In Between The River

As the kids become Tweens, two decisive events drive a wedge between Kyle and Katie's usual close relationship. The first is a sled accident that kills two of Kyle's classmates and the second is the disappearance of Donald who fails to return from a fishing trip. Katie and Kyle react in different ways to the possibility their father is dead. Six months later, Donald calls Judy and admits to a nervous breakdown. Judy accepts him back but with conditions and the band plays on.

After the next move, Katie participates in sports to get back at Kyle who ignores her for his new friends. Donald and Judy attend Katie’s games and become fans, which makes Kyle feel left out. Finally, Donald takes Kyle on a camping trip but when they return, Kyle becomes moody and avoids everyone. Katie tries to find out why but Kyle shuts her out. Donald tells Katie that Kyle’s in a rebellious puberty phase so Katie focuses on sports and she finds her niche until Donald talks them into moving again.

The huge city move is a disaster. Kyle drops out of school and Katie gets kicked off the basketball team by a controlling coach who lies about the circumstances. Barbara (Katie’s closet crush) tapes the truth during a team meeting but makes Katie promise to not use it. When Donald hears the tape he wants Katie to turn it in but she destroys it. That night, Katie gives Barbara and friends a ride to a party and backs into the car of a popular football player, who wants to settle with no police so he can fix other dents in his car. A court case ensues and the Judge rules against Donald and Katie. Donald breaks and decides to shoot the judge but Judy, Kyle and Katie pull together, find him before he attempts it then convince him to leave his stressful job

Katie leaves for college to get away from the city and unsuccessfully tries to pledge a sorority, yet finds a new friend in her roommate Greta who tells Katie she is on the spectrum like her sister.  Katie does not believe it and excuses her personality on creative style.  Shortly after that, Donald is severely beaten after cruising a young gang oriented male. (Katie and Judy think it's a mugging). While Judy finalizes Donald's removal from life support, Kyle tells Katie that Donald sexually abused him at the camping trip and that he is a pedophile. Katie wants to tell Judy, but Kyle makes her promise not to.

Judy, Kyle and Katie, gather again a few weeks after Donald's funeral for a remembrance Christmas that goes wrong when Judy asks them why they were acting strange after the funeral. Unable to lie to her mother, Katie breaks her promise and tells Judy everything. The truth sets moments of denial and acceptance on all sides.  Katie wants to run out of the emotional situation and almost does.  In her car, Kyle waves goodbye then shuts the door.  Remembering what Greta said about her sister having to push through certain situations, Katie returns to comfort her mother and tries to connect with Kyle who remains in his room..

At the end Katie is suspended in a surreal river trying to help her brother but cannot break through.  She relives a conversation between her and Kyle when they were younger about being stuck in between the river and decides to live her life, the best she can after her brother dies in 2011.  She realizes she has to write this story, so that it might help others.