Two Homes, No Place for Me Chapter 07

Two Homes, No Place for Me Chapter 07

A month after the semester begins, the school holds a parents’ open house for freshmen.

Dad and Mom call Mia separately to ask whether they’re allowed on campus.

They don’t coordinate it, yet they show up downstairs at the dorm at the same time.

Dad brings a brand-new bedding set. Mom carries two large bags filled with snacks and clothes.

Derek follows Dad, while Holden carries the bags for Mom.

The four of them standing together creates an awkward scene that would almost be funny if it

weren’t so pathetic.

Dad speaks first.

“Anne, come home with me for Christmas. I’ve cleared out the study. Your new bed is already on the

way.”

Mom immediately cuts him off.

“Why would she go to your place? I had her room redone too. New furniture, new desk, new closet. Everything.”

The familiar argument starts all over again.

Before, they argued over which home Juliet should stay in.

Now they’re arguing over where I should go.

But I know this isn’t because they finally love me more than Juliet.

My leaving simply forces them to realize, for the first time, that they made a mistake.

Derek pulls out his phone and shows me the newly renovated bedroom at Dad’s house.

The starry lights are gone. The walls have been painted the light blue I loved as a child.

But that was the color I liked when I was ten.

I’m eighteen now.

The room Mom prepared is filled with stuffed animals, every single one in a style Juliet likes.

They’re rushing to give me a bedroom, yet they don’t even know what I like anymore.

Then Mom’s phone rings.

It’s Juliet calling on video.

The moment she sees everyone at my school, her eyes fill with tears.

“Why did you all go to Anne’s school? You said today was supposed to be my day. You were going to help me pick out curtains.”

Mom instinctively tries to soothe her.

“Juliet, don’t cry. We’ll be home tonight, okay?”

But Juliet soon notices the blue bedroom on Derek’s phone.

Her expression changes instantly.

“Why did you take down the star lights in Dad’s house?”

“That’s my room.”

Dad explains, “You already have a room at your mom’s. Anne needs somewhere to stay when she

comes home.”

Juliet immediately bursts into tears.

“But you promised me both rooms were mine!”

“Mom said I would always have a bed at her house. Dad said no one would ever take my room

away.”

“Why are you tearing my room apart just because Anne left?”

The area outside the dorm suddenly falls silent.

I watch Dad and Mom’s faces change, and finally understand.

It isn’t just that they forgot about me.

They had already promised Juliet that both rooms belonged to her.

Mom hurriedly ends the video call, then turns to me.

“Juliet’s young. She gets scared easily. We only said those things to make her feel secure.”

I ask, “Then what about when you told me I’d always have a room here?”

“Was that just something you said to make me feel better too?”

No one answers.

Dad presses a key into my hand.

“Anne, don’t keep dragging the past back up. We’ve fixed it.”

“Your room is ready now. You can come home whenever you want.”

Mom takes out another key.

“So is yours.”

I stare at the two brand-new keys in my palm and suddenly remember the two old keys that

couldn’t open either new door.

All I ever wanted was to know there would always be a place for me at home.

Not to have a bed taken from someone else only after I’ve already left.

I hand the keys back to them.

“Juliet was right. You promised those rooms to her.”

“I don’t want them.”

Mom’s eyes turn red.

“Then what do you want us to do, Anne? How are we supposed to make this right?”

I shake my head.

“I’m not waiting for you to make it right. I just don’t want to go back anymore.”

Not far away, other students are gathering for family photos during the open house.

My three roommates spot me in the crowd and wave me over. Their parents make room for me beside them.

Someone calls out with a laugh, “Anne, come on! We’re just waiting for you!”

I turn and walk toward them.

Behind me, for the first time, Dad and Mom are the ones left outside the family picture.