She Only Speaks to Butterflies

by Appleyard, Sandy

  “Are ya sure? It’s not like you to have an empty fridge.” She sat silent for a moment, looking at her daughter and bouncing her shoe off the end of her foot. “Sarah been over? She eatin’ all yer grub?”

  Nudging her mother in jest, she lifted her hand and kissed it. “God bless ya.”

  “I just want ya to be honest with me, love.” Gertrude took her daughter’s hands in hers. “Now, I know that husband of yours, God rest his soul...” She looked up at the ceiling, as though in prayer. “…Left ya lots of money…” Her eyes met her daughter’s. “…But raisin’ a daughter, a special one like yers, and tendin’ a house all on yer own, well…” She looked down dramatically, then back up again. “Don’t matter how much money ya got in the bank. It’s gonna run out some time.”

  Sitting back in the chair, Sherry exhaled. “Momma, I work, and the house is paid for. The school ain’t cheap, but we’re managin’ okay,” she explained. “Reverend Telly always asks if he can take up a collection for me. And I never have to.”

  “Ya know, if it weren’t for how good this town was to you, I’d insist you move with daddy and me, but it’s such a blessin’, you livin’ here.”

  “Amen.”

  “Sherry?” Kenny called from upstairs. “What’s this I hear about a weddin’?” he giggled, coming downstairs. “My little pumpkin’s got an engagement ring?”

  Gertrude glanced at Sherry with a crooked smile. “There somethin’ we should know?” she joked.

  “Luke,” Sherry explained, giving her dad a knowing smile. “I tell ya, her smile was brighter ‘n the sun when he asked her.”

  “Well, who wouldn’t want to marry that little angel?” Kenny said, pulling Denise downstairs gently.

  Later, after tea and cookies, they headed to the Food Mart.

  “Roast beef and potatoes good for tonight?” Kenny asked, observing the freshly cut meats being laid down by the butcher. Sherry nodded assent.

  “I can cut one special for ya,” Marty, one of the store owners, offered. “Or I’ve got some nice rib-eyes here, too.”

  “I’ll take a butt roast if you’ve got it.”

  “Here’s one right here. Just cut it myself,” Marty boasted.

  “Thanks,” Kenny commented. “How ya been keepin’?”

  “Just fine. Ned and Kate have some fine stock over there. Never had no complaints about our meat.”

  “Produce good, too?”

  “Wonderful. We just brought in some delicious vine-ripened tomatoes if you’re mood’s for salad with the roast.”

  “We’ll get some potatoes if it’s all the same.” Kenny placed the meat into the cart.

  “Perfect,” Marty smiled. “Randy’s just puttin’ out some fresh ones right now.”

  “Your milk still good?” Gertrude asked, heading for the dairy. “Never mind, we’ll buy more anyway. Denise still likes milkshakes, don’t she?” She winked at her granddaughter, who was eying the frozen waffles with Sesame Street characters printed on the box.

  “What kind of ice cream does she like these days?” Kenny asked Sherry.

  Sherry sifted through the freezer. “Chocolate is her favorite, but it looks like they’re out.”

  “Strawberry okay?”

  “Sure.”

  After placing the ice cream in the cart, Denise exited the freezer section and headed for the bakery. “Wait for momma, sweetie,” Sherry called.

  Gertrude gestured.

  “You go on, we’ll catch up.”

  Sherry followed Denise over to the bakery, where there were fresh cookies and pastries being laid out on the display counter. She immediately grabbed a cellophane-covered platter of apple turnovers and hoisted them up to Sherry.

  “Oh no, sweetie, we’re gonna have some ice cream later, and Kate’ll be by to visit. Ya know she always brings sweets with her.” Sherry put the plate back on the display. “We can also make some treats later if ya like?”

  A familiar look swept across Denise’s face; her lips wrinkled together, turning white as her chest began heaving up and down. The color in Sherry’s face drained.

  “Deep breaths, sweetheart,” she soothed, but her words fell on deaf ears. Denise’s breathing became erratic, like she was placed in a coffin. The pastry platter was thrown to the floor like a piece of garbage. Sherry tried to grab it in time but failed. All the turnovers fell onto the floor, looking like they had been stomped on.

