Outside, I pulled out my phone and dialed Ashley. She answered cheerfully.
“Well hey, cousin!”
A pause. Then laughter.
“Are you serious right now?” I pressed.
“Relax,” she said. “He’s retired. He’s got savings. This was more like a thank-you trip—from him to us.”
“You figured that was okay?” My voice hardened. “You thought it was fine to dump a twelve-thousand-dollar bill on a seventy-four-year-old man without asking?”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” she said. “You know Grandpa. He’s happy just seeing us together.”
I tightened my grip on the phone. “Let me make one thing clear: he’s not the fool here. You are.”
She scoffed. “If it’s that big of a deal, we’ll talk at Thanksgiving.” Then she hung up.
Taking Charge
Inside, Grandpa was still apologizing to the front desk. I walked straight up and said loudly, “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’ve got this.”
I cut him off with a raised hand. “It’s handled.”
I pulled out my card, paid the full bill, then told the manager, “I’ll need itemized charges by room, names, timestamps, and every signature.”
She nodded. “You’ll have them within the hour.”
Grandpa held his suitcase, stiff with guilt.
“Come on,” I said gently. “Let’s get a milkshake before we head home.”
His face softened. “You always liked the chocolate ones.”
Building the Case
That night, I called my lawyer friend from college. Sharp as a tack.
“Send me everything,” he said. “We’ll document it properly.”
By morning, I had it all:
The full itemized bill tied to each cousin’s room.
Security footage of them checking out, leaving Grandpa behind.
Staff statements confirming he was left responsible.
We drafted letters. Polite, but firm.
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