danny’s lap and spoke to Sherry conspiratorially. “That’s right, Sherry. I’m talking about you like you’re not here. And I called you dainty. Wake up and yell at me, ” she sang.
                  We all laughed then I turned to answer Lillian’s question.
                  “Sherry can’t have children. She found out when she was fourteen. She was pretty upset, even at that young age.”
                  “Yeah, I remember that,” Danny chimed sadly. “She cried for a whole day straight. I thought she was crazy. I kept asking what she wante d to have kids for anyway. And Mom and D ad weren’t big on sympathy. Mom told Sherry every reas on why that had happened to her; t he universe, karma, poor diet from sneaking animal products when we were away from home. They made it sound like it was her fault.”
                  “But that’s how Sherry handles things,” I said firmly. “She freaks out,