“Granny, I’m just trying to get my makeup business running. I’m actually really good at it. Janae is sweet and good and always going to be pretty. Liza is smart, if extremely boring. Maurice has the entire Nation of Islam to fall back on. What do I have? What do I get to build? Liza just can’t stand to see someone be more of an influencer than her,” LeDeya whined.

“Granny—” Liza started.

“You gotta let me try at least,” LeDeya pleaded.

Granny pursed her lips. “Oh, Liza. What kind of trouble can she get into doing makeup? MLM—that’s like Avon, right?”

“Granny—”

“Liza, you gotta let the girl live a little. You should go too.”

“No way!” LeDeya shouted. “Liza, let me have those scarves WIC gave you. You’re not modest enough to really pull them off.”

“You’re such a brat, Deya!” Liza retorted. She hated those scarves, but she would rather see them in the trash than on LeDeya.

“You get ready for your lame-ass embassy art show and watch my money stack live on Insta!” LeDeya yelled back.

Liza huffed and slammed her door. As angry as she was at her sister, Liza was too wrapped up in her own self-pity to stand up against both her mother and her grandmother.

TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Dear Mr. Fitzgerald,

You may have missed our earlier invitations, but we wanted to remind you about the place of prominence the WCO’s work in the Philippines will have at the event at the embassy! We would love for you to accept an award on your mother’s behalf and ask you to RSVP as soon as possible so that we may prepare your VIP spot.

Awaiting your reply,

Roberto Villanueva

Dorsey was ill. At least that was what he kept telling everyone who had asked about him in the past six weeks. He had used the excuse so much that he was getting flowers of condolence. The articles about Liza’s nephew, Janae’s son, raced through his mind. Dead on arrival. It was the same pronouncement for his parents and brother. He could not imagine losing a child. He had speculated about the poor woman’s mental health. It was a damned miracle she got herself up in the morning. He’d been simply wrong. He was unaccustomed to feeling such clear guilt.