“Me too. I couldn’t believe you did, though. This isn’t exactly your scene.”
“No, but when you suspect that your best friend has gone crazy, you make exceptions.”
I raised my eyebrow. “You know I’m fine, right?”
“I do now. Having seen you here for a few days, I’d even say you’re better than fine.”
“And what about you?” I said. “Are you also fine?”
She sighed. “I’m fine,” she said unconvincingly.
We sat in silence for a few moments. The light from the full moon shone through the small window overhead. It was propped open, so we could hear the Uttarayan celebrations continuing at the nearby homes. The sky still had kites swaying in the wind. Dogs barked wildly at the commotion.
Carrie broke the silence and said, “My dad had an affair.”
I whipped my head to face her. Carrie’s expression was somber. She clenched the bedsheets in her hand so tightly that her knuckles were white.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennett had served as surrogate parents to me during these past few years. I was convinced their marriage was everything my parents’ marriage wasn’t—happy, balanced, successful. If my mind was reeling from the news, I couldn’t imagine what Carrie was going through. Guilt instantly surged through me as I registered that I had been halfway around the world when my best friend discovered this and needed me most.
“When did you find out?”
“Three weeks ago. Merry Christmas to me!” she said sardonically.
“He told you?”
“No. My mother did.”
“I’m so sorry.” I cringed at the thought of Mrs. Bennett having to explain such a thing to her daughter. At least that was something I’d never have to worry about with my parents. They’d be way too worried about the karmic ramifications of such an act.
Carrie released the bedsheets and folded her arms across her chest. “She’s not leaving him. She’s not even going to tell him she knows.”
“Are you going to say something to your dad?”
“I don’t think I can. It’s my mom’s decision to make, right? I want to slap him, though. It was with the human resources lady at his company. Ugh, how cliché. Just like all the disgusting partners we know who are banging their assistants on the side.” She shook her head. “It was killing me to be there and pretend life was normal.”
I sat next to her and put my arm around her shoulders. She didn’t flinch when she felt someone touching her. That’s when I knew how much this was affecting her.
“I would have come back if I had known what was going on,” I said softly.
“Yeah, I know,” she said. “I didn’t want you to do that. And there was so much going on here with your family. Guess when it rains it pours.” She chuckled half-heartedly. “Getting away and out of my comfort zone was good. And this is very far outside of my comfort zone.”
I managed a small grin. “True. But you’re doing great. You even impressed my mama with your kite-cutting skills. That isn’t easy. He fancies himself a semiprofessional.”
Carrie wiped her nose.
A few moments later, she said, “I’ll get over this. I have no choice. I know that. But you don’t expect your parents who are in their sixties to suddenly have marital problems after so many years together. They seemed so damned happy and normal.”
I thought about my own parents. I couldn’t recall a time when they had seemed as happy as the Bennetts. My parents accepted each other’s company, but that seemed to be the extent of their feelings toward one another. I’d grown up never knowing anything different, and I didn’t think they even aspired toward anything more. The result of growing up in a culture where romantic love wasn’t expected was just that—you didn’t expect it, so you weren’t disappointed if you didn’t have it.
“Since I’ve been here, I’ve been thinking a lot about my parents’ lives, and there is so much I don’t know about them. I guess the same is true for everyone. We’ll never know what your parents’ relationship is really like because they’ll always try to shelter you from the bad.”
She nodded slowly. “At least we get to pick our friends.”
I gave her a hug. “Me too. Friends are the family you choose, right?”
After a few moments, she laughed and playfully pushed me off. “All right, enough human contact for one day!”
I squeezed her tighter before letting go.