Cimarron, Denver Cereal Volume 4

by Claudia Hall Christian

  “No, you’re not,” Delphie said.

  “You’re sure?”

  “I’m sure,” Delphie said. “Your father had some of the same confusion. There was a lot of experimentation in his day.”

  “What was wrong with him?” Charlie asked.

  “Your father?” Delphie asked. “Not a thing.”

  “But…”

  “You expect yourself to fit into some box, Charlie,” Delphie said. “You’re not a box fitting guy. You’re creative and sharp. You see through dishonesty in a heart beat. You refuse to play the game most people play. Your father was the same. Ask Seth. He’ll tell you.”

  “But why...?”

  “Don’t you fit in?” Delphie asked. “Because normal doesn’t appeal to you. You’re special like Nash, Noelle, and Teddy.”

  “But I really want to be normal,” Charlie said.

  “Too bad,” Delphie said. “Jake wants to be normal too. He doesn’t have much of a choice either. It seems like a huge crisis at your age. But you’ll do just fine. You’ll see.”

  Charlie nodded. They sat in silence for a while. Charlie fought with himself to stay awake.

  “Come on,” Delphie stood. “Let’s get you to bed. I can clean up in a jiff so don’t worry about that.”

  “You sure?”

  “I’m sure.” Delphie herded him toward the hallway. “Sam told me you liked this little closet.”

  “It suits me,” Charlie said.

  “That’s not quite normal,” Delphie said.

  Charlie stopped walking. She gave him a little girl smile and he laughed.

  “I guess it’s not,” he said.

  “Sleep,” Delphie helped him under the covers. “You did a brave thing by choosing to stay tonight. I’m glad you did.”

  “I might leave tomorrow,” he said.

  “You won’t,” she leaned over to kiss his cheek. “You’re a good man, Charlie. Just be yourself and you’ll do fine.”

  Pushing Cleo out of the way, he lay down on his futon and fell into a deep sleep.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Wednesday morning — 6:20 A.M.

  “Wake up,” Charlie shook Nash’s shoulder.

  “What wrong with you?” Nash asked. “You scared me half to death.”

  “Oh, sorry,” Charlie said. “I called your name and tried to wake you gentle but…”

  Nash’s alarm went off with a blast.

  “That’s how you get up?” Charlie asked.

  “Alarm,” Nash said.

  “I made breakfast for us,” Charlie said. “Sandy and your dad stayed upstairs last night. Delphie’s asleep on the couch.”

  “I’ll wake her,” Nash said.

  “Who wakes Noelle?” Charlie asked.

  “She’s awake,” Nash said. “She sleeps very lightly. She wakes up when my alarm goes off.”

  They heard the bathroom door close.

  “Crap, I missed my chance,” Nash flipped off his covers and popped out of bed.

  “Use Sandy’s,” Charlie said. “Breakfast in ten minutes. Is that doable?”

  “Sure,” Nash said. “I’ll tell Noelle.”

  Delphie stuck her head in Nash’s room.

  “Oh great, you’re up,” Delphie said.

  “Charlie made breakfast,” Nash said.

  Charlie blushed in response to Delphie’s big smile.

  “Come on,” Delphie put her arm around Nash. “Let’s get you ready for school.”

  Charlie followed them out and went back to the dining area. He continued setting the table until Noelle, Nash and Delphie came in. Delphie gave him the same big smile when he gave her a cup of green tea. Unsure of what was going on, Noelle and Nash sat down at the table.

  “Ok, I know it’s weird,” Charlie said. “I’ve been a slug since I’ve been here. I used to make breakfast for my sister and Mom every day. I made pancakes this morning.”

  Noelle and Nash looked at each other.

  “If you don’t like them, I’ll get the cereal,” Charlie said.

  “Deal,” Nash said.

  Charlie set a plate of animal shaped pancakes down on the table.

  “They’re animals!” Noelle said.

  “Yeah,” Charlie sat down next to Nash. “They take a little practice but they’re fun.”

  “So…” Nash started. “Why?”

