"Matt?"She found him in the kitchen, furiously checking all the cubbies on the wall.
"Where the hell are my keys?" He touched his jean pockets and then and scanned the countertops.
"I think they're hanging by the front door. Where are you going?"
Matt brushed past her, and she followed him into the hallway.He stopped as he grabbed the door handle and then turned around and faced her, furious. "I told you. God damn it, I told you, Julie!" He was screaming at her now.She took a step back. She'd never seen him look like this.
"What are you talking about?"
"Rachel's mother just called from the party. Celeste is having a meltdown."
"What happened?" Julie took her sweatshirt off of the coat rack and started to follow him out. "She seemed so sure of herself."
"No!" he said pointing at her. "You are not coming with me."
"Matt? Please. I can help. I can talk - "
"No! You did this, I'll fix it."Matt slammed the door behind him.Frantic, she walked back and forth, roaming from room to room. Finn. Finn would know what to do.She messaged him, praying he was around.
Finn, are you there? I screwed up. Really badly. The sleepover I told you about went terribly. Matt is getting her now, and I don't know what to do. They'll never forgive me. Maybe you won't either.
Finn was nowhere to be found online. Julie couldn't even remember where he was now. Back in Africa? Yugoslavia? Turkey? Libya? Oh, for Christ's sake, that wasn't it. Nobody goes to Libya. She waited another few minutes and then sent another message, her hands shaking as she tried to get the words out:
Please, Finn. I need you. I don't know what to do. Maybe you're angry with me now, too, but tell me how to make this better. Or at least less dreadful.
Peeking out the window every few minutes was not bringing Celeste home any faster, so she sat on the couch in the living room. Maybe it wasn't that bad. Matt had a tendency to overreact when it came to his sister. He didn't give her enough credit. Still, Julie felt her stomach knot up with dread, because as much as she wanted them to get home, she also didn't want to face them.Finally, the Volvo pulled into the driveway. Julie swung the door open and watched as Matt rounded the front of the car and opened the passenger door. She couldn't stand this, and she looked away for a moment, trying to regroup. Then Matt was walking toward her, Celeste in his arms, an awful mix of rage and fear in his eyes. His sister - her friend - looked like a little kid, her arms around his neck and her head buried in his shirt, her body trembling as she sobbed uncontrollably. The anguish in her crying was crushing.Julie's heart broke.Celeste had come undone.
Chapter 26
Matt pushed past Julie and carried Celeste up to her room. Julie followed them, but heard the bedroom door shut before she had even reached the landing.Flat Finn. He was still in the car. She raced outside and returned with the messenger bag. Outside Celeste's room, Julie fumbled with the zipper and hoped that this would help a bit. She set Flat Finn onto the carpet and slowly started the process of unfolding him, carefully securing each hinge in the open position. She rubbed her arm across her eyes and moved Flat Finn to standing.
As the sobs from behind the door grew louder and more pained, Julie bit her lip and looked at Flat Finn, imagining that the real Finn was here, about to comfort his sister and make this hell disappear.You have to come home. You have to come home, she repeated to herself. I know damn well that this is about more than just missing you, but you have to come home for her.Julie slumped to the floor and pulled her legs in, dropping her head down and rhythmically rocking her body. It seemed an eternity until Celeste's moans subsided, and she could hear Matt's voice comforting her.The door opened, and Julie jerked her head up.
"Matt? Oh, God. I don't know what - "
He held his hand up. "Don't say anything to me. She wants to talk to you."
She stood up and delicately lifted Flat Finn. He looked so fragile now with all of the hinges. Like a puzzle that had been taped together. Just like Celeste. She walked past Matt and into the bedroom, setting Flat Finn down next to the bed. A head full of blond curls rolled over, and Celeste reached her hand out. Julie took it in her own and knelt down.
"I'm so sorry. This is all my fault." She fought to keep back tears as she brushed the hair from Celeste's face."I am much better now." Her voice was surprisingly calm.
"Julie, you have nothing to be sorry for. I do. I need to apologize to you."
"What? What could you possibly have to apologize for?"
"I let you down. You must be horribly disappointed in me."
"Never. You could never disappoint me. You were so brave. Braver than I am. I just pushed too hard."
"No, you did not." Celeste pulled her blanket up. "You didn't. I wanted to go."
"I know you did. But I made a mistake. It wasn't the right time. Too many hinges too soon."Celeste yawned and looked at Flat Finn. "No. The hinges are debonair, but folded-up, hidden Finn is not always the same. Especially at night. The night appears to be the hardest for me without him. For now. He makes me feel better, Julie. I understand that his sort is not for everybody, but I find him comforting."
Julie nodded. "I know. I find his sort comforting, too, if you can believe it."
"I do. Now, I must get some sleep. Please tell Matty that I really am less convoluted. I am significantly calmer."
"I will." Julie leaned in and hugged Celeste tightly. "I'll see you in the morning." She let herself out, blowing kisses from the doorway, as though she were tucking in a small child.
Matt was leaning against the wall in the hallway, his expression icy and distant. "Stay away from me. I can't deal with you right now."
"Matt..." Julie pleaded.
"I swear to God, don't talk to me now. Don't."
"I'm so sorry. You have no idea."