Free Cascade by Claudia Hall Christian

you my Katy?”
    “ I’m Katy!” The little girl beamed
at Jill. “You might not recognize me because I’m FOUR.”
    “ I wasn’t quite sure it was you.
May I introduce you to your Daddy?”
    Jacob kneeled by the bed. His fingertips
caressed Katy’s soft face.
    “ I’m your Daddy. Are you my
Katy?”
    “ I’m Katy! It’s my birthday,
Daddy. Did you know?”
    “ I’m so sorry I’ve missed so many
birthdays, Katy. I’m glad to be here for this one.”
    “ I’m happy you’re
here!”
    Katy bounced out of her bed. She threw herself
at Jill and Jacob.
    “ Happy Birthday to you! Happy
birthday to you!”
    Jill and Jacob started. Katy blushed as if
she’d never heard the song before.
    “ I’m so glad you were born!” Jacob
exclaimed.
    Jacob lifted her from the bed. With Jill
following behind, he carried Katy out to the dining room table.
Katy squealed when she caught sight of the table. Jacob had filled
the table with Katy’s favorite treats, balloons and
presents.
    “ Mommy! Mommy!
Loooooook!”
    “ Happy Birthday, Katy!” Jill
laughed.
    Jacob set Katy down so she could run to the
table. She touched every present and ogled every goodie. Turning,
she walked back to her parents. Clasping her hands in front of her,
she asked:
    “ Is
this for me ?”
    “ Of course,” Jacob and Jill
laughed.
    “ Can I have a cupy cake? A
chocolaty cupy cake??”
    “ Of course,” Jill said. “The
birthday day girl gets to choose.”
    “ Really !?”
    Katy ate her cupcake in one big bite. A knock
on the door revealed Valerie and Mike. On Jill’s instruction, they
introduced themselves to the newly minted four year old. Delphie
and Sam joined them followed by MJ with Honey on his back. Everyone
was treated to a brand new Katy.
    Leaving for their conference call, Jacob,
Valerie and Sam let Megan, Tim, their kids and Jill’s mother,
Anjelika Kathleen, into the loft. Steve, Leslie, Candy and Jazmyne
arrived with more cake, more presents and more introductions. Katy
passed out treats, kisses and introductions with the grace of a
queen.
    Or a minor princess.
    Enjoying the attention, Katy spun in circles
for hours. When Jacob, Valerie and Sam returned for breakfast, the
birthday girl was sound asleep in Jill’s lap.
    ~~~~~~~~
    Monday mid-day — 12:47
P.M.
     
    “ Sandy?”
    “ Aden, I’m right in the middle of
a color, can I call you back in about ten minutes?”
    “ Sorry to interrupt. I know you’re
busy,” Aden said. “Nash’s school called. There was a fight at lunch
and Nash is gone. You haven’t seen him?”
    “ No,” Sandy said.
    “ I need to check around. I called
you first,” Aden chuckled. “Just an excuse to hear your voice I
guess.”
    Sandy smiled.
    “ I’ll call you later when I know
something. Will you call me if he shows up?”
    “ Of course.” Setting down her cell
phone, Sandy said, “I don’t feel good lying to your
Dad.”
    Nash looked up at Sandy through purple,
swollen eyes. When he moved his head, MJ told him to
stop.
    “ Give me one more minute, buddy. I
know it’s hard to wait, but you don’t want some mondo scar,” MJ
said. “What will the ladies think?”
    “ What ladies?” Nash
grumbled.
    “ Give it a few years, Nash. You’ll
be a lady killer. Trust me.”
    “ I wouldn’t mind surviving seventh
grade,” Nash said.
    Sandy hugged Nash the moment MJ was done. She
left them to get some more ice for Nash’s face.
    “ Those guys must be bigger than
you.”
    “ There were five,” Nash said.
“Yeah, they’re bigger.”
    “ You keep practicing with Colin
and those boys won’t bother you any more,” MJ nodded. “But five
boys… Why did they come after you?”
    “ You wouldn’t understand,” Nash
said.
    “ Try me,” MJ said. “I wasn’t very
cool in Junior High School. Fluorescent red haired military brat
and all. My Dad was gone all the time and my Mom was bat shit
crazy.”
    “ You’re from the land of the
fucked up too?” Nash asked.
    “ I’m a