  “I did a lot of thinking last night,” Charlie said. “I’ve been a real tool since I've been here. If you’re willing, I’d like to be more like a brother than a jerk.”

  Bouncing in her chair, Noelle squealed and clapped. Delphie got up to kiss Charlie’s cheek. Nash pointed at him with a fork full of pancake.

  “Deal,” Nash said.

  “Your dad said I could make a difference in what happens to Sandy,” Charlie said. “I’m going to do what I can. I know I need to go to rehab, it just sucks.”

  “Why?” Noelle asked with her mouth full of pancake.

  Charlie smiled at her.

  “They’re mean,” Charlie said. “Yesterday, they put me in a chair in the middle of the group. They call it the hot seat. Then the whole group joined in to tell me what an asshole I am. It didn’t go very well.”

  “What’s wrong with you?” Nash asked.

  “I’m a lying, cheating, drug addict,” Charlie shrugged.

  “Sounds about right,” Nash said.

  Noelle held her breath and Delphie’s eyebrows pinched together. When Charlie laughed, they joined him.

  “I should tell you that my friends were here last night,” Charlie said. “That’s where I went... you know with your dad. But I didn’t break my promise. I was going to meet them outside. They were downstairs when your Dad came to get me.”

  “Jake and the guys were coming home from hockey. They found the boys outside,” Delphie said. “That’s why they were so aggressive.”

  “They’re really hyper after hockey,” Noelle said. “Did they hurt your friends?”

  “Hurt?” Charlie asked. “Scared them nearly to death. Me too.”

  “They still here?” Nash asked.

  “They left this morning,” Charlie said. “I checked. Razor and Jeffy went to work with your dad. The other guys just left.”

  Nash nodded.

  “I know it sounds weird coming from me,” Charlie said. “But if I can do anything to help Sandy, I’m going to do it.”

  “Help Sandy do what?” Sandy asked as she entered the apartment. “Oh great! Charlie made his world famous animal pancakes. Did you save a sheep for me?”

  Noelle ran to Sandy with Nash on her heels. Sandy hugged and kissed them then stretched up to hug Charlie. He held her tight. She kissed his cheek.

  “Look! My favorite.” Sandy used her fork to pick up a sheep pancake. “I’m starving.”

  Delphie went to the kitchen for a plate. Sandy sat down next to Charlie. Her sunny presence brightened their breakfast. They ate and talked. Delphie began to clean up while Sandy got ready to take Nash and Noelle to school. Ready to go, Charlie helped Delphie with the dishes.

  “Ready for another day?” Sandy asked Charlie. He could see the worry in her eyes.

  “I hope so,” Charlie smiled.

  “That’s my Charlie,” Sandy said.

  There was a knock at the door and the big red haired guy stuck his head in.

  “MJ’s going to take you,” Sandy said. “He’s working out in that direction this week.”

  Charlie raised his hand in a wave. MJ gave Charlie a toothy smile.

  “Come on,” MJ said. “Can’t be late to rehab. You might miss the most important thing.”

  Following him out of the door, Charlie didn’t respond. They were downstairs before MJ said:

  “What?”

  “I don’t know,” Charlie said. “I think I got the most important thing last night.”

  Nodding, MJ smiled. They walked to his black SUV.

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and EIGHTEEN

  Who are you?

  Wednesday afternoon — 3:40 P
.M.

  “Why don’t you start?” the group therapist asked. “Tell us who you are and why you’re here.”

  “I’m Sandy. Mitzi’s older sister,” Sandy said to the group. “I’m here to help Sis… I mean, the help Mitzi get better.”

  Sandy smiled at Sissy and took her hand.

  “I’m Charlie. I’m Sissy’s older brother.” He took Sissy’s other hand. “I’m here to help Sissy.”

  “You mean Mitzi,” the group leader said.

  “She doesn’t like that name,” Sandy said.

  “Is that true, Mitzi?” the group leader said.

  “I hate the name Mitzi,” Sissy said. “No one’s called me that since I was little.”

  “And why is that?” the group leader asked.

