‘It’s Just A Meeting, My Son Said When I Didn’t Receive An Invitation To His Big Engagement Party. So I Transferred Back The $25k From The Honeymoon Fund And Updated The Flights I Had Arranged For Them.

Starting around 8:00 p.m. last night and continuing at increasingly frantic intervals until 3 a.m. The remaining calls came from various numbers I recognized.

Lisa from my office. Several clients. And five from Vanessa’s mother, Margaret Pearson.

Who had never once called me before. I sat up against the plush hotel pillows, scrolling through the text messages. They painted a clear picture of last night’s unfolding drama.

7:46 p.m. from James. Mom, where are you?

The honeymoon account is empty. 8:17 p.m. from James.

Please call me ASAP. There’s some kind of problem with the resort bookings. 9:03 p.m.

from James. Are you seriously in Aspen right now? 9:10 p.m.

from Lisa. Diana, is everything okay? James is at the office looking for honeymoon paperwork.

Seems upset. 9:32 p.m. from James.

Mom, this isn’t funny. The Positano Villa says our reservation was canceled. What’s going on?

The messages continued, growing increasingly desperate as the evening progressed. By midnight, the tone had shifted from confusion to anger to something approaching panic. 12:17 a.m.

from James. I don’t understand why you’re doing this. Please just call me.

1:45 a.m. from James. Vanessa is in tears.

Her parents are furious. We had to tell everyone at the party that there was a misunderstanding about the honeymoon. Please, Mom.

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