  “Denise, sweetheart, please stay calm,” she whispered, kneeling down to her level. “Count with momma. Let’s try countin’ the lights, okay?” She pointed to the fluorescent strip of lights overhead.

  The lady behind the counter recognized Sherry and picked up the spoiled platter from the floor. “I’ll pay for that,” Sherry said. “Just gimme a minute.”

  “No need, Ms. Little,” she whispered, eyeing Denise cautiously. “It’s okay.”

  Denise watched the woman take the tray away and her face turned red. Taking her daughter’s arms, Sherry gently brought her to eye level.

  “Denise, you need to breathe,” she explained in the calmest voice she could manage.

  Kenny and Gertrude had caught up, they knew not to interfere. The last time they did, they were in a toy warehouse. Denise ran away so fast, if it wasn’t for the parcel check at the exit, they would have lost her. She would have run out into the street.

  The frustrated little girl’s face was turning blue. Beads of sweat were beginning to form on her forehead. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She reached for her glossy curls and began pulling. Knowing if she made a move to try to stop her, that Denise would only pull harder, Sherry mustered the will to remain at ease.

  “Sweetheart, yer okay. Try to focus on momma’s face.” Sherry wiped the tears from her daughter’s eyes, trying to fend off her own. A hand suddenly came loose, bringing with it a large clump of hair. Denise released it and tugged again, this time harder. Sherry tried to ignore the self-destruction and instead focused on averting her daughter’s attention.

  “Did ya bring Rainy Day Bear with ya?” Kenny looked down at the front of the cart where the bear sat. In one swift move, he handed it to Sherry. Sherry took it from him, holding it tightly. “Do ya need Rainy Day Bear, sweetie?”

  Denise focused on the bear for a moment.

  “I’ll give him to ya, but first ya have to calm down and take a deep breath,” Sherry said firmly. “Can you do that for momma?”

  The little girl’s teeth clenched as she let out a breath, but not long enough for the redness in her face to dissipate. She immediately took in another breath and began holding it. This time her eyes bulged. Sherry’s heart beat quickly as she watched Denise’s right eye suddenly fill up with red coloring.

  “Sweetheart, yer scaring momma.” Her voice quivered, now worried about the broken blood vessel on top of everything else.

  Denise ripped out another handful of hair and let out a large roar, so loud and pained that it reminded Sherry of a woman in heavy labor. People nearby stared as Kenny and Gertrude hung their heads remorsefully. Sherry’s eyes widened and she turned to Kenny.

  “My purse. Hand me my purse,” she requested impatiently.

  Kenny moved quickly. Inside the purse was a picture of Chris with Denise, taken the day they went to the boardwalk and watched the seagulls. Sherry remembered that Denise never saw the picture, since it was taken on an older camera that she’d since put away. She found it when she started cleaning out the guest bedroom, with a full roll of undeveloped film still inside.

  “Here, honey. Look at this.”

  Denise slowly exhaled, like a balloon with a slow leak. As she took the picture from her mother’s hand, her face gradually returned to its normal color. When her breathing calmed, she focused on the picture, blinking back her angry tears. Sherry reluctantly rubbed her daughter’s shoulder, feeling the muscles unclench. She wiped away the last of Denise’s tears with her fingers and waited patiently while she examined the photograph.

  The little girl suddenly l
ooked at her mother, as a smile slowly swept across her face.

  People were still staring, looking not only at the broken little girl standing there disheveled, the hair and crumbs all over the floor, but at the mother who had managed to keep it together yet again.

  Although passers-by pitied the family, Sherry couldn’t help but feel a twinge of hope. This was the first time Denise had vocalized, in her own way, her frustration, but it was also the first time she ended the episode smiling.

  Chapter 8

  Sherry was suddenly awakened from her dream by Denise pulling on her arm.

  “What is it, sweetie?” Sherry could smell pancakes. “Gramma got breakfast ready down there?”

  Denise was still in her pajamas, her hair all in tangles. Sherry lifted a few locks, assessing the damage from yesterday’s episode at the Food Mart. It wasn’t great, but if she kept it in a ponytail for a while, it would grow back fairly unnoticeable.

  “Hand me my robe, please.” Sherry rose out of bed and stretched. Denise removed the white robe from the wooden bedpost and passed it to her mother.

  “Good mornin’, dear.” Kenny looked up from the newspaper. “Sleep well?”