  “Because I hate the name?” Sissy gave the group leader a confused look. “Sandy always called me Sissy so everyone else did too.”

  The group leader gave Sandy a hard look and wrote something on her pad of paper. The family members continued to introduce themselves.

  “Today, we’re going to talk about enabling,” the group leader said. “For every addiction, such as an eating disorder, there are family members whose actions make the eating disorder worse. Their actions don’t create the disorder. Enablers add fuel to the fire of the addiction.”

  Sandy nodded. She’d been learning all about enabling in the Alanon meetings she and Molly went to twice a week. She caught Charlie’s eyes. It was good for him to learn about addiction and enabling at the same time.

  “I wanted to focus on something that happened earlier,” the group leader said. “Mitzi doesn’t like her name. Rather than correcting the name herself, her brother Charlie steps in to protect her. When I questioned Charlie, Mitzi’s sister Sandy stepped in to protect Charlie.”

  The group leader turned her attention to Sandy.

  “I understand Charlie is getting treatment for addiction,” the group leader said.

  “I’m in rehab for drug addiction right now,” Charlie said.

  “How does it feel to be responsible for both Charlie and Mitzi’s addictions?” the group leader asked Sandy.

  “I’m not sure what you mean.” Feeling a searing pain in her abdomen, Sandy put a protective hand on her belly. “As an enabler, I may have participated in their addiction but I’m not responsible. Isn’t it correct that the person is responsible for their own actions?”

  Sandy heard the timpani of her rising blood pressure in her ears. The group leader said something she didn’t hear. She heard Charlie’s voice.

  “Are you all right?” Sissy’s face appeared in front of her.

  Sandy nodded. The group leader moved on to yell at another family. Sandy watched the clock. She didn’t dare get up or the group leader would be after her again. She had to practice her deep breathing to keep from passing out in pain. She felt someone move toward her.

  Charlie.

  “I’m sorry,” she heard Charlie say. “My sister’s not feeling very well. I’m going to enable my sister to get out of this room. Come on Sis.”

  With Charlie on one arm and Sissy on the other, they helped her out of the room.

  “Is that woman still screaming?” Sandy whispered.

  “I think so,” Sissy said. “She’s just like that. It’s supposed to wear down denial. Or that’s what my therapist said.”

  “I just need to catch my breath,” Sandy said.

  Charlie and Sissy helped Sandy to a chair in the hospital corridor. Her abdomen radiated with unbearable pain.

  “I’m calling Aden,” Charlie said.

  Sandy nodded. Sissy ran to the nurses’ station.

  “Can you help my sister?” Sissy asked.

  “What’s going…?”

  Sandy passed out.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Wednesday afternoon — 3:40 P.M.

  Jacob looked across the kitchen table at Valerie. She scowled at him.

  “What I don’t get is…” she started just as he said, “Who the hell are you to…”

  They glared at each other. Valerie sighed and tried another tack.

  “Why didn’t you call me?” she asked.

  “You were here when it happened!”

  “I was here when it happened but not when you quit,” she said. “As a board member…”

  Jacob groaned. She glared at him again.

  “What’s your problem?” Jacob asked.

  “I don’t know why you’ve just abandoned Lipson Construction,” she said. “You love the company and the work!”

  “Remember the state of Colorado is reviewing our contracts?” Jacob asked.

  “When have you cared about the state?” Valerie asked.

  “Why are you on me!? Why not go after Ava the evil secretary?” Jacob asked. “She’s the one behind all of this.”

  “I just got home, Jake,” Valerie said. “I’m pregnant and don’t want to over-tax myself.”

  Jacob gave her a sour look.

  “You’re driving everyone crazy moping around here,” Valerie said. “Everyone has complained to me.”

  “Everyone? Who?”

  “Well…” Valerie said. “You’re driving me crazy.”

  “I’m trying to decide if I want to get into rehabbing haunted buildings,” Jacob asked. “I can’t decide.”

  “As your older sister, I’ll decide for you.”

  Shaking his head, Jacob leaned back in his chair.

