Read Online She Only Speaks to Butterflies by Sandy Appleyard - Free Book Online Page B

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 looked 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