Page 112 of One Night

"Yeah. It's just hard when you're used to being together all the time and then you're not."

"I know. Thanksgiving was tough when I went home for those few days, but now? Three whole weeks? It's going to seem like forever."

And it does. After just three days of being home, I'm going crazy wanting to see Dylan. We talk on the phone but it's not the same as seeing him in person.

My older sister, Leah, is home for the holidays so at least I have her and Britt to keep me busy so my mind isn't always wandering to Dylan. And I have Kira who lives just a couple miles away. I've been over to her house a few times to watch movies but her younger brothers can get really loud so we usually end up leaving and going for coffee or to the mall.

It's odd but my parents haven't fought since I got here. Britt said they didn't fight the week before either. Guess they're giving each other the silent treatment. I'm sure a fight will blow up at Christmas dinner, like it always does.

But two days later, which is Christmas day, we make it all the way through dessert without my parents even raising their voices. And they didn't fight when we opened presents this morning. Normally, my dad would yell at my mom for spending too much and my mom would yell at him for leaving wrapping paper and bows all over the floor.

As we finish our pie, Leah, Britt, and I keep looking at each other across the table like something's wrong. Why aren't our parents fighting? They always fight.

"Have you talked to Dylan yet?" my mom asks as she sips her coffee.

"Yeah, I talked to him this morning, remember? I told you how he got those goofy socks from his mom."

"Yes, that's right. And what did you get him?"

"Guitar picks. They're these special picks he really wanted."

Dylan loved my gift. He said it was the best gift he ever got.

"How about that little girl you read to?" my mom asks. "Did you get her anything?"

"Yeah, I got her a princess book. She's really into princesses."

Emily got tested a few weeks ago and it turns out she does have dyslexia. Her mom called and thanked me for suggesting Emily get tested but she should really thank Dylan's mom. I wouldn't have even suspected that was the problem if his mom hadn't brought it up.

"Okay, what's going on?" Britt asks, looking at my mom, then my dad.

My mom answers. "What do you mean?"

"Something's going on with you and Dad. You two are acting strange."

My mom sighs. "It's not the time."

"Not the time to what?" Leah asks, sounding nervous.

I feel nervous too. Something's definitely going on.

"Do you guys have something to tell us?" I ask my parents.

My mom fakes a smile. "We will tomorrow. Today is Christmas. Let's just enjoy our time together."

"Judy, just tell them," my dad says. "They know something's up and you're torturing them by making them wait."

"I'M torturing them?" She raises her voice. "It's always me, isn't it? Never you."

Here we go. Let the fight begin.

But instead, my father calmly says, "Your mother and I are getting divorced."

My sisters and I all stare at him, jaws dropped. We always knew it was possible, but after so many years of them fighting and not breaking up, we'd kind of given up on the idea that they'd ever divorce.

"You're divorcing?" Britt's eyes tear up, her lip quivering. She hates their fighting but I know she's not ready for them to divorce. Living here at home, this will mean big changes for her.

"We aren't selling the house," my mom says to Britt. "Your father is moving out but I'll stay here with you. He's getting a place across town. You can go visit him whenever you'd like."

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