I found out because my doorbell camera wouldn’t stop sending alerts.
At first, I thought it was a delivery mix-up, maybe a neighbor needing something—but when I opened the live feed from my hotel room, I saw cars lining my street, women in cocktail dresses stepping into my house, men carrying ice buckets, and a bartender setting up beneath the oak tree in my backyard.
For a few seconds, I just stared at the screen, unable to process why my quiet home suddenly looked like an event venue.
Then my sister, Madison, appeared on camera wearing a silver dress and holding a glass of champagne.
Behind her, a balloon arch read: Congratulations, Madison — Regional Director.
My stomach dropped.
I called her immediately.
She answered on the fourth ring, laughing over loud music. “Ava, hey, I was going to tell you.”
