Sticky Fingers by Niki Burnham Read Free Book Online

Apparently, she was right.”
    I am just floored. “Why didn’t you tell me? I can’t believe you kept that inside for a whole week—especially with midterms and everything else going on.”
    She takes a long slurp of her drink, then lets outa sigh. Well, I think it’s a sigh and not a belch, which she’s done on the phone before. “I dunno. I guess I thought Anne was imagining things. You know how much my parents nitpick and fight. It’s just who they are—I can’t remember them ever
not
arguing. But when they launched into the whole talk after we finished dinner last night, well, let’s just say I figured out real fast that they’re serious. They explained that Dad is going to be moving to an apartment in town. His lease has already started.”
    I can’t believe this. “That’s so fast.”
    “I know.” I can feel her frustration through the phone line as she says, “I guess it’s in Brookline, so he can take the T in to work. For now it’s just a trial separation, but they seem pretty sure that it’s going to end up being an official divorce and they wanted us to be clear on that point. The separation is just to be absolutely certain, before they hire lawyers and do all that stuff.”
    “Courtney, I’m so sorry.” I really am. I’ve known her parents forever. Their getting divorced … well, it’s kind of like my own parents getting a divorce.
    “Thanks, Jen. I’m bummed, but you know, I tellmyself it’s for the best. It’s weird”—her voice hitches on the word “weird,” but she goes on—“and that’s the good news in all this. The weird part. They’re being so
nice
to each other. Saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ and acting like they’ve been best buds for years. It’s like they’re both happy about it. I can’t even explain it.”
    I hear her take another long drink, then she says, “Maybe—this is Anne’s theory, anyway—they’ve wanted to get divorced for a long time but were waiting for me and Anne to get out of the house. But now that they’ve decided to just go ahead and do it, it’s not hanging over them anymore. They’re both … I dunno … kind of relieved.”
    It’s whacked, in an understandable sort of way, but I’m guessing it’s not making it any easier for Courtney and Anne. “Well, I’m still really sorry. Do you … do you need to come over or anything? Get out of the house?”
    “Nah.” I hear the start-up noise of her computer. “I spilled everything to Mat right after you left Dunkin’ Donuts, and I think I got most of it out of my system. At least for today. And, actually, thingsare pretty cool over here right now—everyone’s living in their own little world and keeping their minds on their own business. It’s quiet.”
    “Wow.” Courtney’s house is never quiet. “Well, just in case you didn’t realize it already, I’m here if you need me. And I hope it all works out.” Not just for them, but for her.
    I mean, if her parents are dealing with a divorce and lawyers, and her dad is paying the mortgage on their monster house in Framingham and the rent on some pricey place in Brookline (’cause Brookline ain’t cheap, and no way is Mr. Delahunt going to live low-end), how are they going to pay for Courtney to go to BU next year? And for Anne’s tuition the year after that? Even though he’s a partner at some big law firm in Boston, I can’t imagine Mr. Delahunt makes
that
much money.
    “Well, there is another plus to all of this,” Courtney says. “At least when I move out next year.”
    I frown while I rearrange my stapler and paper clip holder. Has it been that bad in her house and I just haven’t noticed? “What do you mean?”
    “My dad’s new place is only a few blocks from theBU dorms on Commonwealth Ave. Not so close that he can spy on me or anything, but he’ll be right there if I need to mooch food or just get away from people. He has a washer and dryer, too, so I won’t have to pay to use the one in the