Chapter 12

The next morning I had to solve a problem at the bank and didn’t come back to ‘The Jammed’ till 11 AM.

I knew something was wrong the minute I entered the restaurant. Tony was not singing. The mood was gloomy and depressed.

“Bert called,” Tony explained to me. “The dogs finally found Kat’s mother’s body. Her father buried her in a forest not far from the trailer park where they lived. The bastard is going to spend the rest of his life in prison.”

“Where is Kat?” I asked.

I looked at Tony, but he just shrugged. “She left as soon as she heard the news.”

“Do you think she went down to the police station?” Mary asked no one in particular.

“No, I don’t think so. She wants to grieve alone. She doesn’t like to be pitied.” I said, thinking aloud.

“She might want to grieve alone, but I’m sure she’ll welcome a good friend at her side.” Tony paused a little, gave me a significative look and then asked, “Is there a special place you two used to hang out?”

That was when the light bulb went on.

“I know exactly where she is,” I said. “Can you take care of everything while I’m gone, Tony?”

“Certamente. Go, we’ll hold the fort here.”

It didn’t take me long to find her. She was at the old willow tree, of course. I approached her slowly.

“Kat?”

She jumped when I touched her arm. She sat up and moved her matted hair away from her face. I handed her a tissue, looking at her questioningly.

“I thought you might need a friendly shoulder to cry on. I can leave you alone if you prefer...”

She took the tissue from my hand and wiped her eyes.

“No, Red. Please don’t go. You’re right. I need my friend right now.”

I nodded and sat at her side. I wrapped my arms around her body and cuddled her.

We remained like that for what seemed hours, then she quietly told me, “You have no idea what it’s like to grow up with an abusive father. It makes you feel helpless. It’s terrifying. Plain and simply terrifying. You never know what will trigger an outburst of violence. One second you are laughing, the next you’re being punished for some minuscule perceived behavior. I feel angry about being robbed of what should have been a very innocent time of life.”

“None of it was your fault, Kat.” I offered.

“No, but ... I don’t know if that makes me feel any better.” She swallowed hard, “I should have...”

She stopped. I didn’t know what to say, so I just ran my fingers through her hair. I wished there were some magic words to make her feel better, but no such words seemed to exist.

She looked up at me. Her eyes moved over my face, down my arms and back again.

“I was lucky. I survived. My mother didn’t. I think about my mom and I can’t fathom how much it affected her. I am extremely angry with myself and I feel guilty for not doing anything to help her.”

“You can’t help those who don’t want to help themselves, Kat. You did the best you could.”

She swallowed hard and drew in a deep breath.

“I’m good at burying things. Burying unpleasant memories deep inside myself, in a locked box inside my soul. However, this locked box goes everywhere that I go, clanging a horrible sound as I carry it around, a sound only I can hear.”