She blinked, confused. “You’re sure? The full amount’s still unpaid.”
I smiled. “Completely sure.”
She hesitated for just a moment, then nodded slowly. “Understood. I’ll speak with the front desk. Should I let them know immediately?”
I glanced back toward the tables. Plates clinkedked, drinks flowed, and conversations rose to a humming crescendo of entitled laughter and self-congratulation. Nobody even noticed me. Nobody ever really did until they needed something.
“No rush,” I said. “Let them finish their food.”
I walked away from the coordinator and took a seat on the far side of the tent, behind a row of potted palms where I could still see everything without being in the middle of it.
The heat had softened, and a lazy breeze drifted through the canopy. From where I sat, I watched as they clinkedked glasses and refilled their plates like royalty at a banquet.
Lily stood to make a toast, wine glass held high. “To family,” she said, “and to pulling off the fanciest towns and reunion yet. We’re leveling up, people.”
Everyone cheered. My mom raised her glass and gave a little whoop. Liam tossed back his drink and immediately reached for another.
I checked the time. It had been about 20 minutes.
Right on quue, I saw the event coordinator return, flanked by two resort staff. One of them had a clipboard, the other a folded invoice in hand. They made a beline for my mom, who was too busy laughing at something my cousin had said to notice.
I saw the moment the clipboard was set in front of her. The smile froze on her face. She blinked, then turned toward the coordinator with a look of confusion.
Camille leaned in to listen. So did Liam.
Voices dropped. Heads turned.
Then I heard it, my mom’s voice rising over the crowd. “I’m sorry. What do you mean it wasn’t paid?”
The coordinator, ever professional, spoke calmly but firmly. “The card that was reserving the space was removed from the system this afternoon. Unfortunately, that means the remaining balance for the event, catering, tent rental, staffing, needs to be settled before we continue.”
My aunt’s face turned pink. “Wait, wait, hold on. You mean someone was covering this?” She turned to my mom. “You said it was all taken care of.”
Liam was already on his phone, pulling up his banking app. “You’ve got to be kidding. I didn’t bring my wallet. I thought this was a done deal.”
My mom stammered. “It was taken care of. I mean, I thought it was. Who? Who was paying for it?”
They looked around.
That’s when I stood up and casually walked over, hands in my pockets, not rushing, just strolling.
The moment I emerged from behind the palms, all conversation stopped. Even the kids quieted down. I could feel every pair of eyes on me, confused, cautious, calculating.
I stopped in front of the table where my mom, Camille, Liam, and a few others sat. I tilted my head and smiled.
“What’s going on?”