  “I did, you?” she asked, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

  “Very good.” He put down the paper and took a sip of his own coffee.

  “You’re almost out of eggs, love,” Gertrude said. “We’ll have to run back to the store later.” Sherry shook her head.

  “No need. Kate wants us to come by this mornin’. She’ll have some fresh ones there.”

  “Was that who called last night?” Kenny asked.

  “Yeah.” Sherry took up a plate for Denise. “She felt bad she couldn’t come by yesterday.”

  “That’s alright,” Gertrude chuckled. “We’ll be here all summer anyway.”

  Sherry heard the water turn off in the bathroom. “I’ve gotta run Denise to the doctor’s today,” she whispered, watching for Denise. “Get that broken vessel in her eye looked at.”

  “Has that ever happened before?” Kenny asked, concern registering on his face. Sherry shook her head just as Denise sat down at the breakfast table. “Lots of syrup, pumpkin?” Kenny didn’t wait for an answer, but started pouring some on her plate.

  Gertrude set a plate down for her daughter and started preparing one for herself. Breakfast was suddenly interrupted by a hail of sirens. Sherry rose, padding to the front door.

  “Sounds like they’re headed over there.” Kenny pointed to the large brush area next to Kate and Ned’s farm.

  Sherry pursed her lips. “Grogan Street.”

  …

  Three fire trucks lined the street; the pumper truck dousing the blaze at ground level and the aerial truck aiming water into the trees. The rescue truck was on standby while Alan and his crew worked at putting out the fire.

  Ned’s truck was next to the rescuer. He spotted Sherry and Kenny and walked toward them, shaking his head.

  “Alan says this one was set deliberately, just like the last one.”

  Kenny’s eyes darted to Sherry. “The last one?”

  “A garbage dumpster,” she explained. “The other day.”

  “Where was that one?”

  Sherry hesitated. “At…um…Denise’s school.”

  Kenny’s face fell, like someone slapped him. “Why didn’t you say anything, sugarplum?”

  “I didn’t want y’all to worry. I knew you’d be drivin’ out here and I didn’t want to have to worry about ya, too.”

  Kenny was silenced, wondering what else his daughter had kept from him. “Anyone hurt?”

  Sherry shook her head. Sarah and Mark approached from behind.

  “Alan have any idea who set this one?” Sarah was holding her belly like it was a cumbersome grocery bag.

  “Not yet,” Ned said. “But it was set on purpose for sure.”

  Doug pulled up a second later. “What’s goin’ on?” he asked, noticing that practically the whole town had appeared. “Anyone spoken to Alan?”

  Sherry glanced down by the tree where Chris’s car accident occurred. She watched the trees sway in the wind, waiting to catch a burning ember and be set ablaze. Selfishly, she hoped the fire went the other way, toward the farm, instead of here. Then she chided herself for even thinking it.

  Alan was supervising two of his men at ground level. She could read their surnames printed lengthways in yellow at the bottom of their fire coats. Spotting the name ‘Givens’, she watched the new fireman as he held the hose as though it was a newborn baby, pointing it at a parcel of trees next to the blaze.

  “Why is he wettin’ where there’s no fire?” Sarah asked, like the new guy didn’t know what he was doing.

  “Protectin’ ‘em,” Ned explained. “We had a pretty dry spring. If he don’t keep ‘em wet, they’ll catch faster.”

  Sarah smacked her gum. “So who ya think started this one?”

  “Anyone’s guess,” Ned said solemnly. “We’re gettin’ more and more hateful people in this town. Nobody seems to be happy with change anymore.”

  Kenny patted Ned on the shoulder. “Nobody ever is, my friend. It’s the way the world works.”

  “How ya doin’, Kenny? Sorry we had to get re-acquainted under these circumstances.”

  “I’m doin’ good, Ned. Looks like yer well.”

  “I am,” Ned smiled.

  Sarah nodded toward the blaze. “What have ya heard about the new guy?”

  “Not much,” Ned answered. “He seems to keep to himself so far.”

  “It’s always the quiet ones causin’ the most trouble,” Sarah scoffed. “Best keep an eye on him ‘til we know his story.”

  Mark looked at her indignantly. “He’s a fireman, what kind of trouble maker ya think he could be?”

