Free Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead by Saralee Rosenberg Page A

ever give up.” He hugged his boy. “So good to have you here . . .
    so good.”
    “Whatever.” Aaron stood soldier tall, though clearly not at ease.
    Ice cream night at the Shermans’ was a cardiologist’s delight.
    Mindy was big into toppings, putting out a spread to rival Baskin-Robbins. But while everyone dove for their favorites, ignoring her pleas not to get the sprinkles on the f loor, Aaron begged off, mumbling something about the long day and wanting to go online.
    Artie brought him down to the guest room in the basement and apologized for the hideous bathroom while Mindy tried to enjoy her sundae without letting her mind wander too far from the hot fudge. And yet she worried.
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    Saralee Rosenberg
    Here was a seventeen-year-old who was never hungry and always tired. A boy who thought nothing of asking for an alco-holic beverage and whose parents had been in and out of rehab.
    A boy who dressed like a rocker, quoted lyrics from before his time, and had tattoos on his neck. Did anyone say drug habit? Or was she just being negative like Artie always accused?
    For the rest of the week her eyes would be wide open for signs, but not nearly as wide open as they were about to get.
    “I need a place to stay tonight.” A red-eyed Beth was standing at the front door.
    It took a moment for this to register. Five-star Diamond Beth wanted a room for the night? Would that be cash or credit? The same Beth who wouldn’t drink Mindy’s coffee unless she first rinsed the mug? The same Beth who had just verbally abused her entire family?
    “Why?”
    “What do you mean why? You saw the whole scene. . . . I just do.”
    Mindy stared, wishing Artie was there to watch Beth squirm.
    “Trust me, I realize you’re not happy with me at the moment, but I wouldn’t be asking unless I was totally desperate.”
    “Thanks?”
    “I can’t look at Richard right now I am so angry with him. . . .
    He’s treating me like a criminal and I’m not going to take it. Of course, it was okay when he fooled around.”
    Richard fooled around? Hello, Nadine? “Okay but see the thing is, Aaron is staying in the guest room, so I don’t really have any place to put you. Could you maybe stay at Jill’s?” Or with one of your other snotty friends who look down on me because I don’t wear my daughter’s UGGs or drive a cute little convertible to Waldbaum’s?
    “Mindy, c’mon. You know the whole goddamn story. . . . I can’t go anywhere else. It’ll just add fuel to the fire. Do you not get what I’m saying?”
    Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead
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    “I do, but—”
    “And look, I know your kids sleep in your room, so I’ll just take one of theirs.”
    I’m sorry. Did someone report a missing Webcam? “How do you know that?”
    “Oh, please. Everyone knows everyone’s business around here.
    That’s half the problem. So what’s the deal? Can I stay?”
    Mindy was confused. How could she be feeling sorry for the original “Mean Girl” of Merrick? A neighbor who made her so miserable, she’d started a file with a list of movers. Plus, it would totally stress her out if Beth went upstairs and saw all the suitcases and laundry piled on the f loor. And with the cleaning lady gone due to fiscal restraints, the kids’ rooms were such pigpens, she wouldn’t be surprised if they one day unearthed Carmen Sandiego. But that wasn’t the worst of it. No matter how much she yelled, their bathroom was so gross even she hated going in there. The wet towels were multiplying, the toiletries were in-breeding, and there were no less than six brands of hair gel left on the vanity every morning.
    “ Um, things are kind of a mess up there right now with everybody packing and—”
    “Fine. I’ll sleep on your couch. I’ll be up and out at the crack of dawn anyway.”
    “My couch?” The one with the missing springs or the one with the rip in the arm?
    “Just give me a pillow and a blanket and I’m good to go.” Beth walked through the center hall