For nine years, my mother told every guest I was j…

I had never been invited. The visible messages were from three days earlier. A thread about Easter planning.

Aunt Lorraine, I was thinking of stopping by Wanda’s restaurant after church on Sunday. Is it any good? Mom.

Lorraine, please. It is embarrassing. She will try to serve you and make a whole thing out of it.

Aunt Lorraine, I heard it is actually pretty nice. Mom, let us not encourage her. She needs to get a real job, not play hostess at some little place in Fairfield.

Nadine had added a thumbs up emoji. No words, just a thumb. Agreement without accountability.

I sat in my office and read those messages three times. The framed deed hung on the wall to my left. The chef’s apron hung beside it.

My mother’s words glowed on the screen in front of me. Let us not encourage her. Some little place.

Play hostess. I saved the screenshot. I did not respond.