"Alice, are you deaf?" My brother snapped, craning his neck to glare at me. "I asked you a question. Vivian pressing the ashes into dice and soaking them in water—what do you think?"
I offered a practiced, empty smile. "Bro, I've seen people do similar things online. But whether it brings good luck or bad? I really couldn't say."
My lack of endorsement earned me scowls from both him and Vivian.
I ignored their hostility, crouching to organize the cosmetics my nephew had scattered across the floor. I wasn't about to give them the validation they wanted. If this ritual went south, they'd only look for a scapegoat—and I refused to be it.
Mom and Dad shuffled in behind me, sneering at my hesitation.
"Why bother asking her?" Dad scoffed. "You know how she is. Aside from reading a few books, she's useless. Since when does she get a say in family matters?"
"Exactly," Mom chimed in. "Your grandmother cared about us most. It makes sense she'd send us signs from the other side."
A chill settled in my gut.