I was sliding the last pan of roast lamb onto the dining table when my phone lit up. Nolan. At that hour, he was supposed to be “working late at the office.” I wiped my hands on a dish towel and answered, my heart pounding. “Hey, Lauren. We need to talk,” he said, calm, almost cheerful, as if he were asking about the weather. “Next Wednesday we’re all going to Maui. I already booked the flights and the resort.” My fingers tightened around the phone until my knuckles turned white. Again. This would be the third “family vacation” since we got married, and yet, once again, I wasn’t invited. I forced my voice to stay steady.

“So… your parents, your brother and his fiancée, your aunt, your cousin. Six people. Sounds crowded.” He chuckled softly. “Yeah, and the villa I rented only has three bedrooms. It’d be a mess if too many people came. So… you should probably stay home this time.” For a moment, I just stared at the table I’d set for two, the lamb, the side dishes, the soup—every recipe Nolan loved. The food, like my hope, was suddenly headed straight for the trash. I saw my reflection in the polished silver tray: pale, tense, betrayed. I wanted to scream, but only whispered, “I see. Well, I hope you all have a great time.