"Trying to peek at a girl in his class?" Julie guessed.
Erin laughed. "Her mother, actually. Mrs. Livingston heard about this and was flattered. She sent a tray of cookies over with a thank-you note. Finn was such an interesting child. " Erin dabbed her mouth with her napkin, her fingers clenched tightly around the cloth, and stood up. "I hate to run, but I really should get going."
"I'll walk with you," Roger said. "It's a beautiful night. I should be done around eleven. Will you be ready then?"
"Perfect. Julie, you're welcome to use the car tomorrow to look at apartments. The keys are hanging in the kitchen. We both leave early for work, so we'll see you at dinner? And I'd love to hear more about how your mother is." Erin pushed her chair in. "OK, good night, everyone."
Erin and Roger vanished faster than you could say Type A personality, leaving Julie and Matt alone with Celeste and Flat Finn.
Matt backed his chair up and looked wryly at Julie. "Interesting enough for you?"
Chapter 4
Julie studied Celeste's face, watching her peruse through the Whitney course catalog. They'd been on the couch together for the past half-hour, weighing the pros and cons of the classes that Julie had to choose from. It was odd the way this thirteen-year-old was glued to the course listings. But the truth was that she'd been surprisingly helpful in figuring out a college schedule. Julie was even starting to get used to her rather formal style of speech.
The house was chilly now, with the central air on full blast, and Celeste pulled a light blanket over her lap. Julie adjusted her computer that sat on her lap and rested her fingers on the keys. She peered at Celeste's scrawling in the book. "So which English class am I taking? The eight-thirty one?"
"No. English is at ten on Tuesday and Thursday, and Introduction to Psychology is at noon Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Write down these course numbers." Celeste pointed to the page and waited as Julie typed. "See, you have to be totally prepared on Friday morning, or you will not get the schedule you want. At least you get to register online and avoid waiting in a line with lots of annoying people."
"So you think all my fellow students will be annoying? I was hoping to make friends, but now I don't know..."
Celeste snapped the book shut. "Normal people can become very annoying if put in annoying situations."
"That's true. Then you're right. I'm glad I'm registering from home."
Celeste leaned her head back against the couch. "Did you have lots of friends at home? What about a boyfriend? I bet you have a boyfriend. Is he very handsome?"
"I still have lots of friends at home. They didn't evaporate when I left. I just won't be seeing them as much now that I'm in Boston. I used to have a boyfriend and, yes, he was cute, but he was also a brainless pain in the neck."
"Do you have pictures of everyone?" Celeste asked.
"Of course." Julie opened her photo program and scrolled through albums until she found a set of pictures from August. "These are from my going-away party. My mom threw a barbecue in our backyard."
"You had a big party? It looks wonderful," Celeste said breathlessly.
"Yeah. Hot dogs, congealed macaroni salad, a cake with my name misspelled, the whole works. OK, there I am with Kristen and Mariam. And here's one of Amy and my mom." Julie scrolled through countless pictures while Celeste demanded details on nearly everything.
"Do you have a picture of your father?"
Julie continued pulling up photos. "Nope. He was away on business. But he did send me the most technologically advanced phone there is as a gift. And he called during the party. Oh, here's the cake. Cute, huh?"
"Who's that? You had a band playing? Is that your boyfriend? Your dress is very pretty." Celeste wanted every detail. "Where did you buy that? How did you get in and out of it? Your boobs look huge! No wonder you had a boyfriend!"
"First of all, the dress is not that tight. It's fitted. And my boobs look regularly-sized. And we're not talking about my boobs. But, yes, the party was really fun. I didn't want anything too fancy, so it was perfect. So what kind of birthday parties do you have?" Julie asked.
Celeste looked straight ahead, seemingly transfixed by something on a shelf. "I do not really do parties anymore. They never work out terribly well for me," she said simply. "We have to show Flat Finn that red dress. He is going to love it! And the one of you at graduation. You look so happy getting your diploma."
Celeste pushed the blanket aside and retrieved the cardboard cutout of her brother that she'd left by the piano in the small room off of the main hall. According to Celeste, Flat Finn loathed practicing scales, but he knew that Erin would never forgive him if he slacked off. Even cardboard brothers felt obligated to please their parents. Celeste entered the room carrying the cutout in front of her, eerily giving the impression that Flat Finn was able to glide around by himself. She stood him next to the coffee table near Julie and adjusted the panels by his feet that kept him standing, struggling to make him balance on the thick rug.
"Come on, Flat Finn!" she muttered, the wavering figure looming over her. She looked up to his head, her blond curls falling off her face and revealing the determination in her eyes. "Please!" she said with agitation. "You have to help out."
She reached a hand up to his midsection, trying desperately to keep him vertical, but each time she seemed to find the perfect spot for the base flap, Flat Finn would lean precariously forward or backward, causing Celeste to tighten her free hand. Julie could see that the carpeting was not going to allow a successful outcome, and Celeste's cheeks flushed as she became increasingly frustrated. Panicked, even.