Some people’s true colors emerge unexpectedly. I got a heartbreaking phone from my grandma, who was dropped at the airport because my family believed moving her wheelchair was too hard. In hopes of avoiding punishment, they vacationed without her.
My family was reduced to my dad’s sister Aunt Liz, her husband Ron, and my two grandmothers, including Grandma Ruth, my final connection to Mom’s side. I love that she doesn’t let anyone tell her what she can or can’t do, even though she uses a wheelchair.
Living three states away with my spouse, two kids, and two jobs made regular trips impossible. With a bonus check in my account, I thought, “Why not give them a memory?”
My remaining family got a paid vacation to Paradise Cove. Flights, hotel, meals—prepaid under my name.
“Amy, you shouldn’t have!” Aunt Liz gushed on the phone. “This is too much!”
“Family comes first, right, Aunt Liz?” Back then, I meant every word.
Aunt Liz tweeted an airport gate shot the morning they went. Smiles with caption: “Family is everything! ❤️🌴 #Blessed”
My phone rang three hours later in my office.
“Hello?”
“Amy…?” Grandma’s trembling voice was barely audible over airport announcements.
“Grandmother Ruth? What’s wrong?”
“Honey, I’m still at the airport. They left me.”
Left you? You mean what?”
Liz found pushing my wheelchair too difficult. That I was too slow and they’d miss their flight. They left.”
Stomach sank like a stone.
“Where are you exactly?”
Terminal B. Near the cafe. No idea what to do.”
Don’t move. I’ll fix it.”
I emailed Aunt Liz after hanging up: “Why did you leave Grandma Ruth at the airport? She’s crying alone.”
The reply was quick: “Vacation! We’re not babysitters. If she weren’t so slow and useless, she may have kept up. Don’t let us down.”
Something inside me hardened as I glanced at those words.
“Karen!” I phoned my assistant. “I need your help.”
As Karen flew back to my hometown to pick up Grandma Ruth, I got on my laptop. Flights, hotels, and rental cars were all booked under my name. I was in charge.
I phoned the motel first.
“Paradise Cove Resort, how can I help you?”
Hi, Amy. Need to cancel reservation.”
After canceling, I asked: “Is a spa package available next weekend? Something lovely and oceanfront.”
“We have our Serenity Suite available with daily massages and premium dining.”
“Perfect. I want to reserve that for two.”
Then I canceled my family’s return tickets. Their road home disappeared with a few clicks.
After several hours, my phone buzzed. It was Karen.
I’ve got her. She stated we’re eating before our flight.
“Put her on a video call, please.”
“Amy?” Now Grandma Ruth’s voice was steady. “Did I do something wrong?”
Heart plummeted. “No, Grandma. You did nothing wrong. They did.”
“But why would they just leave me like this?”
Some people are self-centered. I care about you. You and I are on a special journey next weekend when Karen brings you to my house.”
“Oh, honey, you don’t have to do that.”
“Want to. Room service, ocean views, everything.”
She paused. “What about Liz and Ron?”
“Not to worry. They wanted vacation. One was obtained.”
Calls and texts began hours later, but I ignored them. I pictured them arriving at Paradise Cove to find no reservation under their names.
The motel has an issue, Amy. Please call me immediately “Aunt Liz irritatedly texted.
Twenty minutes later: “Not funny. We’re in the lobby with our bags. Fix it now.”
Panic set in after three texts: “Call us back. Everything is booked on the island. No idea what to do.”
While waiting for Karen’s flight, Tom gave me champagne and I deleted each message.
“Still not answering?”
“Nope.”
“Good.”
“I also canceled their return flights.”
Tom nearly choked on wine. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”
“They abandoned her like she was inconvenient luggage.”
You acted correctly. When will you talk to them?”
“When Grandma Ruth is safe in our guest room. No time before.”
***
My weary grandmother came around midnight, smiling weakly.
Her arms opened to me, “There’s my girl!”
I hugged her softly, inhaling lavender and rosemary oil. “I’m sorry this happened,” I whispered.
Not your fault. Good granddaughter.”
Once she had tea, I checked my phone. Seventeen missed calls, 23 messages, 5 voicemails.
Last line: “$460 FOR A FILTHY MOTEL. YOU DID WHAT?
I faced Tom. “I think it’s time.”
