Page 143 of The October Arrangement

“Mom,” Olivia whined.

“You’re in college, Olivia,” Bella said.

“But I’m home. Daddy!” She looked at me.

“Your mother said to do your laundry.”

“Traitor.” She picked up her basket and stomped all the way to the laundry room.

Julian walked into the room with a heaping plate of Chinese food.

“Hey, Dad.” He grinned.

I stared at his plate. “Is that my leftover Chinese food from last night?”

“I don’t know. Was it yours?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Then probs.” He shrugged.

“I was saving that, Julian.”

“You can order more.” He went to his bedroom.

I looked at Bella. “How long have they been home?”

“Three hours.”

My children had been home three hours, and the penthouse already looked like it had been burglarized. Their shoes were in the foyer, and Julian’s sweatshirt was thrown over the back of the couch. I walked into the kitchen only to find Olivia’s purse on the table with its contents spilling out, and four dirty glasses sitting on the island, even though there were only two children. A few cabinet doors were left open.

“Julian!” I shouted.

“Yeah?” He walked into the kitchen.

“Why are the cabinets open?” I pointed.

“I don’t know.” He shrugged.

“You were the last one in here. Close them.”

Friday night, they had some friends over, and they were loud.

“They couldn’t go out, why?” I asked Bella.

“I don’t know. They didn’t even ask if they could have friends over. They just showed up,” she said.

The intercom rang.

“Mr. Montclair, there’s a cookie delivery down here for Olivia.”

“I’ll send her down. Olivia!” I shouted.

“Yeah, Dad?” She emerged from her room, her two friends following behind.

“You placed a cookie order?”

“Oh, are they here?” She grinned.