My stepmother laughed and said to me, “You’re not from this family,” so I raised my glass and replied, “Then don’t ever ask me for money again”… and at that moment my father discovered the lie that had been hidden from him for years.

Everyone loved the idea.

Everyone except me.

I set my fork down. “So they’re really giving Mauricio that house even though it’s already three months behind on payments, and Dad’s rehab from last year still isn’t fully paid?”

Ximena’s face immediately changed. Mauricio let out an irritated sigh, like I had ruined a moment he believed belonged to him. Veronica folded her napkin with a calmness that felt practiced.

“That’s none of your concern,” she said.

“It becomes my concern every time you text me crying because supposedly you can’t keep up with the bills anymore.”