"We're her real family! How could she possibly treat someone else like her big brother?" Valerian echoed Lisette's words, genuinely annoyed. Lisette offered a small, smug grin, knowing she had his full support. Calliope, however, received none of their affection.
Ulysses felt conflicted. He missed Lisette, but seeing her now, his enthusiasm waned. His thoughts drifted to Calliope, who had left with those other brothers. He felt as though he'd lost his sister; she clearly didn't consider him a brother anymore.
That evening, the Jewell family gathered for dinner. The meal was a classic: roast chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a large salad.
"Tomorrow's Christmas Eve. Should we invite Callie over for dinner?" Monty Jewell asked, mid-bite of turkey. The table fell silent. Everyone glanced at him, uncertain. Calliope hadn't been home since moving out, appearing only when Horatio needed her acupuncture services.
"What's the point? Even if we invite her, do you think she'll come?" Zelda snapped, her irritation barely concealed. She didn't want to see Calliope. The mere thought soured her mood.
"She probably won't," Ulysses muttered, frowning. He couldn't stop thinking about Calliope's closeness to those other "brothers." She seemed to need none of them, especially not him, overshadowed as he was by Julius. It felt as if she'd chosen them over her own family.
"We should at least invite her," Horatio said quietly. "It's the right thing to do. Whether she comes is her decision; extending the invitation is our responsibility."
Valerian agreed. "He's right."
"She's at the office today, right?" Monty added. "Calling feels insincere. Valerian, Ulysses, why don't you stop by her office? Talk to her in person. If she refuses, let her know she's welcome anytime. She's still your sister, and she's running the company now. There's no harm in being civil."
Valerian agreed; Ulysses remained silent, increasingly doubtful Calliope would come. He wanted to see her, to ask if she'd truly abandoned her brothers, if she only cared about those other men. They had been so close as children. What had changed? The question left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Meanwhile, Calliope dined with Quentin and the others. Silas, tied up with work, had reserved their favorite table and ordered burgers, fries, and nachos. The three laughed and talked as they ate.
"Callie, what's really going on with you and the Jewell family?" Quentin asked, serious. "Are they still giving you a hard time? And Gideon Baker? Now that you're married to his uncle, is he treating you okay?"
They'd kept in touch, but Calliope hadn't shared much, wanting to avoid worrying them. Now, seeing their concern, she realized their willingness to help.