Page 10 of UnLucky Christmas
My mom’s jaw drops open. “Oh no.”
“I’m sorry, kiddo.” my dad says standing up from his desk. He comes over and gives me a hug.
“What happened?”
The three of us head to the living room, and I sit on the couch between my parents. I tell them about my dinner with Pete and his decision.
“If he’s not ready to be in a relationship, then I certainly don’t want to waste my time being with someone who doesn’t want to be with me.”
My parents exchange a glance, and my father rubs his forehead vigorously. It doesn’t take a genius to realize there’s something else going on here.
“What’s up with you two?” I ask. “You’re both acting strange.”
“Maybe you should tell her, Betsy.” My father says, an irritated edge in his voice.
“Tell me what?”
My mother turns pale.
“Alright.” She pauses and pats my leg. “We have some news.”
A wide array of thoughts pop into my mind.Are they moving? Did they go bankrupt?
“Your father and I are separating,” she says softly.
“We’re getting divorced,” my father corrects her.
Wait.What?I glance around the room for a camera. Is this some crazy joke? My parents have been together since the beginning of time. When my friends’ parents split up, mine were the ones who acted like they’d be together forever.
“Divorced? Why? How?”
My father glares at my mother while she continues to stare at her hands. She won’t look at me.
“Mom, what’s going on?”
She lets out a deep sigh and finally looks up. “I’ve been married since I was twenty-one years old. I’ve never been with anyone else.”
“And now she wants the opportunity to do so,” my father adds.
She doesn’t say anything.
“You’ve met someone else?” I exclaim.
“I didn’t cheat on your father,” she insists.
“She just doesn’t want to be tied down with this old guy anymore,” he says, hurt in his voice.
Ugh. I can’t believe this is happening right now.
“I know this is probably shocking for you,” my mother continues. “We told your brother last night. We considered waiting until after Christmas, but you’re both adults now and you have your own lives.”
My mind flashes to our big family Christmas Eve dinner which includes members of our extended family.
“Which one of you is moving out? Or are you selling the house?”
“I’m moving out,” my father says. “But we’re going to list the house for sale after the new year.”
I look around the living room. I can’t believe they’re selling our home. They’ve lived in this house for almost fifteen years. I guess that explains why my father’s office is such a disaster.
