Free Parallel Visions by Cheryl Rainfield Page B

”
    “ Yeah. Ways that infuriate a man who ’ s good with his fists! You probably made him want to beat Jenna more! And me, too, now. ”
    Gil rubs his chest. “ I hadn ’ t thought of that. I ’ m sorry. I tried to be careful, said I was a neighbor hearing the screams. I got Inez to call, too. I didn ’ t think Jenna ’ d know. I ’ ll tell her it was me. ”
    Around us, kids are texting; I know some of our conversation is being broadcast. But I ’ m too upset to care.
    “ There ’ s no way you could know if I hadn ’ t told you, Gil. It all comes back to me. ”
    “ I know it ’ s not a perfect solution. But it ’ s better than you killing yourself with an asthma attack, trying to save her. ”
    I don ’ t have anything to say to that, so I turn and walk away.
     

TWELVE
    Mom ’ s waiting for me in the doorway when I get home, her face lined with worry. “ Did you call the police on Mason? ”
    “ No! ” I shut the door behind me. “ You know I ’ d never do that! ” I see the cops ’ suspicious faces, the flashing red and blue lights. Feel the fear and shame again. I turn and Mom ’ s standing there, blocking my way.
    She holds me at arm ’ s length, studying my face. I look away. “ But you know who did. ”
    “ I didn ’ t ask him to! ”
    Mom sighs and lets me go. “ Gil called the police. ”
    “ Mason ’ s going to kill her one day if someone doesn ’ t stop him. ” He would have already if I hadn ’ t interrupted him. I start to wheeze.
    “ Take a breath, Kate. A deep breath. Good. ...Jenna said all they did was fight. That he didn ’ t touch her. ”
    “ Because she ’ s too scared to admit it. ”
    “ She ’ s so angry now; she won ’ t listen to anything I say. Not that she has since she ’ s been with Mason. You ’ re both stubborn and strong-willed—which I like most of the time. ” Mom shakes her head. “ Listen. I saw your peak flow meter readings from this morning. If it doesn ’ t get better tomorrow, I want you to stay home. ”
    “ Mom! ” I say.
    Mom holds up her hand. “ Your health is more important than anything. You know that. ”
    I grit my teeth. But maybe a day or so away from Gil will be a good thing, give us both time to see things differently. “ Fine, ” I tell her.

    Mom picks her car keys up off the counter and kisses my cheek. “ Phone me if your asthma acts up. Do your homework. Your lunch is in the fridge. ”
    “ I know, I know, ” I say. I push away my bowl of oatmeal. “ I have a lot to catch up on, anyway. ”
    “ Don ’ t work too hard. ” Mom waves to me. “ Make sure you rest. ”
    I hear the door close behind her, her key turn in the lock. The house feels still and empty, the way it always does on the days I have to stay home alone. I flick on the radio, turning the volume down. The background noise makes me feel less lonely.
    I should start my homework, but nothing feels drearier first thing in the morning. But if I don ’ t start it, it ’ ll weigh on me until I do. I sigh and get my books, laying them out on the kitchen table.
    I ’ ve only gotten through a page of math problems before I feel my chest tighten.
    Crap. I am not going to have another attack. Mom is right; I ’ ve had too many lately. I log on to the weather channel and check the stats for today. The air quality is bad enough to trigger an attack if I ’ m not careful.
    I scrape my chair back and get my inhaler, taking two puffs. Sometimes that can prevent an attack if I catch it early enough. Deep, slow breaths, I tell myself. But my chest gets tighter, the pain increasing, and then I am gasping for air, my throat narrowing. My vision blurs and I don ’ t try to stop it; I need to know how to help Jenna.
     
    Mason caresses Jenna ’ s cheek. “ Kate sure has a lot of asthma attacks. ”
    “ Yes. She always has, ever since she was a baby. ”
    “ That sucks. What sets it off? ”
    Jenna rolls her eyes. “ Everything. ”
    Mason laughs, then