Cheating to Survive (Fix It or Get Out) by Christine Ardigo

nipples reached toward the stars. Awakening her. She had awakened.

     
     

Chapter 14
Catherine
    Alone, on the far right corner of the gym, Catherine waited for Emily’s spring chorus concert to begin. Other couples, parents, and grandparents gathered to see their children perform. She waved at another mother, but she only dispensed a meager grin back.
    She took pictures and video of Emily holding a bouquet of daisies in her hand, one of the few students chosen to do so. Why didn’t she sing louder though? Emily, once a chatterbox, had backslid into a shy, withdrawn child this year. Catherine inquired whether a classmate harassed her, but her teacher insisted that all the children worked well together.
    The concert ended. Catherine signed Emily out of school and they strolled toward their minivan. She buckled in Emily, who looked on with brooding eyes.
    “Why didn’t daddy come to see me?”
    Her heart dropped, crushing pain followed. How dare he do this to her. She put up with it, but Emily? How was that fair? “I’m sorry Emily, I’m not sure why.”
    “Maybe I can ask him.” She wriggled the toy bunny in her hand.
    “No, I’ll speak to him, honey. When we get home, start your homework and I’ll get you a special snack.”
    “Hungry caterpillar fruit salad?”
    “Sure.” Catherine chuckled.
    “Oh, yummy.”
     
    Emily finished her homework at their kitchen table when Peter rocketed through the door screaming into his cell phone. Catherine shuddered by reflex and Emily mirrored her.
    “I don’t give a shit what he says, this is my decision. He can go to hell for all I care.”
    Emily’s hands flung over her ears. Catherine motioned to Peter, holding her pointer finger to her lips. He slapped her hand away.
    Emily waited for her mother’s reaction. Catherine reached for a yellow sponge instead and hurried to the kitchen table, wiping a stray raspberry into her hand.
    He pitched his phone onto the kitchen counter and then rubbed his face with both hands multiple times. Emily and Catherine remained silent but watched for another explosion.
    “What?” Peter said removing his tie and belt. “What is it?”
    Catherine sent Emily to her room. The little girl took off as if chased by a zombie.
    “Why didn’t you come to Emily’s concert? I reminded you this morning.”
    He shook his head and huffed as if she was clueless. Had she forgotten something again? Peter darted towards the garage door. She followed him and his wicked mood, knowing there’d be consequences. “You should’ve been there, she asked for you, wanted to know where you were...”
    “Sorry but my job is taxing. I don’t serve rice pudding to patients all day.”
    “I don’t serve food. I don’t have anything to do with their menus.”
    “I don’t care. I have to keep the trades going, money flowing. That’s my job. I have clients relying on me, why can’t you understand the stress I have?”
    “I have patients relying on me, but I still make time for her.”
    Peter grabbed a pack of cigarettes concealed behind a bottle of Armor All.
    “You’re smoking? Since when?”
    A twitchy feeling spread through her body. Flashes ignited in front of her, her vision clouded. She grappled between the pain of defending her daughter and her new fear of him. Why couldn’t she speak up?
    She inhaled long and hard. “You had no problem showing up to your son’s lacrosse game last weekend.”
    Peter stepped to his right but scorn grew on his face. She waited for his reply, an outburst, a bombardment of curses. She held strong, but he spun back and hurled a container of motor oil against the wall above her. Catherine buckled and collapsed onto her knees. Her sight dimmed, then blackened. The cold concrete beneath, froze her in place.

     
     

Chapter 15
Victoria
    Victoria scooped the last mouthful of yogurt into her mouth and then watched as Heather chewed her Kashi Go Lean cereal. Passionately. Something Heather had done all week. Licking