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“Just a guess, but I think he was trying to protect you.”
Sydney sighs. “I’m sorry. I’m putting you in the middle.”
“You have a right to be upset.”
“But not a right to be mad at him, right?” More sniffles. “I could get tested. Just because Holden’s not a match…I could be.”
I don’t reply right away, not sure if she’s serious. When she says nothing else, I say, “Sydney, you’repregnant.”
“I haven’t decided if I’m going to keep it.”
“Yes, you have.”
She texted me asking if I liked the name Everett for a boy last week, before she found out about her mom.
“What if I’m the only person who can help her? The only person who could save her? She’s…she’s my mom.”
“You don’t owe her anything, Sydney.”
“Holden got tested, and he hates her more than I do. I thought he did, at least. It feels like there’s this big secret he’s been keeping from me.” More sniffles. “I’m sorry. Let’s talk about something else. What’s new with you?”
“Well…my parents are getting divorced.”
“What?”
“I thought there was a chance it might not happen. But…I talked to my mom yesterday, and she signed the papers. It’s going through. They’ve been separated since the spring.”
“Wow. I-I can’t believe it. They always seemed sohappy.”
“Yeah. Things change, I guess.” I kick at a pebble on the pavement.
“Are you doing okay?”
“I’ll be fine. I feel bad for the twins and Sally and Regan. Maggie and I are both out of the house now. They’ll have the harder adjustment.”
“It’s still an adjustment for you.”
I exhale. “I know. Not sure what Thanksgiving will look like this year.”
“When did you find out?” she asks.
“A little while ago. You had enough going on and I needed some time to…process it.”
“I’m so sorry, Cassia.”
“It’ll be all right. I want them both to be happy. If this is what they decided, there’s nothing I can do. Right?”
“Yeah. Right.”
We switch to catching up on other topics, which is a relief. I feel like my entire life has been overtaken by stressful, scary secrets lately. Maybe that’s just a part of adulthood.
We talk for a while before Sydney has to leave for a play rehearsal.
“I hope it goes well this weekend,” I tell her before we hang up.
“You and Holden tell each other everything, huh?” She sounds happy about it, not annoyed.
“We’re trying out the truth thing.”
