My Aunt Planned a Trip to Celebrate My Grandma’s Retirement – But in the End, They Made Her Pay for the Whole Trip

“All of it,” she said softly. “The dinners, the boat ride, and the spa.

He said the card on file is mine.” She exhaled shakily, as if trying to stay composed. “Linda told me it was all covered. She just needed my card to hold the booking.”

My stomach sank.

“Who told you this?”

“The clerk,” she said, glancing toward the counter. “He said they left early.”

She gave a shaky little laugh. “Maybe they misunderstood.

That’s possible, right?”

No, Grandma, I thought. They didn’t misunderstand.

“Grandma, come sit,” I said gently, leading her to a chair by a potted palm. “Let me look at this.”

She nodded, wiping her eyes with a tissue.

I spread the receipts across my lap. There were pages of charges for meals, spa treatments, and excursions. The numbers blurred as I read, anger burning through my fatigue until it felt like fire in my chest.

I skimmed down to the last line, and my heart sank.

Balance Due: $9,804.12.

I read the total twice, hoping I’d imagined it.

Continue reading…