Nanette looks totally confused, her red lips pursed together.
“The dorms close? What kind of college am I paying for, pray tell? Isn’t it their job to keep students housed and fed? So what is this thing about closing?”
Actually, my dad is the one paying my tuition, but I bite my tongue because I don’t need to argue with my mother right now.
“Listen, I didn’t know about them closing either until they sent out a letter last week. Anyways, I have to be out by next Friday because that’s when they lock up.”
Nanette looks flummoxed.
“Can you stay with your dad?”
I shake my head.
“No, because Kevin’s in Dubai on a contract assignment right now. So absolutely not.”
Nanette is getting irritated now.
“I wish you’d mentioned this earlier, Susie. We can’t cancel our cruise because we’ve already paid in full. Besides, Bernard wants sexy time with me, and I’m looking forwards to it too. We’ve booked the Emperor’s Suite, which has a private whirlpool bath and spray jets in the shower,” she winks.
Vomit comes up in the back of my throat because I don’t want to imagine that old man naked, much less having sex with my mom. I swallow hard and fix her with a look.
“Yeah, but I can still stay at the manor even if you’re not there, right? I mean, that thing is huge so I’m sure there’s space in a guest room or maid’s room.”
Nanette shakes her head.
“Oh no, we’re re-doing the whole thing, darling. It’s utterly uninhabitable. You can’t live there.”
I stare at her pretty features again.
“Mom, there has to be a pool house or a shed I could sleep in. Like I said, I’m not picky. I can fall asleep anywhere, even in the stables. I just need somewhere to stay until classes start again in a couple weeks, that’s all.”
My mom sighs. “I don’t see how your poor planning has to be my problem,” she says in a petulant voice. “Why didn’t you say something earlier? You knew the dorms were closing, so you should have made other arrangements. I can’t go rescuing you every time you’re in trouble, Susie.”
I swallow the urge to scream.
“I’m sorry, but I genuinely didn’t know until a week or so ago. Besides, you and Bernard live less than twenty minutes from campus. It’s fine. Seriously, even the stable will do. I can sleep with Bernard’s horses on a pile of straw.”
My mother scoffs.
“Will you stop being so dramatic?” she whines. “Seriously Susie, it’s very unbecoming.”
I stare at Nanette again because she’s the one who’s unbecoming. Honestly, what parent doesn’t look out for their child? But Nanette has always been selfish, and I shouldn’t be surprised at this late stage. Honestly, sometimes I genuinely wonder how my mom and I can be related. I mean, I actually care about other people, while Nanette’s constantly walking, talking, and thinking only about herself. If it weren’t for my birth certificate with her name on it, I’d think I was adopted.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Susie,” my mom continues in an exasperated tone. “You can’t stay at the manor because like I said, it’s a head to toe renovation and there’s literally nowhere for you to stay. Not even a closet.”
I blow out a breath because obviously, unless they’re razing this place down to the ground, that can’t be true. But I decide to give up.
“Well then I don’t know what to do, Mom, because I can’t stay here.”
Nanette’s starting to look bored as she examines her long, red nails.
“Well, don’t you have a friend or someone you could stay with? I mean, you have to have met at least one person at school you like. Or maybe you could sneak around and stay in the dorms anyway. How often do they check them?”
I stare at her.
“No, because they’re going to be cleaning and stuff, so I’m sure dorm staff would notice if I was secretly living here. Plus, the dining halls are closed, so how would I get food? I don’t have a kitchen in my room, and you know I can’t afford to eat out every single day.”
Nanette merely yawns.
“Then a friend will have to do. Call one of them and ask to spend a few weeks. It’ll be so much fun! Girls’ night every night, imagine that!”
I stare at her some more, hardly able to believe her words.
“Nanette, I’ve made some friends on campus, but I’ve only been at Coleman U for a few months. I’m a freshman, and I certainly don’t know anyone well enough to ask if I can crash with them for three weeks. I mean, if I were a Syrian refugee or a Ukrainian orphan, then yes, maybe I’d ask. But otherwise, no.”
My mother sighs dramatically, her lips pulling down in a frown.
“This is putting me out, Susie. What am I supposed to do here? You know I can’t ask Bernard to make an exception for you when he doesn’t even know you.”