I called Aunt Liz from our kitchen alone.
“Amy! What’s happening? We’re stuck, the hotel has nothing.”
“How’s your vacation going, Aunt Liz?”
“What did you do?”
“I stopped everything. Hotel, return flights, everything.”
“What?? Don’t do that!”
Actually, I can! All was booked under my name.”
Beautiful resort | Unsplash
Beautiful resort | Unsplash
“Why would you do this to us?”
A laugh. “That’s rich coming from the woman who abandoned a 78-year-old at the airport.”
We didn’t abandon her. Just—”
“Left her wheelchair-bound without assistance. Lied about returning.”
“She slowed us! We would have missed flight!”
“So you miss the flight,” I said. All of you. Family does that.”
Cropped photo of an elderly woman sitting with her cane | Pixabay
Cropped photo of an elderly woman sitting with her cane | Pixabay
Don’t lecture me on family. You’re never around.”
I work two jobs to support my kids. Still have time and money for your vacation.”
“Where is she?”
“Safe… with people who actually care about her.”
You must correct this. At least book new flights home.”
Inhaled deeply. “No.”
“No? Do you mean no?”
Determine it yourself. Consider that a life lesson in repercussions.”
“You snake!” she yelled. “Your mother would be ashamed of you.”
My mother would be appalled by your actions. Don’t represent her.”
Amy, we’re family. Can’t just—”
“Family stays together. You decided at the airport entrance. I’m making mine.”
Hanging up, I blocked her number.
My spa trip with Grandma Ruth was perfect. We had massages while waves broke outside, ate seafood by the ocean, and talked about Mom, life, and everything for hours.
Grandma grasped my hand as we sipped champagne on the terrace on our last night.
Liz and Ron have treated me differently before. Since your mom died, they’ve canceled and ignored me. I didn’t want to bother.”
My heart hurt. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
My hand was patted. “My love, you have family and problems. I didn’t want to bother.”
“You could never be a burden, Grandma.”
She smiled, crinkling eyes. “I know that now.”
I shared a photo of us before bed. I hugged Grandma Ruth in a soft bath robe, tropical flowers in our hair.
Caption: “Family is everything. 🥰”
***
Next day, cousin Jen called.
“Mom and Dad are insane. The roach motel housed them for three nights. Dad had food poisoning.”
“Tragic!”
Jen snorted. Between us? They deserved it. Amazingly, they left Grandma Ruth.”
“You didn’t know?”
“No! Mom tried to say Grandma stayed, but Dad broke down. Your retaliation was artful. Evil genius.”
A laugh. “Is that a compliment?”
“Absolutely. Is Grandma okay?”
“Great girl. We recently returned from Paradise Cove. Spa, room service, etc.”
“My God! You didn’t?”
“I did! With lots of photos for your parents.”
Two months have passed since the airport incident. An unasked-for bonus: Aunt Liz and Uncle Ron still don’t talk to me.
Grandma Ruth joined us last week. We turned the office into a bright garden-view bedroom. The kids love her. My daughter and son are learning to knit and bake her renowned apple pie.
She looked at me last night while we watched fireflies blink in the darkness.
“Thank you, sweetie.”
“For what?”
“For showing me that I matter.”
I rested my head on her shoulder like a child. “You’ve always mattered, Grandma.”
“Perhaps. But sometimes we need reminders.”
We sat quietly for a while.
“You know what I’ve learned?” Saying finally.
“What’s that, sweetheart?”
Small, ordinary choices reveal character, not spectacular gestures. Who they assist inconveniently. Whom they defend at great cost.”
Grandma nods. “And who they leave behind when no one’s watching.”
“Exactly.”
My hand was squeezed. Now I’m watching. Amy, I see you.”
Some feel revenge is pointless. Maybe they’re right. Justice can taste like room service pancakes with a granny who finally realizes how much she is loved. I feel healed enough.
Another story: I felt I was helping my granddaughter heal when her mother died. I had no notion her stepmother stole more than money and gifts.
Inspired by true events and people, this work is fictionalized for creativity. To preserve privacy and enrich the story, names, characters, and facts were changed. Any resemblance to real people, events, or places is unintentional.
The author and publisher neither guarantee event authenticity nor character characterization and are not liable for misinterpretation. This work is presented “as is,” and the characters’ opinions do not reflect those of the author or publisher.
