“I didn’t know you were going,” I’d say, keeping my tone even.

“It was a last-second thing,” he’d mumble. “I didn’t think you’d be into it.”

Once, at brunch, Bridget said, “These things are so dull, honey. We didn’t want to bore you with hours of tuna casserole and Grandpa griping about taxes.”

I forced a smile. “Thanks for looking out.”

Caleb would tap my knee and whisper, “They’re just traditional. Don’t take it to heart.”

But the excuses kept stacking up.

They took a cabin trip in October. I found out when Caleb posted a photo with Lauren and her husband by a campfire.

When I called him out, he said, “It was Lauren’s deal. She said it was just siblings. I didn’t know until we got there.”

“They couldn’t shoot me a text? I love camping. I would’ve gone.”

“They thought you wouldn’t want to freeze for two days.”

“I love fishing in the cold, Caleb.”

“I know.”

I grinned through birthdays I wasn’t invited to, holidays where I was “too busy,” and family albums where I didn’t exist.