Catalyst

Content Warning: This section discusses domestic abuse.

The next morning, Kate is upset when she notices that Teri is wearing a gold necklace Mitch gave to Kate for Christmas. When Kate leaves for her job at the pharmacy, Toby tells her their father has already called her boss.

Kate is livid and heads to the burned-out Litch home. Her father is consulting with the inspector who suspects faulty wiring caused the fire. Because the foundation and the walls are intact, renovations should only take a week. Kate demands to know why her father called her boss; he tells her helping is more important. The parish is going to help fix up the Litch home. Her father calls it “faith in action” (100). Teri and Mikey show up; Teri delivers an expletive-laced tirade when contractors try to stop her from going into the house to retrieve some things. After Teri collects a garbage bag of her belongings, Kate, with Teri and Mikey, leave to run errands.

Their first stop is the church secretary’s home to visit Teri and Mikey’s mother. It is a quick stop. As they drive away, Teri confides that their father, who died in prison, was abusive. Their mother got the scar on her forehead when their father hit her with a baseball bat, causing brain damage.