  “No,” Valerie beamed at him. “You’re not going to rehab haunted buildings because you are going back to work at Lipson Construction this summer.”

  “What about the state!?”

  “The state is going to resolve their issue this week,” Valerie said.

  “How do you…?” Jacob asked. “Wait, what have you have planned?”

  “Planned? Me?” Valerie bat her eyes at Jacob.

  “This is not going to be good,” Jacob said.

  “Good?” Valerie said. “It’s going to be great! Trust me.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m worried about,” Jacob said.

  Valerie laughed.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Wednesday afternoon — 3:40 P.M.

  “Who exactly are you?” Seth O’Malley asked the man in front of him.

  He was standing on the corner of 13th Avenue and Cherokee.

  “Baxter Gaston. I work for Westword,” the man said.

  “Westword…”

  Seth looked up to see Delphie waving to him. He smiled at her. The last thing he wanted was to be caught talking to a psychic by some punk reporter for Denver’s illustrious alternative paper, Westword.

  “You caught me at a tough time,” Seth said. He watched Delphie approach. “I’m just about to go into a meeting.”

  “Baxter!” Delphie said. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  Turning toward her, the reporter smiled.

  “Nice to see you, Delphie. I was just talking to Detective O’Malley.”

  “Don’t let me interrupt,” Delphie said. “We were going for some coffee.”

  “You and Detective O’Malley are…”

  “Friends,” Delphie said. “We’ve known each other a long time. His nephew is living with us now. Nosey uncle wants a full report.”

  Baxter laughed in response to Delphie’s gossiping tone.

  “Then you won’t mind me asking about the murder…” Baxter turned to Seth.

  “What murder?” Seth asked.

  “The man who was murdered last night downtown,” the reporter said. “They haven’t released the name or any information about…”

  “Not my case,” Seth said. “You’ll need to speak to someone else.”

  With his arm over Delphie’s shoulder, he directed Delphie away from the young man. They were a hundred feet away from the man when he yelled:

  “Wait! There’s more than one murder?”

  Without looking back, Seth and Delphie scooted up the steps into Dozens. They were seated near the window on 13th Avenue. Through
the window, they watched the young man decide whether to come inside to follow them or continue his day.

  “Can I take your order?” the woman behind the counter asked.

  Baxter Gaston disappeared.

  Seth blew out a breath. So far, they’d avoided coverage of his mysterious serial killer. It couldn’t last forever. The longer the killer went without press attention, the more they drew him out of hiding. Some day he would make a mistake and Seth would be there to catch him. Their waitress had just dropped off Delphie’s green tea when he heard:

  “I don’t know anything about last night’s murder, Baxter,” Delphie said to the approaching reporter.

  Defeated, Seth closed his eyes. The press silence was over.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Wednesday afternoon — 4:35 P.M.

  “I’m sorry,” the doctor said. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Charlie,” he said. “My sister is in…”

  “Your sister Sandra?” the doctor asked. “Are you here with an adult?”

  “Her husband is on his way,” Charlie said. “I promise you. She’s my sister. I was with her when… What happened?”

  “She’s spiked a fever and her white count is up. She’s reported pain in her abdomen. We gave her something for the pain and she’s sleeping now,” the doctor said. “The baby is fine. Everything with the pregnancy seems fine.”

  “Charlie!” Jill said.

  Jill, Heather and Tanesha ran to his side.

  “What’s happening with Sandy?”

  “Who are you?” the doctor asked.

  “They’re Sandy’s best friends,” Charlie said. “How could Sandy have pain in her belly and have it not be about the baby?”

  Jill shook her head.

  “Miss, why are you shaking your head?” the doctor asked. “If you know something that might help…”

  “No, I don’t know anything,” Jill said. “She was sick last night and… Upset. I told her she needed to rest but she...”

  “She’s lucky she was already in a hospital,” the doctor said. “She was at Children’s…”

  “Our little sister is in the eating disorders clinic there,” Charlie said.

  “So you’re not here by yourself.” The doctor looked relieved. “I’m glad. Sandra is going to be with us for a while.”