Grandma, 85, deserves all the love, so when she wanted a small dinner, I was all in. But Aunt Linda suggested a fancy steakhouse, and things quickly went awry when my cousins, Katie and Mark, planned to make me pay. They counted on me to pick up the bill after blowing up the evening.
At the restaurant, the family faked being unable to pay. When the check arrived, they expected me to cover it. But I wasn’t falling for their game.
I went to the manager, Eric, who helped me collect their details. They skipped out, leaving Grandma alone at the table. The next morning, the calls started, with Aunt Linda and others panicking.
In the end, Grandma had a great time, and the rest of the family learned not to mess with me. Next year, it’s just me and Grandma—quietly.