  Sarah was smug. “Reggie Maxwell used to be a cop, remember? Look at him now. Causin’ fights, drinkin’, stealin’. Him and Ruben sure keep Sheriff Douglas busy.”

  Kate pulled up at the end of the embankment and exited the car, carrying two trays of goodies. Doug ran to her, collecting a bag full of plastic glasses, plates and napkins from the back seat. Ned was pleased.

  “That’s my girl.”

  “Figured there’d be lots of people here,” Kate said breathlessly. “How’s it comin’?”

  “Looks like they’ve got it contained to a small parcel of trees. It won’t spread, thankfully,” Ned explained.

  Kate rolled her eyes, relieved. “Oh, thank the Lord.”

  “Don’t worry, sugar,” Ned chuckled. “We’ve got hard workin’ firemen in this town.”

  Kate passed him a plate of pastries. “Here. Pass these around.”

  “Let me help.” Sherry took the second tray.

  “I’ve got three more in the car.” Kate gestured to Doug, who was walking back to the car to grab the next load.

  As Kate’s pastries were passed around, Sherry could see her mother and Denise walking toward the scene.

  “Looks like it’s nearly out,” Gertrude commented, saying hello to familiar faces.

  “Yeah, Alan’s got it under control,” Ned said. “How ya doin’, Gertie?”

  “I’m doin’ good, Ned.”

  Alan approached, speaking at a volume that carried. “Looks like nearly the whole town is here, with a few exceptions,” he said cautiously. “Now that the fire’s nearly out, can anyone tell me if they saw anyone nearby before the fire started?”

  Ned started. “I can ask a few of the farm hands when I get back, Alan, but we sure didn’t see anyone comin’ through this early.”

  Kate offered Alan pastry and apple juice. He removed his gloves.

  “Thanks, Kate,” he said, holding the food. “Now, we’ll have a meetin’ at the hall later today regardin’ these recent fires. If anyone can attend, it would be helpful.”

  “That’s a great idea, Alan,” Ned complimented. “I’ll also get the information and relay it to Reverend Telly for Sunday’s service, see if anybody else saw anything.�
�

  Alan took a bite of pastry. “I was going to relay it to him anyway, but thanks for offerin’, Ned.”

  Ned placed his hands in his back pockets. “How’s the new guy workin’ out?”

  “He’s doin’ well,” Alan swallowed, tipping his chin towards the firemen. “Looks like he’s wrappin’ up.”

  Lee Givens was raveling the hose back up onto the pumper. When he finished, he approached Alan, nodding hello to everyone. His face was flushed and beaded with sweat. He removed his gloves as Ned offered him a handshake.

  “Nice to see ya,” Ned said.

  “Likewise.” Lee waved a hand toward the farm. “That’s a fine crop you’ve got over there. I see you’ve got yerself some livestock as well.”

  “We do. Come by for tea later and we’ll show ya ‘round.”

  “Will do,” Lee smiled graciously. “Thanks.”

  Kate offered him the picked-over platter of pastries. “Help yerself. My son’s bringing another tray if none of these suit yer fancy.”

  Lee extended his hand. “No thanks, ma’am. I appreciate it, really.”

  “Suit yerself,” Kate smiled warmly.

  Sarah was gawking at Lee as if she could size him up through his uniform. “So the fire’s out?” she blurted rudely.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he nodded.

  “The others can handle the rest?” she added, using the same blunt tone.

  Mark intervened. “You’ll have to excuse her.” He rubbed her belly. “Hormones.”

  “That’s quite alright, sir,” Lee said, good-naturedly. “Best be gettin’ back.”

  Lee turned, almost running into Sherry and Denise. “Sorry, ma’am.” He touched Denise’s head. “Pleasure.” He tipped his head at Sherry.

  “I best be headin’ back, too,” Alan said. “We’re just about done here. Y’all head on home now and we’ll see ya at the fire hall…say two o’clock?” He looked at Ned, who nodded assent.

  Sherry caught up to Alan as he left the scene.

  “Hi, Alan,” she murmured. “I just wanted to thank you for keeping things under control…ya know?” She tilted her chin toward the cordoned off area and then looked back to make sure she wasn’t in earshot of the townspeople. “I sure hope we figure out who’s doing this…ya know, before anyone gets hurt.”