“She’s probably rented a tiny terrace for two hours or bought dinner vouchers at some cheap suburban diner.”

“We should definitely go,” Paola sneered, tapping her nails on her designer purse.

“I want to take pictures of her serving us cold soup on paper plates.”

Doña Victoria stepped closer to me, her eyes bright with spiteful amusement.

“We accept your ridiculous invitation, Elena,” Doña Victoria said loudly, making sure Oscar and the clerks heard every word.

“All thirty-two of us will come.

The uncles, the cousins, the board directors.