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Do Suzette and Sophia do it, too?

I bring the phone to my ear to ask, but she hung up.

I try calling Sophia next and get a busy message. Same with Suzette. I try Dani again, but it’s the same message. Are they talking to each other now? Getting their story straight? How long have they been doing this to me? It’s like they don’t care that Maman has ripped me to so many shreds that I had to leave town to get away from it.

Maybe they don’t.

IsAshera part of this?

I call him just in case. I need someone to hear me out. If anyone would, it’s him. His phone rings and rings without an answer, but it lets me leave a message. I text him, too, just in case. He’ll get back to me, I know it. I just have to be patient.

I look up the service area for my hometown and find no problems with the phone service for that area. I’m an idiot. Of course, there aren’t any problems. Maman just called me from there, and I called Daniella. So, why is everything so busy now? Out of sheer desperation, I try Joe and encounter the same problem. I know he’s not in on some gossip session.

When I look up what the problem could be, my stomach drops.

Did they block my number? What the hell!?

What is going on with my family?

First, Maman targets me. I’ve known that she does it for a long time. I’ve never had it thrown in my face to stare at by someone else before.Everybodyknows she does it. No one says a word. They use it to their advantage. How much extra hate do I get because of it?

Then, I find out my sisters believe all this Broussard nonsense and refuse to hear me out for their own selfish reasons. I can’t picture Asher doing that, but who knows anymore?

I feel like someone ripped off my blinders about my family and is forcing me to see them for what they are. The agony of it is almost crippling.

Has this all been going on behind my back my whole life?

I can’t even vent to Damon because he’s applying to other shops for a table today. His money has gotten tighter now that he’s with Grace. A natural result of wanting to spoil the person you’re with. There’s nothing wrong with him moving forward with more job security. He’s stressed out enough. I can’t add my problems on top of that. He’ll want to take care of it himself.

I don’t open the shop. I don’t think I can function well enough to do the job I love.

Asher texts me back that night. After I’ve had a day of no contact, no matter how many different numbers I try. Even Maman’s line sends me to voicemail as soon as it connects now.

Asher: Dani’s boyfriend left her. We moved her out.

Me: You knew? They called you and not me? You took everyone with you to meet them and I don’t even know half their names.

There’s a long pause with the bubbles popping up and going away several times.

Asher: Dani said she called you.

Me: She didn’t!

I say it out loud angrily as I type it.

Asher: Ok

Me: What the hell does that mean?

Asher: It means ok

I stare at the line with my jaw dropped.

Me: You don’t believe me do you

I wait several minutes, but he doesn’t reply again.

I want to chuck the phone into the garbage disposal. It takes me a bit to calm down enough to try again. They’re shutting me out. How is that possible with so many siblings?Noneof them thought to contact me. To check in and see if I was running late or if I’d been in an accident.